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Events

The role of intellectual vices in diagnostic error (KCL): 3 & 4 May 2016

Abstract:

Quassim Cassam – Self-Knowledge in Diagnosis and Self-Diagnosis I'll be discussing (a) the role of cognitive biases in causing diagnostic error and (b) the role of self-knowledge in overcoming cognitive biases. I will also discuss the contribution of 'intellectual vices' to diagnostic error, and the relationship between intellectual vices and cognitive biases. I will argue that the cognitive biases and intellectual vices that are responsible for diagnostic error are stealthy, in the sense that they evade detection by those who have them. Even if knowledge of one's own biases and vices can be achieved this would not in itself reduce their impact.


Alamshah Lecture on vicious thinking (California State University, Fullerton): 10th March 2016

Workshop on intellectual vices and virtues in evidence based clinical practice (Oxford): 27th January 2016

The impetus for the workshop was the idea that Aristotle’s conception of virtues as personal “excellences” and vices as personal “defects” might help explain how, why and to what extent clinical practice is evidence-based. This blog explains why we sought to bring virtue theory alongside evidence-based health care, what we talked about (professional virtues, intellectual virtues and vices, the psychology of guideline adoption and professional vices), and possible next steps for this interdisciplinary field.


Workshop on cognitive irrationality (University of Basel): 16th December 2015

Professor Q Cassam on 'Wayward Believers and the Limits of Persuasion’