Course catalogue doctoral education - VT24

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Title Philosophy of science and the concept of health
Course number 3073
Programme 0-Inte del av forskarutbildningsprogram
Language English
Credits 1.5
Notes The course meets the requirements for a general science course.

Date 2022-10-17 -- 2022-10-28
Responsible KI department Institutionen för lärande, informatik, management och etik
Specific entry requirements
Purpose of the course 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.
Intended learning outcomes 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
Contents of the course 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.
Teaching and learning activities 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.
Compulsory elements All parts of the course examination are mandatory.
Examination Course examination consists of three parts:
- Written examination
- Individual writing exercises
- One written individual assignment
Literature and other teaching material 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.
Number of students 10 - 16
Selection of students Selection will be based on 1) the written motivation explaining why the course would benefit the doctoral studies, 2) start date of doctoral studies (priority given to earlier start date).
More information The course is web-based and arranged over two weeks' time.
Additional course leader
Latest course evaluation Course evaluation report
Course responsible Gert Helgesson
Institutionen för lärande, informatik, management och etik

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

annelie.jonsson@ki.se