History and Philosophy of Medicine

HPSC-X 305 — Spring 2025

Instructor
Andrea Sullivan-Clarke
Course Description
In the movie, The Princess Bride, Count Rugen advises Prince Humperdink to practice self-care, stating, “If you haven’t got your health, you haven’t got anything.” What does it mean to be healthy, and how do we come up with some of the concepts we use in medicine? In this course we will examine key issues in public health and medicine, drawing from both past and present sources. Our topics will include concepts of disease and health, contagion and infection, diagnosis, and mental health. We will not only consider important historical debates in medicine, but we will also explore various cultural understandings of health, and the disparities of care often associated with different social groups.

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The full details of this course are available on the Office of the Registrar website.

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