We are used to phrases like “everything will be fine,” “you have nothing,” or “you have an aggressive cancer.” But what lies behind these words? We know that language not only describes reality, but also shapes it. Words are not neutral: they can soothe or hurt, open up possibilities or close them, give meaning to suffering or intensify it.
In healthcare, the way we name and explain what is happening is part of care itself. Words help shape how patients experience and understand their situation, and listening to their stories allows us to go beyond a strictly technical form of medicine, toward a more humane practice that heals, cares, and accompanies.
In this course, we will explore some key philosophical and anthropological reflections on the role of language in clinical practice, analyze real-life situations, and offer tools to refine listening and the use of words, with the aim of providing better care also through what we say.