TM
Medical
Research
SYLLABUS
Course Title:
Philosophy of Science:
Medical Research
Instructor:
Name
Course Structure:
Duration: Adaptable for both a 10-week term and 16-week semester.
Class Frequency: Two one-hour classes per week or one two-hour class per week.
Course Description:
“Philosophy of Science: Medical Research” is an intellectually enriching course that delves into the evolution of scientific thought and its profound impact on modern medicine. This course, based on the text by Jeffrey W. Bulger, offers a comprehensive narrative that spans from the foundational ideas of early philosophers to contemporary advancements in science and medicine. It intricately intertwines the development of scientific paradigms with the ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice, providing students with an in-depth understanding of the philosophical and ethical underpinnings of biomedical research.
Course Objectives:
- Understand the Foundations of Scientific Inquiry:
- Comprehend the principles of falsifiability and the scientific method.
- Analyze the historical development and evolution of the scientific method from ancient Greek philosophy to contemporary scientific practices.
- Analyze Historical Contributions:
- Identify and evaluate the contributions of pivotal thinkers from various historical periods, including Thales, Hippocrates, Newton, and Harvey.
- Understand the impact of these contributions on the development of scientific, medical, and ethical thought.
- Investigate Contemporary Topics:
- Engage with modern challenges and advancements in science and medicine, including AI, bioinformatics, climate change, and precision medicine.
- Analyze how contemporary issues are informed by historical and philosophical contexts.
- Develop Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills:
- Cultivate the ability to critically assess scientific theories and ethical dilemmas.
- Enhance skills in logical reasoning, argumentation, and evidence-based analysis.
Course Content, Assessment, and Student Presentation(s):
- Chapters: Each chapter is 4-5 pages, covering the five key elements: rationalism, empiricism, scientific method, medicine, and ethics.
- Weekly Quizzes:
- Each chapter includes seven quiz questions: two true/false questions, two multiple-choice questions, one clinical vignette, one basic science vignette, and one philosophy vignette.
- Quizzes must be completed weekly on the LMS (e.g., D2L, Blackboard, Canvas) with a minimum score of 90%.
- Exams:
- Online exams with random selections of quiz questions.
- Exams can only be taken once and only when fully caught up with weekly quizzes.
Flipped Classroom:
- Student Presenations
- Students will give a 10-minute presentation on the assigned topics for the class.
- Presentations will be followed by discussion, and/or a learning activity.
- Topics and presentation dates will be assigned in advance.
By engaging with these materials and activities, students will gain a thorough understanding of the historical and philosophical foundations of science and their contemporary implications.
Attendance:
- Mandatory for all sessions
- Attendance Make-Up Paper: All absences (excused or unexcused) will result in the requirement to author and submit an attendance make-up paper focusing on a topic(s) covered during the missed class period. The make-up paper is due within five days of the missed lecture and must include:
- Topic Introduction
- Discussion of the topic from a philosophical perspective.
- Reference at least one scholarly citation to support the position on the specific topic.
- The paper must be thoughtful, logical, organized, and well-developed.
- 350-word minimum paper to be submitted on the LMS weekly module. A submission field will appear on the weekly attendance quiz when non-attendance is indicated. Student’s name should be included in the text field when submitting their paper.
