Jacob Henry, William Irwin "Dr. House and philosophy - everyone lies"

Authors: Jacob Henry, William Irwin First edition: 2009 Medical topic: philosophical aspects of medicine Description: Finally, we have an attempt at answering the questions each of us asked ourselves while watching the episodes of this intriguing series. Where did House’s aversion to religion come from? Why is he so rude to patients and colleagues? What are the real motives behind his behavior? A collection of over a dozen articles edited by Jacob Henry and William Irwin analyzes the unconventional reasoning of this brilliant doctor based on theories put forth by ancient philosophers such as Socrates and Aristotle, as well as modern ones like Nietzsche and Kant, from whom, as it turns out, House draws heavily. These reflections are, of course, supported by specific examples from the series, so the book is full of legendary quotes, dialogues, and descriptions of various situations. However, this is not merely an attempt to break down the complex personality of the series’ protagonist, but also an opportunity to examine the moral and ethical dilemmas that abound in a doctor’s work. What should one do when an unambiguous diagnosis cannot be made? How does one cope with responsibility and guilt? All of this not only prompts reflection but also creates an atmosphere for discussing these issues in a larger group. Philosophy, which is usually associated with something boring and complicated, takes on an incredibly interesting aspect here.