| Unit name | The Philosophy and History of Medicine |
|---|---|
| Unit code | PHIL30082 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Grose |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Department of Philosophy |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Patients, Panaceas and Placebos (The Philosophy and History of Medicine, PHIL30082)
If you get ill, you are very lucky that you live now rather than 200 years ago, when simple infections would often prove fatal, surgery was carried out without pain relief, and almost all illnesses were treated with blood-letting or medicines based on poisonous mercury and antimony. It might appear that current medicine magnificently demonstrates the triumph of applied science, but the truth of this claim is, in fact, far from obvious. This unit examines some of the metaphysical and epistemological questions arising from the history of the making of modern medicine. From the new hospitals of the French Revolution, through the “laboratory revolution” of the late-nineteenth century, to 21st century “evidence based medicine”. Philosophy of Medicine is an increasingly prominent area within philosophy of science and we will all have to engage with medical practices at some time in our lives. Prior knowledge of philosophy of science or biology is not assumed. Among the issues examined are:
• What is “disease”? Is it a purely biological concept, a social construction, or something in between?
• The changing nature of the concept of the patient.
• Revolutions in medicine.
• Evidence based medicine and identifying cause and effect.
• The metaphysics of pregnancy.
• Pandemic ethics: public health and private risk. (Note that we do not cover other issues in medical ethics in this unit.)
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to demonstrate:
Lectures, small group work, individual exercises, seminars and virtual learning environment.
Summative: 4,500 word essay (100%) [ILOs 1-3]
Formative: Digital presentation (0% to be completed for the award of credit) [ILOs 1-2]
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. PHIL30082).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
