Course 2024-2025

Philosophy of biomedicine [MSPSB142]

  • 3 credits
  • 20h+15h
  • 1st quarter
Language of instruction: French / Français

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course, the student will be able to:
• To carry out a critical reflection with regard to the processes of production of knowledge
• To report on their understanding of basic elements of philosophy of science, epistemogy, moral and political philosophy
• To analyze, by means of these elements, situations of production and / of use of knowledge relating to biomedicine

Objectives

The aim of the course is to introduce philosophical reflection and its application within the framework of questions raised by biomedicine.
It is therefore a question of offering students basic elements of philosophy of science, epistemology, moral and political philosophy allowing them to reflect on issues related to the field of biomedicine.

Content

We will first explore what the scientific approach is, its strengths and weaknesses, as well as its evolution over the course of history.
We will then address a series of questions relating to knowledge (epistemology) and action (ethics and politics) in the field of biomedicine.
The students will themselves be able to propose themes and issues relating to biomedicine which will serve us to exercise the methods of questioning and critical reflection specific to philosophy.

Table of contents

Part 1: Introduction (1 session)
 
Part 2: What is a science? Notions of epistemology (2 sessions)
 
Part 3: What is philosophy? (2 sessions)
 
Part 4: What is Biomedicine? (3 sessions)
 
Part 5: Ethics of biomedicine (2 sessions)
 

Exercises description

In addition to the theoretical course (group sessions), the seminars offer students the opportunity to practice philosophical practice and reflection. To do this, exercises and concrete cases will be offered to students.


Teaching methods

The course includes on the one hand group sessions which will be devoted to theoretical presentations and discussions on illustrations and case studies (20h).
On the other hand, the course also includes seminar sessions in small groups (14h).

Evaluations

The material taught during group sessions will be assessed during a written exam.
Regarding the learning activities carried out during the seminar, a written evaluation will take place during the seminar sessions.
The final mark will combine the mark obtained in the written exam (4/5 of the final mark) and that obtained in the evaluation of the seminar (1/5 of the final mark).

 

Language of instruction

French / Français

Location for course

NAMUR

Organizer

Faculté de médecine
rue de Bruxelles
61
5000 NAMUR
P. 081724347
F. 081724327
administration-medecine@unamur.be

Degree of Reference

Undergraduate Degree