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Titel Philosophy of science and the concept of health
Kursnummer 3073
Program 0-Inte del av forskarutbildningsprogram
Språk Engelska
Antal högskolepoäng 1.5
Noteringar Kursen uppfyller kraven för en allmänvetenskaplig kurs.

Datum 2021-11-08 -- 2021-11-19
Kursansvarig institution Institutionen för lärande, informatik, management och etik
Särskild behörighet
Kursens syfte The course aim is that the doctoral student develops a theory of science approach by enabling the doctoral student to understand, employ, reflect upon and critically assess concepts and ideas of theories of science as well as their implications for in particular medical scientific practice. A further aim is to enable the doctoral student to understand, reflect upon and critically assess views on and implications of definitions of health and disease.
Kursens lärandemål Upon completion of the course, the doctoral student should be able to:
- understand central concepts and problems of the theory of science, in particular those of relevance for the medical sciences
- identify, analyse and critically assess scientific problems, approaches and arguments from a theory of science perspective, in particular in the field of medical sciences
Kursens innehåll The course contains the following parts:
1. Theory of knowledge
Concepts such as knowledge, truth, and science, as well as the relations between them, are discussed and problematised. Verification/falsification, logical positivism, falsificationism and demarcation are other concepts and theoretical strands to be treated.
2. Theory of science
Central concepts, theories and themes within this area are paradigm, the clinical-medical paradigm, the placebo effect, scientific anomalies, and the nature of and view on knowledge within the medical sciences (e.g. randomised clinical trials). The difference and relation between science and values are also dealt with.
3. Science, pseudo-science and scientific argumentation
Demarcation in practice, the difference between science and pseudo-science, and argumentation within the sciences (in particular within the medical sciences) are in focus.
4. The concept of health
The concept of health is critically assessed, for example based on notions of objectivity/subjectivity. The consequences of using different types of definitions of health are analysed. Furthermore, the concept of disease is discussed, e.g. in relation to normality.
Arbetsformer The course is given online. The teaching and learning activities used are web lectures, written examination, individual writing exercises, an individual written assignment, and reading of course literature and other distributed materials.
Obligatoriska moment All parts of the course examination are mandatory.
Examination Course examination consists of three parts:
- Written examination
- Individual writing exercises
- One written individual assignment
Kurslitteratur och övriga läromedel Mandatory literature:
- Johansson, Ingvar, & Lynöe, Niels. Medicine and Philosophy: A Twenty-First Century Introduction. Frankfurt: Ontos Verlag, 2008. https://ki.se/sites/default/files
/johansonlynoemedicineandphilosophy19jan2011_2.pdf
- A compilation of scientific articles, accessible through the course platform.

Recommended literature:
- Kuhn, Thomas S. The structure of scientific revolutions. Chicago, Ill. : University of Chicago Press, 2012.
- Popper, Karl. Conjectures and refutations. The growth of scientific knowledge. London, Routledge, 2002.
- Godfrey-Smith, Peter Theory and reality: an introduction to the philosophy of science
Chicago, Ill.: University of Chicago Press, 2003. Kapitel 2-6.
https://ki.se/sites/default/files
/johansonlynoemedicineandphilosophy19jan2011_2.pdf

Additional publications may be added.
Antal studenter 10 - 15
Urval av studenter Selection will be based on the written motivation explaining why the course would benefit the doctoral studies.
Övrig information The course is web-based and arranged over two weeks time.
Ytterligare kursledare
Senaste kursvärdering Kursvärderingsrapport
Kursansvarig Gert Helgesson
Institutionen för lärande, informatik, management och etik

Gert.Helgesson@ki.se
Kontaktpersoner Annelie Jonsson
Institutionen för lärande, informatik, management och etik

annelie.jonsson@ki.se