Ateneo - UPO

Introduction to the philosophy of science. How scientists reason: deduction, induction, explanation, causal and experimental reasoning. Forms of medical reasoning. Contemporary thinking about concepts of health and disease. Errors, biases and fallacies in medical reasoning and communication. Some aspects of gender medicine will be covered.

Stefano Canali,mConoscere la medicina:strumenti filosofici. Carocci 2024 (selected parts) Other readings posted on DIR.

1. Cultural knowledge and skills: Students will be able to distinguish and recognize the main forms of scientific reasoning and indicate their standards of correctness. They will be able to recognize the most well-known fallacies and distortions of reasoning and argumentation by identifying them in texts and dialogues. They will be able to deal critically with some topics of contemporary medical philosophy by expounding the different positions critically and clearly.

2. Communicative/relational knowledge and skills: knowledge of the theoretical elaboration on argumentative incorrectness and competence in correct dialogical argumentation by identifying them in texts and engaging in debates that can be evaluated according to predefined standards.

3. Knowledge and self-learning skills: knowledge of major argumentative and dialogic errors and competence in learning to evaluate major errors in argumentation and communication.

Fulfilment of the requirements for admission to the degree course.

Lectures; in-class case discussions; presentation and discussion of audio-visual material; self-assessment tests.

Students are strongly recommended to follow the updates of the course page published on DIR for supplementary readings as well as for the detailed program of the course. Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via reference office consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-students-physical-or-learning-disabilities. Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

Oral examination, consisting of three questions. Answers will be assessed according to the following criteria: correctness, language property, and ability to elaborate independently.

Introduction to the philosophy of science and its applications to the analysis of the fundamental characteristics of contemporary medicine. What is data? the paradigm of Evidence Based Medicine. The main forms of reasoning: induction and deduction. Diagnostic reasoning. Explanations and causes in medicine. The different conceptions of health and disease. Major errors, cognitive biases and fallacies in medical decision-making and communication. Gender-based bias; influence of gender in the doctor-patient relationship.

Knowledge of some of the main themes and tools of the philosophy of medicine. Ability to recognize and use them in relation to real cases. Ability to recognize and avoid in professional life some of the major errors in reasoning, argumentation and decision making. Improvement of communication skills.