Subject Area: History and Philosophy of Science

Medicine and health care are high-profile issues in society today, so it is important that lay people understand the background to innovations, controversies, advice and treatment. Medical knowledge (theory and practice) has always been central to the very existence of human beings but in the current climate of screening, testing, overwhelming health advice, and even proposed legislation, it is vital for students to be aware of how we, in Western societies, moved on from the 'miracles of modern medicine' to create a generation of the 'worried well'. In particular the course will examine: the origins of medical ethics; the problems of anatomy, dissection and grave robbing; the function of nursing and hospitals; surgery with and without anaesthetics; miasmas, germs and microbes; the hunt for the magic bullet; madness; birth and death and syndromes and social problems.