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Hong Kong Polytechnic University Free Online Course on Life and Death: Mysteries and Meanings

Hong Kong Polytechnic University is offering free online course on Life and Death: Mysteries and Meanings. This course highlights the importance of the interdisciplinary (scientific, religious and philosophical) perspectives and their interplay, which demonstrates tensions, conflicts and above all, this being the arch-goal of this course, the possibility of coordination and corroboration, forming various ultimately coherent outlooks on life and death.

In this four week course, applicants will unravel the mysteries and the meanings of life and death from the interdisciplinary (science, religion and philosophy, especially applied ethics) and the cultural perspectives. This course will start on August 2, 2017.

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Course At A Glance 

Length: 4 weeks
Effort: 4-6 hours pw
Subject: Philosophy & Ethics
Institution: Hong Kong Polytechnic University and edx
Languages: English
Price: Free
Certificate Available: Yes, Add a Verified Certificate for $50
Session: Course Starts on August 2, 2017

Providers’ Details

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University is committed to education and preparing students to becoming global citizens through quality learning and teaching.  We are internationally known for our excellence in professional education and innovative research.

About This Course

If you are interested in questions about life and death and keen to seek ultimate answers, this inter-disciplinary and inter-cultural course will amaze you with the diverse perspectives and answers proposed to the perennial questions, such as

  • What are the meanings of life and death? Can science provide us with an adequate answer?
  • Why are you here? What is the purpose of your life?
  • Is the afterlife essential for making our present lifetime hopeful and meaningful? Or is it merely an option? Or can it be an option at all?
  • Would death turn our endeavors in the present lifetime futile? Or should death be a reason for us to lead an even more meaningful lifetime?

Why Take This Course?

Apart from the general questions, we also examine the controversies in the life and death contexts: suicide, euthanasia & abortion. We examine the pros and cons of these moral disputes, coupled with the key questions below:

  • How do we understand the phenomenon of suicide?
  • Why is euthanasia so controversial?
  • Why is the controversy about abortion bound up with the conception of what counts as a human?

Learning Outcomes

  • Perspective thinking skills by examining the scientific, religious and philosophical perspectives, searching for various models of consistent outlook on life-and-death
  • Coherent ethical reflections from case-studies to theories
  • Empathetic thinking through an immersive card game
  • To better understand different cultural values over matters of life and death

Instructors

Mr. Kasim Ma

Chariman
The Islamic Union of Hong Kong Da’Wah Committee

Ven. Dr. Sik Fa Ren

Visiting Assistant Professor
The University of Hong Kong

Rev. Thomas Kwan

Principal Consultant of Project inspired
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Prof. Ole Döring

Professor of Sinology
Freie University
Director of SIGENET
Charité Medical University
Departmental Academic Advisor to the General Education Centre
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Prof. Adrian Bejan
J.A. Jones Professor Mechanical Engineering

Dr. David Wan
Lecturer, General Education Centre
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Dr. Kam-por Yu
Director, General Education Centre
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Dr. John Yuen
Associate Professor, School of Nursing
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Dr. Jack Chun

Associate Director, General Education Centre
MOOC Leader of “Life and Death”
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Requirements

None

How To Join This Course

  • Go to the course website link
  • Create an edX account to SignUp
  • Choose “Register Now” to get started.
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