B4066 - QUESTIONI FILOSOFICHE NELLA RICERCA BIOMEDICA

Learning outcomes

Through the 3 modules of the integrated course, students will

- understand the historical and evolutionary foundations of their future professional practice and appreciate both the scientific basis and humanistic value of medicine;

- acquire the cultural tools needed to understand and critically assess scientific evidence and research practices;

- develop awareness of the epistemic and methodological context in which biomedical sciences operate;

- adopt a more reflective approach to clinical practice and research, enabling them to recognize the limits, implicit assumptions, and also the value of current medical paradigms.

Specifically, By the end of this module, students will:

- understand how values, methodological choices, and epistemological assumptions influence biomedical research;

- gain tools to critically evaluate the reliability of scientific evidence and the role of research in modern medicine;

- reflect on the epistemic role of patients and on the interplay between scientific facts and normative values.

Course contents

Objectivity and the role of values in scientific research
Exploration of the tension between the ideal of science as value-free and the recognition of values in setting research agendas, choosing methods, and interpreting results.


Reliability of research: bias, conflicts of interest, and selective publication
Analysis of structural problems affecting scientific literature and discussion of what it means to trust science.


Patients and knowledge production: participation and epistemic tensions
From passive subjects to active partners: the epistemic role of patients, lived experience, and the limits of the evidence-based model.


Facts and values in contemporary medicine: case studies
Controversies over clinical guidelines, diagnostic criteria, and predictive models are used to explore how science and values intertwine in practice.

Readings/Bibliography

To pass the assessment for this module, students are required to study the lecture notes and read the following texts:

Stegenga, J. (2021) Curare e prendersi cura. Arezzo: Aboca. Capitoli 8 e 10.

Lalumera, E. (2021) Medicina e metodo sperimentale. Bologna: Esculapio

Teaching methods

Each topic is covered through 2 hours of lecture and 2 to 3 hours of guided reading and discussion of scientific and philosophical articles. The articles to be discussed are made available week by week on the Virtuale platform.

Assessment methods

The final evaluation will consist of a written quiz with 10 multiple-choice questions, each with four options and only one correct answer. No penalty will be applied for incorrect or unanswered questions. A minimum of 7 correct answers out of 10 is required to pass.

In-class formative assessments may be offered during the course, based on discussion and guided reading of assigned articles. These assessments require active participation and collaborative engagement. If successful, based on a shared decision of the professor and the students involved.

Teaching tools

Class notes (pdf), articles, and videos on Virtuale

Office hours

See the website of Elisabetta Lalumera