ITRODUCTION TO MEDICAL

PHILOSOPHY

By: E.Suryadi & Trijoko H.

Faculty of Medicine GMU
 What is philosophy?
 Greek: philosophia
 Philein = love, philos = friendship
 Sophia = wisdom
 Wisdom love = true (based on) & good (the
effect is)
 Outlook on life
 Characteristics of philosophy thinking:
inclusive comprehensive, reflective, synoptic,
speculative, radical, conceptual, systematic,
freedom, responsible and implicative, not only
factual
The role of philosophy
 Philosophy as a attitude
 Philosophy as a method
 Philosophy as a problem cluster
 Philosophy as a theory cluster
 Philosophy as a logic analysis
 Philosophy as a activity to acquire
comprehensive view
The philosophy notion
 Existential problems
Quantity: monism; dualism; pluralism
Quality: spiritualism; materialism
Process or changing: mechanism; teleology; vitalism;
organism
 Knowledge problems
Pertain to resource: rationalism; empirics;
realism; criticism.
Pertain to essential: idealism; empirics;
positivism; pragmatism
 Values problems:
Idealism ethic : moral spiritual
Deontologism ethic; obligation
Teleology ethic : product, outcome, result
Hedonism : pleasant, enjoy, happy
Utilitarism :goodness
Philosophy and science
 Philosophy as mater scientiarum (a science
mother)
 Philosophy as a basic of science development
 Science preference in specific aspect
 Philosophy view comprehensive reality so that
“a something” become consistent
 Philosophy endeavor for unity of sciences
Philosophy of health
 Vitalism
2500 years ago in ancient Greece Hipocrates
offered a healing theory based on the idea of
the internal energy of healing the organism (
called: physis)
physician = doctor to protect the healing
energy and to maintain its vital power and
strength
Atomism
Democritus’ idea was that our organism is nothing but
minor particles coming together and falling apart.
Democritus couldn’t imagine the presence of the healing
energy in the particles we consist of and tried to prove
that its existence is impossible.
In practice physicians are its master and instead of
expecting a low natural process to eliminate a harmful
substance from the body.

Regeneration
Regeneration is a philosophy of regaining the balance
among many organism energies that are sometimes
opposed.
A natural energy of healing called physis (Hippocrates)
or Chi (Chinese).
Every human has the right to be healthy and is bound
to be healthy
Alternative medicine
 Traditional Chinese Medicine does not only
focus on the body but focuses on the body
and its environment.
 Acupressure, Acupuncture, Exercise, Food
Therapies, Herbal Medicine and Meditation
are the modalities of treatment commonly
associated with Traditional Chinese Medicine
 These techniques are not only used as
treatments but they are performed to assist
in the prevention of disease
 Oriental Medicine Philosophy
When the body is in balance between
Yin and Yang health is predominant.

When the Yin and Yang are imbalanced,

diseases occurs.
 Health is an expression of balance,
Oriental medicine views disease as
physical expressions of an imbalance
within the body.
Oriental Medicine Physicians look at
the symptoms. along with other
diagnostic methods, to identify patterns
of disharmony.
Each of the body organ systems must
be in balance within itself as well as
within its relationship to the other organ
systems.
 Philosophy of Medicine
Plato emphasized virtue,and said that good
medicine is that which attains good ends.
This is now known as teleological ethics.
From ancient times there was emphasis on
codes, oaths and other formulations.
The Hippocratic oath defined morally
acceptable conduct towards patients, considered
duties to patients and referred to priestly vows
and sacred art.
 The practice of medicine consisted of
the arts of preserving health, prolonging
life and curing diseases but also required a
‘habit of nice discernment’, knowledge of
the world, an ability to deal with prejudice
and a controlled temperament.
The moral qualities of humanity and
sympathy were to be combined with
firmness of mind, good humour, candour,
decorum and good communication with
patients.
 John Gregory (1724 –1773) was
particularly concerned with Scottish Moral
Sense Theory, which was based on
motivation and character not action and
consequence.
It stressed humanity leading to
empathy, discretion, confidentiality and
tolerance.
He condemned commercial self-
interest, argued that reason could not be
the basis of morality and thought that
instinct needed training and control.
 If the people in medicine have
knowledge they stand in a position to
carry out the applied aims of medicine
with greater effectiveness.
Medicine's unique connection with
ethics heightens the importance of
correct application of knowledge.
Epistemology falls short of being an
applied field, but can contribute to the
goals of medicine and bioethics.
Should physicians in particular study
philosophy?
With some important reservations, then,
we find ourselves lining up behind the
great Roman philosopher and physician
Galen, when he writes:
"We must practice philosophy if we are true
followers of Hippocrates. And, if we practice
philosophy, there is nothing to prevent us, not
only from reaching a similar attainment, but
even from becoming better than him."
The title of the work from which this is
taken is The Best Doctor is Also a
Philosopher.
  Although
 same object, same data, same knowledge
same faith.
but
 difference perception and difference response
because
 difference philosophy!?

 Patient Doctor Management!?

In line with an element of Professor Caplan's
definition of the philosophy of medicine (69),

I will attempt to explicate the key concepts in

philosophy in medicine of
‘uncertainty' and
'underdetermination.'
 A number of claims that must be attended by
doctor:

 1. the public wants certainty and clarity

2. science can rarely provide
3. the data are uncertain
4. scientists are in disagreement
5. to deceive the public is unethical
6. to mask the reality of [presumably] (1)
through (4) to avoid 'confusion' is unethical,
because it is an instance of (5)
7. to misguide health policy is imprudent
8. to mask the reality of [presumably] (1)
through (4) is imprudent because it is an
instance of (7)
9. patients, practitioners, and the public
officials have the right to know when the facts
are certain and when they are not.