Philosophy of Medicine
| Module title | Philosophy of Medicine |
|---|---|
| Module code | PHL2123 |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Stephan Guttinger (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 25 |
|---|
Module description
This module will introduce you to the key philosophical issues that arise in contemporary medicine and biomedical research. We will consider fundamental concepts and debates in medicine, such as the definition of health and disease, or the question of what counts as “good” evidence in medicine. We will also explore positions and ideas that take a critical look at Western medicine, such as “alternative” medicine. Finally, we will analyse new philosophical issues that artificial intelligence and Big Data raise for medical practice and research. The module has no prerequisites and is suitable for students in philosophy, as well as students in the social sciences.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The module aims to provide you with the conceptual and theoretical foundations needed to critically analyse and assess medicine in the 21st century. To do so you will not only engage with key literature in Philosophy of Medicine but also with real-life case studies. The module will furthermore encourage you to think critically about contemporary medicine and its role and place in society.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. acquire a set of conceptual tools to analyse the nature of medical practice and research
- 2. distinguish and critically evaluate key positions within philosophy of medicine
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. apply philosophical reasoning to practical issues outside of academia
- 4. demonstrate a capacity to analyse and critique arguments and positions
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. learn to think, write, and argue logically through class discussions and written assignments
- 6. reconsider your personal understanding of medicine and its place in our society
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content will vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following themes:
Fundamental concepts and issues:
- Health and disease
- Causation and disease
- Evidence in medicine
- Reductionism and Holism
Medicine with a critical lens
- Skepticism and “alternative” medicine – A non-Western look at medicine
- Values in biomedical research – The question of objectivity
- Controversial diseases
Medicine in the digital age:
- AI in medicine
- A new dawn? Big Data and the personalisation of medicine
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities | 22 | Weekly 2-hour lectures/seminars or 1 hour lecture + 1 hour seminar |
| Guided independent study | 44 | 11x4h Reading and preparation for classes |
| Guided independent study | 84 | Independent research for written assignments |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay outline | 750 words | 1-6 | Written |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Critical paper appraisal | 35 | 1000 words | 1-5 | Written |
| Essay | 65 | 2000 words | 1-6 | Written |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical paper appraisal | Critical paper appraisal (1000 words) | 1-5 | August/September re-assessment period |
| Essay | Essay (2000 words) | 1-6 | August/September re-assessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Boniolo, G. and Nathan, M. (eds), 2020. Philosophy of Molecular Medicine: Foundational Issues in Research and Practice. Routledge.
Broadbent, A., 2019. Philosophy of medicine. Oxford University Press.
Stegenga, J., 2018. Care and cure: An introduction to philosophy of medicine. University of Chicago Press.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Reiss, Julian and Rachel A. Ankeny, "Philosophy of Medicine", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2022 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), forthcoming URL= https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2022/entries/medicine
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 5 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 18/01/2022 |
| Last revision date | 29/07/2022 |
