Philosophy in Medicine: Unveiling the Unseen Assumptions

This thought-provoking book, authored by Dien Ho, delves into the philosophical underpinnings of clinical and research medicine, bringing to light the implicit assumptions that shape the practice and science of medicine.

Exploring the Intersection of Medicine and Philosophy

The book meticulously examines several crucial aspects, including:

• What constitutes a scientific discipline, and how medicine fits into this framework
• The inherent tensions between understanding medicine as a research science and as a healing practice
• The replication crisis in medical research and its implications for knowledge production in modern society
• The scientific value of explanations and the uncertainties surrounding probabilistic claims
• The feasibility of value-free evidence-based medicine in a democratic society

The final chapter presents a compelling argument, shifting the focus from separating values from science to deciding which values should drive science in a politically and morally acceptable manner.

Key Features and Benefits

This book:

• Presents complex philosophical issues in an accessible manner, making it an invaluable resource for non-professional academics
• Provides a critical examination of philosophical assumptions in medicine, leading to a deeper understanding and better healthcare outcomes
• Integrates medical examples and historic contexts to illustrate the impact of philosophy on science and daily life
• Demonstrates the interconnectedness of disparate philosophical concepts, showcasing how the aims of medicine inform theoretical reasoning

Publication Details

Published by Taylor and Francis on June 10, 2019, this book is available in English and features the following ISBN numbers:

• 9781138647787
• 9781317236344