________________________________________________________________________________
Weekly Schedule
________________________________________________________________________________
WEEK ONE
Class Hour 1
Syllabus
The Big Picture
Class Hour 2
Chapter 1: Karl Popper (1902-1994) — The Falsifiability Principle: Scientific Rigor
Chapter 2: The Scientific Method — The Foundation of Inquiry: Empirical Rigor
Chapter 3: Correlation and Causation — The Analytical Foundation: Accurate Inquiry
________________________________________________________________________________
WEEK TWO
Class Hour 1
Chapter 4: Thomas Kuhn (1922-1996) — The Paradigm Shifter: Scientific Revolutions
Chapter 5: Epistemology — The Foundations of Knowledge: Inquiry and Understanding
Chapter 6: Bioethics — The Moral Guide: Science and Ethics
Class 2
Chapter 7: Deontology — The Moral Compass: Ethical Principles
Chapter 8: Utilitarianism — The Greatest Good: Ethical Decision-Making
Chapter 9: Virtue Ethics — The Moral Excellence: Character and Integrity
________________________________________________________________________________
WEEK THREE
Class Hour 1
Chapter 10: Universal Ethics — The Holistic Approach: Integrative Morality
Chapter 11: Beauchamp and Childress — The Principlists: Ethical Framework in Bioethics
Chapter 12: Peter Singer (1946- ) — The Utilitarian Ethicist: Global Welfare and Animal Rights
Class Hour 2
Chapter 13: Academic Freedom — The Catalyst for Truth: Unbounded Inquiry
Chapter 14: Scholarship — The Beacon of Progress: Intellectual Rigor
Chapter 15: History of Peer Review — The Evolution of Integrity: Critical Analysis
________________________________________________________________________________
WEEK FOUR
Class Hour 1
Chapter 16: Peer Review — The Pillar of Rigor: Scientific Integrity
Chapter 17: P-Hacking — The Threat to Integrity: Ethical Research
Chapter 18: Research Funding Source — The Ethical Foundation: Scientific Integrity
Class Hour 2
Chapter 19: AI and Emergent Properties — The Technological Ethos: Rethinking Intelligence
Chapter 20: Big Data — The Analytical Revolution: Precision and Ethics
Chapter 21: Bioinformatics — The Computational Bridge: Biological Insights
EXAM I 50Q - online
________________________________________________________________________________
WEEK FIVE
Class Hour 1
Chapter 22: CRISPR-Cas9 — The Genetic Precision: Ethical Innovation
Chapter 23: Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology — The Transformative Frontier: Ethical Dilemmas
Chapter 24: Human Genome Project — The Genetic Blueprint: Scientific and Ethical Insights
Class Hour 2
Chapter 25: Large Language Models — The AI Frontier: Rethinking Knowledge
Chapter 26: Nanotechnology — The Atomic Precision: Ethical Innovation
Chapter 27: Pharmacogenomics — The Personalized Medicine: Genetic Insights
________________________________________________________________________________
WEEK SIX
Class Hour 1
Chapter 28: Precision Medicine — The Tailored Treatment: Efficacy and Safety
Chapter 29: Quantum Computing — The Computational Revolution: Ethical Horizons
Chapter 30: Digital Health and Telemedicine — The Accessible Healthcare: Modern Solutions
Class Hour 2
Chapter 31: Virtual and Augmented Reality in Medicine — The Immersive Innovation: Transformative Healthcare
Chapter 32: Richard Dawkins (1941- ) — The Evolutionary Biologist: Gene-Centered Evolution
Chapter 33: Climate Change — The Anthropocene Challenge: Ethical Imperatives
________________________________________________________________________________
WEEK SEVEN
Class Hour 1
Chapter 34: Environmentalism — The Stewardship Ethos: Planetary Preservation
Chapter 35: Global Health Initiatives — The Equity Imperative: Health for All
Chapter 36: Green Revolution — The Agricultural Paradigm: Balancing Innovation
Class Hour 2
Chapter 37: Complexity Theory — The Holistic Framework: Understanding Systems
Chapter 38: Epigenetics — The Dynamic Influence: Nature and Nurture
Chapter 39: Microbiome — The Symbiotic Network: Health and Disease
EXAM II 50Q - online
________________________________________________________________________________
WEEK EIGHT
Class Hour 1
Chapter 40: Neuroscience — The Cognitive Frontier: Understanding the Mind
Chapter 41: Heraclitus' Ship of Theseus Paradox — The Identity Puzzle: Continuity and Change
Chapter 42: Stem Cell Research — The Regenerative Potential: Ethical Frontiers
Class Hour 2
Chapter 43: Systems Thinking — The Integrative Framework: Complex Problem-Solving
Chapter 44: Imre Lakatos (1922-1976) — The Research Methodologist: Research Programs
Chapter 45: Paul Feyerabend (1924-1994) — The Methodological Anarchist: Epistemological Pluralism
____________________________________________________________________________
WEEK NINE
Class Hour 1
Chapter 46: Daniel Dennett (1942- ) — The Cognitive Philosopher: Interdisciplinary Dialogue
Chapter 47: Consciousness — The Emergent Marvel: Beyond the Brain
Chapter 48: Free Will and Determinism — The Dynamic Interplay: Freedom in Complexity
Class Hour 2
Chapter 49: Medicine — The Dynamic Fusion: Science, Technology, Ethics
