Philosophy of Science and Ethics

URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/AB_1217

Course Objective

At the end of this course, you are able... 1. to identify and summarize main definitions, concepts, and theories in Philosophy of Science and Ethics in your own words 2. to relate philosophical discussion to case studies in biomedicine 3. to dissect philosophical arguments in speaking and writing, breaking them down to examine their logical structure and underlying assumptions 4. to critically reflect on philosophical assumptions in biomedical sciences, evaluating their premises and implications 5. to translate philosophical concepts into real-world examples relevant to your professional life, demonstrating the application of philosophical insights in decision-making and problem-solving contexts.

Course Content

This course has two central components
- Philosophy of Science and Ethics
- which correspond to two main units of this course. In the Philosophy of Science unit, students will develop the ability to reflect critically on the nature and practice of science, with an emphasis on biomedical sciences. Topics to be covered include the distinction between science and pseudoscience, the nature of scientific progress, the role of values in science, and the relationship between scientific theories and reality. In the Ethics unit, students will explore various ethical issues raised by the practice of biomedical science and the use of products and technologies developed by biomedical scientists. After an introduction to the foundations of ethics, we will explore several specific topics, such as genetic enhancement, moral status, vaccination policy, and other current issues. In general, students will learn how to critically read philosophical texts, which involves understanding the structure of the authors’ arguments and developing their own objections to or amplifications of the authors’ point of view. Students will also be encouraged to apply the philosophical concepts they learn to their own work and to utilize clear and sound argumentation in their own thinking and expression, orally as well as in written form.

Teaching Methods

Teaching consists of 8 lectures and 3 seminars.

Method of Assessment

The course assessment consists of three parts:
• Journal Entries
• Group Presentations (incl. handout) & Feedback (incl. written summary)
• Final Exam Journal Entries: Students have to write and hand in short answers to content questions, covering material of the lectures. Group Presentations & Feedback: This is a group assignment in which students have to pick a concept or theory from the course and prepare a corresponding presentation. Students also have to provide peer-feedback on another group's presentation. Final exam: The exam consists of multiple-choice questions. This course is assessed on a pass/fail basis. To pass the course, each of the three assessments has to receive a pass.

Literature

1. Samir Okasha (2016) Philosophy of Science: A Very Short Introduction (2nd edition). Oxford: Oxford UP. Purchase or access via VU Library. 2. Articles, both classical and contemporary, from ethics are uploaded on Canvas.

Target Audience

Compulsory course for second-year BSc Biomedical Sciences students.