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Forum for Philosophy

October 26th, 2010

Evidence: Philosophy of Science Meets Medicine

0 comments | 1 shares

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

Forum for Philosophy

October 26th, 2010

Evidence: Philosophy of Science Meets Medicine

0 comments | 1 shares

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

John Worrall

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6 – 7.30pm | Tuesday 26 October 2010
Wolfson Theatre, New Academic Building, LSE

Speaker
John Worrall, Professor of Philosophy of Science, LSE

Chair
Chlump Chatkupt, LSE

It might seem surprising that there is a relatively new movement called ‘Evidence Based Medicine’. Surely medicine – just like any rational pursuit – must be based on evidence! There is, however, devil in the details. Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) began by making sharp claims about what really counts as evidence that were too simple to be true. Nowadays EBM has developed a much more nuanced view of evidence, but one that is often unclear and lacking in any clear rationale. The study of the relationship between theory and evidence (more often known as confirmation theory) has always been a central part of philosophy of science. John Worrall argued that some simple principles from this logic of evidence can help towards articulating a defensible version of EBM.

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