Chapter 50: Hippocratic Oath — The Ethical Bedrock: Medical Integrity
Chapter 51: Nuremberg Code — The Ethical Framework: Human Dignity
________________________________________________________________________________
WEEK TEN
Class Hour 1
Chapter 52: Declaration of Geneva — The Universal Guide: Medical Ethics
Chapter 53: Declaration of Helsinki — The Ethical Compass: Biomedical Research
Chapter 54: 45CFR46 — The Common Rule: Ethical Research
Class Hour 2
Chapter 55: Belmont Report — The Ethical Blueprint: Human Research
Chapter 56: IACUC — The Guardian of Ethics: Animal Research
Chapter 57: 3Rs — The Ethical Triad: Humane Research
EXAM III 50Q - online
________________________________________________________________________________
WEEK ELEVEN
Class Hour 1
Chapter 58: Thales (THAY-leez, 624-546 BCE) — The Water Philosopher: Transforming Myth to Science
Chapter 59: Pythagoras (py-THAG-or-as, 570-495 BCE) — The Mathematical Metaphysicist: Numbers Governing Reality
Chapter 60: Xenophanes (zeh-NOF-uh-neez, 570-475 BCE) — The Rational Critic: One God, Many Questions
Class Hour 2
Chapter 61: Alcmaeon (Alk-MAY-on, 500-450 BCE) — The Anatomist: Brain as the Seat of Understanding
Chapter 62: Hippocratic Corpus (460-unknown BCE) — The Medical Founders: Do No Harm
Chapter 63: Socrates (469-399 BCE) — The Dialectical Philosopher: Unyielding Pursuit of Truth
________________________________________________________________________________
WEEK TWELVE
Class Hour 1
Chapter 64: Plato (427-347 BCE) — The Idealist: Forms and the Academy
Chapter 65: Aristotle (384-322 BCE) — The Systematizer: Empiricism and Causality
Chapter 66: Galen of Pergamum (GAY-len, 129-216 CE) — The Medical Synthesizer: Humoral Theory and Medical Ethics
Class Hour 2
Chapter 67: Avicenna (Ibn Sina, 980-1037) — The Medical Synthesizer: The Canon of Medicine
Chapter 68: Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) — The Theological Synthesizer: Faith and Reason
Chapter 69: Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) — The Heliocentric Revolutionary: Shifting the Cosmic Paradigm
________________________________________________________________________________
WEEK THIRTEEN
Class Hour 1
Chapter 70: Girolamo Fracastoro (1478-1553) — The Germ Theorist: Seed-like Entities and Contagion
Chapter 71: Paracelsus (1493-1541) — The Chemical Healer: Experimenting with Medicine
Chapter 72: Ambroise Paré (1510-1590) — The Surgical Innovator: Compassionate Techniques
Class Hour 2
Chapter 73: Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564) — The Anatomical Innovator: Revealing the Human Body
Chapter 74: Francis Bacon (1561-1626) — The Empirical Philosopher: Method and Experimentatio
Chapter 75: Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) — The Observational Pioneer: Telescopic Revelations
EXAM IV 50Q - online
________________________________________________________________________________
WEEK FOURTEEN
Class Hour 1
Chapter 76: William Harvey (1578-1657) — The Circulatory Pioneer: Heart and Blood
Chapter 77: René Descartes (1596-1650) — The Rationalist Thinker: Cogito, ergo sum
Chapter 78: Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723) — The Microscopic Discoverer: Unveiling the Invisible
Class Hour 2
Chapter 79: Isaac Newton (1643-1727) — The Universal Theorist: Laws of Motion and Gravitation
Chapter 80: David Hume (1711-1776) — The Empirical Skeptic: Questioning Causality
Chapter 81: Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) — The Synthesizer: Rationalism and Empiricism
________________________________________________________________________________
WEEK FIFTEEN
Class Hour 1
Chapter 82: Edward Jenner (1749-1823) — The Vaccine Innovator: Conquering Smallpox
Chapter 83: Thomas Malthus (1766-1834) — The Population Theorist: Limits of Growth
Chapter 84: John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) — The Utilitarian Philosopher: Greatest Good for the Greatest Number
Class Hour 2
Chapter 85: Charles Darwin (1809-1882) — The Evolutionary Theorist: Natural Selection
Chapter 86: Ignaz Semmelweis (1818-1865) — The Hygiene Pioneer: Handwashing in Medicine
Chapter 87: Gregor Mendel (1822-1884) — The Geneticist: Principles of Inheritance
________________________________________________________________________________
WEEK SIXTEEN
Class Hour 1
Chapter 88: Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) — The Germ Theory Pioneer: Microbial Revolution
Chapter 89: Alexander Fleming (1881-1955) — The Antibiotic Pioneer: Penicillin
Chapter 90: Albert Sabin (1906-1993) and Jonas Salk (1914-1995) — The Polio Warriors: Vaccine Pioneers
Class Hour 2
Chapter 91: Hans Jonas (1903-1993) — The Ethical Philosopher: Responsibility in Science
Chapter 92: Henry K. Beecher (1904-1976) — The Ethical Clinician: Informed Consent
Chapter 93: Joseph Murray (1919-2012) — The Transplant Pioneer: Organ Transplants
EXAM V 50Q - online
______________________________________________________________________________
**
SYLLABUS
REVIEW QUESTIONS
True/False Questions:
1. The course "Philosophy of Science: Medical Research" spans from ancient Greek philosophy to contemporary scientific innovations.
