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A Philosophical Inquiry concerning Biomedicine, part B

Vak
2017-2018

Admission requirements

This course is only open for students that successfully finished A Philosophical Inquiry concerning Biomedicine, part A (or Philosophical Aspect of Biomedicine A).

Description

Period: to be announced
Part A has served as an introduction into the method of a philosophical inquiry. You have experienced a freedom of choice in what we discussed and how. These choices, reflecting your way of thinking, learned you more about different thought processes and perspectives. Part B is a follow up: we will use the methods and communication skills to go further into questions more specific related to biomedicine, opening different points of view on concepts like illness, health and curing. Although there is room to choose topics of your own interest to focus on, there will be an introduction into 3 main topics:

  • Philosophers on the relationship towards our body and related perspectives on curing

  • The impact of scientific language on how we experience reality, especially ourselves

  • Time and our lifespan related to the meaning of life and death

Again, you are invited to challenge your expectations in order to enhance the scope of your vision and possibly that of the science you practice.

Course objectives

Participants in the philosophical dialogue learn to:

  • reflect on the relationship between the science they practise, its social context and relevant philosophical questions.

  • clarify and develop their thoughts in these matters, to formulate them and to discuss them with others.

  • open in their communication to new perspectives and find inspiration for their own curiosity.

  • recognize different modes of thinking

  • apply the philosophical skills learned during part A

Mode of instruction

Working groups.

Assessment method

Participation during the discussions, contribution to the inquiry, an assignment and contribution to the final group presentation.
On pass/ no pass basis.

Reading list

Will be distributed by the teacher during the course.

Remarks
Maximum number of participants is 12.