Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Death and Dying
Course Code
HZK_031
Branch of Science
Other social sciences
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Communication Science; Health Management; Medical Technologies; Medicine; Nursing Science; Psychology; Public Health; Sociology
LQF
Level 7
Study Type And Form
Full-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Uldis Vēgners
Structure Unit Manager
Ieva Puzo
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts
Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv
About Study Course
Objective
To introduce students to philosophical approaches to death and dying, focusing on metaphysical, epistemological, existential, ethical and social questions concerning this topic.
Preliminary Knowledge
Not necessary.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.Students know and understand the major philosophical topics and issues concerning death and dying (metaphysical, epistemological, existential, ethical and cultural), as well as the main concepts related to these issues (death, euthanasia, assisted suicide, posthumous harm, social death). They will also be able to evaluate the importance of philosophical topics concerning death and dying in the context of health care.
Individual work and tests
Reading of Seminar Materials
Skills
1.Student knows how to describe and compare different views of death and dying.
Individual work and tests
Seminars
2.Knows how to articulate your position and provide arguments, analyse and critically evaluate the philosophical challenges of death and dying in health and social care.
Individual work and tests
Seminars
3.Student applies acquired knowledge to evaluate his or her and society’s attitudes towards death and dying people.
Individual work and tests
Seminars
Competences
1.Student is able to understand, interpret and critically evaluate the philosophical aspects of death and dying.
Individual work and tests
Examination
2.Using the acquired knowledge, the student will be able to engage in contemporary societies in topical discussions that touch on death and dying-related issues.
Individual work and tests
Examination
3.Student will be able to evaluate existing healthcare practices in the context of death and dying issues.
Individual work and tests
Examination
Assessment
Individual work
|
Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Reading of Seminar Materials |
-
|
-
|
|
Students have to read the compulsory literature and the reading materials for the seminars. Before every seminar students have to read a dedicated reading material and must be prepared to answer questions about the main concepts, ideas and arguments of that reading material. |
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|
2.
Preparation for Examination |
-
|
-
|
|
Students independently prepare for the examination about the topics from lectures and seminars. |
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3.
Course Evaluation Survey |
-
|
-
|
|
At the end of the course students take course evaluation survey on the e-studies. |
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Examination
|
Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Seminars |
60.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
Participation in seminars individually or in a group. Students actively participate in all seminar, understand and can formulate the ideas expressed in the seminar reading material, productively engage in discussions about the issues of the semianr topic, argue their position, use appropriate terminology in discussions, as well as refer to the seminar reading material in discussions. |
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|
2.
Examination |
40.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
Students take a written examination, in which they have to show the acquired knowledge about the topics covered in the course. |
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Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Introduction. How and why should death and dying be studied?
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Metaphysical and epistemological aspects of death and dying
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Definitions of death
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Near-death experiences
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Existential aspects of death and dying
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Immortality and the value of death
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Ethical aspects of death and dying I
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Ethical aspects of death and dying II
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Good dying: how dying people feel about death and dying
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Suicide
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Euthanasia and assisted suicide
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Posthumous harm
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Social aspects of death and dying
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Attitude of medical professionals towards death and dying
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Various social and cultural attitudes towards death and dying
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Conclusion
|
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
32 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Cholbi, M. and Timmerman, T., eds. 2021. Exploring the Philosophy of Death and Dying: Classical and Contemporary Perspectives. New York, NY: Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.Suitable for English stream
2.
Cutter, M. A. G. 2019. Death: A Reader. Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press.Suitable for English stream
Additional Reading
1.
Cholbi, M. 2021. Suicide. In: Zalta, E. N., ed. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University. [viewed 07.07.2025.]Suitable for English stream
2.
DeGrazia, D. 2021. The Definition of Death. In: Zalta E. N., ed. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University. [viewed 07.07.2025.]Suitable for English stream
3.
Dranseika, Vilius, and Ivars Neiders. 2018. “In Defense of a Pluralistic Policy on the Determination of Death.” Ethics & Bioethics 8 (3–4): 179–88.Suitable for English stream
4.
Hasker, W., and Taliaferro, C. 2019. Afterlife. In: Zalta, E. N., ed. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University. [viewed 07.07.2025.]Suitable for English stream
5.
Knepper, T. D., Bregman, L., and Gottschalk, M., eds. 2019. Death and Dying: An Exercise in Comparative Philosophy of Religion. Cham: Springer.Suitable for English stream
6.
Kiblere-Rosa, E. 2012. Aizejot - mirstošo cilvēku mācība tuviniekiem, ārstiem un garīdzniekiem. Rīga: Lietusdārzs.
7.
Luper, S. 2021. Death. In: Zalta, E. N., ed. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University. [viewed 07.07.2025.]Suitable for English stream
Other Information Sources
1.
International Association for the Philosophy of Death and Dying.Suitable for English stream