True or False?
2. The course is structured into Sixteen Weeks, each focusing on a different aspect of scientific and philosophical development.
True or False?
3. Weekly quizzes for each chapter include questions such as True/False, Multiple-Choice, and Vignettes.
True or False?
4. Students are required to attend all sessions and submit an attendance make-up paper for any absences, whether excused or unexcused.
True or False?
5. The course covers contemporary topics such as AI, bioinformatics, climate change, and precision medicine, exploring their connections to historical and philosophical contexts.
True or False?
Multiple-Choice Questions:
6. Which of the following periods is NOT explicitly mentioned in the course description as covered in the course?
a) Early Classical
b) Renaissance
c) Industrial Revolution
d) Contemporary
7. What are the foundational principles introduced at the beginning of the course?
a) Falsifiability, scientific method, scientific revolutions, ethics, and emergent properties
b) Rationalism, empiricism, consciousness, free will, and epistemology
c) AI, bioinformatics, climate change, and precision medicine
d) Logical reasoning, argumentation, and evidence-based analysis
8. Which of the following is NOT one of the course objectives?
a) Understand the Foundations of Scientific Inquiry
b) Analyze Historical Contributions
c) Investigate Contemporary Topics
d) Master Laboratory Techniques in Modern Science
9. In addition to true/false and multiple choice review questions, what other types of vignettes are included in the weekly quizzes?
a) Historical, Pedigocial, and Discussion vignettes
b) Clinical, Basic Science, and Philosophy vignettes
c) Mathematical, Linguistical, and Sociological vignettes
d) Literary, Contemporary, and Relational vignettes
10. What is the required minimum score for completing the weekly quizzes?
a) 80%
b) 85%
c) 90%
d) 95%
Correct Answers:
1. True
2. False
3. True
4. True
5. True
6. c) Industrial Revolution
7. a) Falsifiability, scientific method, scientific revolutions, ethics, and emergent properties
8. d) Master Laboratory Techniques in Modern Science
9. b) Clinical, Basic Science, and Philosophy vignettes
10. c) 90%
***
CORRECT! 🙂
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aliquam tincidunt lorem enim, eget fringilla turpis congue vitae. Phasellus aliquam nisi ut lorem vestibulum eleifend. Nulla ut arcu non nisi congue venenatis vitae ut ante. Nam iaculis sem nec ultrices dapibus. Phasellus eu ultrices turpis. Vivamus non mollis lacus, non ullamcorper nisl. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Phasellus sit amet scelerisque ipsum. Morbi nulla dolor, adipiscing non convallis rhoncus, ornare sed risus.
Sed adipiscing eget nibh at convallis. Curabitur eu gravida mauris, sit amet dictum metus. Sed a elementum arcu. Proin consectetur eros vitae odio sagittis, vitae dignissim justo sollicitudin. Phasellus non varius lacus, aliquet feugiat mauris. Phasellus fringilla commodo sem vel pellentesque. Ut porttitor tincidunt risus a pharetra. Cras nec vestibulum massa. Mauris sagittis leo a libero convallis accumsan. Aenean ut mollis ipsum. Donec aliquam egestas convallis. Fusce dapibus, neque sed
Wrong 😕
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aliquam tincidunt lorem enim, eget fringilla turpis congue vitae. Phasellus aliquam nisi ut lorem vestibulum eleifend. Nulla ut arcu non nisi congue venenatis vitae ut ante. Nam iaculis sem nec ultrices dapibus. Phasellus eu ultrices turpis. Vivamus non mollis lacus, non ullamcorper nisl. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Phasellus sit amet scelerisque ipsum. Morbi nulla dolor, adipiscing non convallis rhoncus, ornare sed risus.
Sed adipiscing eget nibh at convallis. Curabitur eu gravida mauris, sit amet dictum metus. Sed a elementum arcu. Proin consectetur eros vitae
TM