C8320 - FILOSOFIA DELLA SALUTE

Learning outcomes

The philosophy of health critically explores how the concepts of health, well-being, and quality of life are understood and used in biomedical and nutritional sciences. The course introduces students to the following topics: major philosophical and scientific accounts of health and well-being; the relationship between health and the “good life,” and the values it involves; individual and public health; and ethical issues in health communication

Course contents

The Right Food: Philosophical Questions

When we describe food as healthy, right, or good, we are making value judgments as well as biomedical claims. Value judgments are grounded in the ethical and political principles held by individuals and communities. This course explores the value-laden—and therefore philosophical—dimensions of nutritional science and professional practice in nutrition.

No previous knowledge of philosophy or the history of philosophy is required.

Topics

1. Nutritional choices as moral choices: eating the right food to become a better person

• A brief history of the ethics of eating
• Food and personal identity

2. The right food and sustainability: eating the right food for a fairer society

• Sustainable agriculture and animal farming
• Vegetarianism, veganism, and conscious consumption
• The myth of the natural

3. Nutritional choices and health choices: the right food as healthy food

• Concepts of health and well-being in the biomedical sciences
• Nutritional science, misinformation, and fake news

4. Is there such a thing as the right food? Fat pride and anti-diet movements

• Is dieting immoral?
• Medical models of obesity as a disease

5. Nutritional choices and personal autonomy: who can tell me what the right food is?

• What it means to be a nutrition expert
• Basic ethical principles for nutrition professionals

Readings/Bibliography

Lalumera, E. (2025) Il cibo giusto. Filosofia critica delle norme del mangiare. Bologna: Esculapio

Lalumera, E. (2023) Stare bene. Un'introduzione filosofica. Bologna: il Mulino

Teaching methods

Lezioni frontali, discussione

Assessment methods

The assessment consists of a written examination with 16 short-answer questions.

Each answer is worth between 0 points for no answer and 2 points for a complete, correct, and precise answer.

A score of 32 corresponds to a final grade of 30 with honours.

An interim assessment will be held during the final week of the course and will be open only to students who attend classes in person.

Students with specific learning disorders or temporary or permanent disabilities are asked to contact the relevant office as soon as possible: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students. This will allow suitable accommodations to be arranged. Requests for accommodations must be submitted to the lecturer in advance, at least 15 days before the examination date. The lecturer will assess whether the proposed accommodations are appropriate in light of the course’s learning objectives.

Erasmus students may request an English version of the course materials and take the examination in English. Requests must be submitted by email no later than 30 November.

The final grade for the integrated course will be the arithmetic mean of the grades obtained in the Philosophy and Psychology modules.

Teaching tools

Le lezioni del corso sono registrate su Panopto

Office hours

See the website of Elisabetta Lalumera