95824 - Phylosophyof Health

Learning outcomes

The philosophy of health reflects critically on the concepts of health, wellbeing and quality of life, as they are employed in scientific research. This course introduces to the main concepts and definitions of health and wellbeing in philosophy and in the biomedical sciences; to recognze the interplay of facts and values in defining health and related concepts; the indvidual and social dimensions of health and wellbeing; some ethical aspects of health communication

Course contents

We'll see that wellbeing concepts have objective components, such as absene of bodily dysfunctions and availability of material goods, subjective components, such as happiness, pleasure and tranquility, and also value components, depending on what we value as good and interesting in life.

This is an introductory course and familiarity with philosophy or with the history of philosophy is neither required nor recommended.

Analysis of concepts and applied philosophy of science are the methods employed in this course. 

Topics:

- Definition of health: no disease, complete wellbeing, equilibrium

- Wellbeing as the aim of life: philosophical theories

- Wellbeing as an individual state: positive psychology

- Measuring health and related concepts: conceptual and practical problems

- Health and related concepts in old age

- Health, wellbeing and disability

- Mental health, mental wellbeing, eating disorders

- Obesity and stigmatization

 

 

 

 

Readings/Bibliography

- Slides of the classes

- Class notes

are the basic readings for this course

For each topic, classes will be based on 2-3 published articles or short books  (in English). Reading them before classes makes participation easier and allow for a more enjoyable experience of the course. 

Articles and short books will be posted on Virtuale, too.

Teaching methods

Traditional lectures with discussion time.

Assessment methods

Written test with 16 open questions.

Maximum score 32 (30 e lode)

Students can pre-integrate their grade (+2) by presenting an article during class. More info during the first class.

This is one module of an integrated course. Final grade of the integrated course is the average of the two grades obtained in each module.

Teaching tools

Pdf and ppt files of classes, articles and some videos.

Office hours

See the website of Elisabetta Lalumera