SITB25001U Philosophy of Science, Technology and Ethics

Volume 2025/2026
Education

Bachelorprogramme in Health Informatics

Content

The course aims to provide students with the prerequisites to identify and address epistemological and ethical issues in health science and IT-related projects. The course introduces students to basic issues in the philosophy of technology; to ethical reasoning in medical contexts; and to ethical issues related to the design, implementation, and use of technology.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge

Understand ethical theories and approaches in order to identify ethical concepts and issues in new situations, and analyze ethical problems with specific reference to medical ethics.  Understand general philosophical issues that the use of (medical) technologies raise.

Skills

Formulating and providing examples of how health science projects can encompass both a natural science and a humanistic research approach. Discussing fundamental ethical concepts and significant ethical problems.

Competencies

Transferring basic methods and reasoning from philosophy of technology and ethics for application within the health science field, for instance, in advanced courses in health technological contexts or in responsible innovation. Ability to professionally engage in health-related project collaborations with an important philosophical or ethical dimension.

Kompendium

Lectures, group teaching and exams
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 16
  • Class Instruction
  • 16
  • Preparation
  • 70
  • Exam
  • 48
  • Total
  • 150
Oral
Individual
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Credit
5 ECTS
Type of assessment
On-site written exam
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Criteria for exam assesment

To achieve a grade of 12 on the exam, the student must be able to:

Knowledge

  • Understand the theories of science and technology as they have been introduced, so they can apply key concepts and theories to new cases and critically analyze relevant literature.
  • Understand ethical theories and approaches so they can identify ethical concepts and issues in new situations, and analyze ethical problems with specific reference to medical ethics.
  •  

Skills

  • Formulate and provide examples of how health science projects can encompass both a natural science and a humanistic research approach and issue.
  • Discuss philosophical issues that arise with the use of healthcare technologies.
  • Discuss ethical fundamental concepts and significant ethical problems.