Philosophy of Medicine
Prerequisite: Students must have taken at least two philosophy courses.
This course investigates philosophical questions concerning the practice of medicine, such as the epistemology of medicine, the nature of health and disease, what is a profession, and the nature of suffering.
Outcomes: The student will develop a critical understanding of the practice of medicine from a philosophical point of view.
Prerequisite: Students must have taken at least two philosophy courses.
This course investigates philosophical questions concerning the practice of medicine, such as the epistemology of medicine, the nature of health and disease, what is a profession, and the nature of suffering.
Outcomes: The student will develop a critical understanding of the practice of medicine from a philosophical point of view.
Pre-requisites: UCWR 110, C- or higher
Prerequisite: Students must have taken at least two philosophy courses.
This is a writing intensive class. A grade of C- or better in UCWR 110 is required to enroll.
This writing intensive course, divided into three parts, investigates the meaning and practice of medicine. It begins with the metaphysical question: What is Medicine? and attempts to answer it by examining medical debates that developed in ancient Greece and continued through the Roman era. This part will cover writings by Plato, Hippocrates, and Galen. The second component concerns human health and suffering. Here we will examine a variety of texts including medieval medical accounts by Ibn Sina (Avicenna) and St. Hildegard von Bingen, followed by mindfulness in medicine which traces its origin to Buddhism, and finally a contemporary account of decolonizing medicine. The third and final part will critically examine current medical practices, beginning with Evidence-Based Medicine and ending with the Cuban healthcare system.
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