We are used to phrases like “everything will be fine,” “there’s nothing wrong with you,” or “you have an aggressive cancer.” But what lies behind these words? We know that language not only describes reality but also shapes it. Thus, healthcare professionals bear a great responsibility, because the ways in which they put reality into words help to shape the patient’s reality—for better or for worse.
In this course, we will discuss some of the most important philosophical and anthropological reflections on this issue, analyze concrete cases, and provide healthcare professionals with tools to heal, care for, and accompany their patients with words in the best possible way.