A Philosopher Goes to the Doctor: A Critical Look at Philosophical Assumptions in Medicine

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Dien Ho

A Philosopher Goes to the Doctor

A Critical Look at Philosophical Assumptions in Medicine

Dien Ho

$273

Hardback

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English

Routledge
13 June 2019

Philosophy: metaphysics & ontology; Philosophy: epistemology & theory of knowledge; Ethics & moral philosophy; Public health & preventive medicine; Philosophy of science

This book sheds light on important philosophical assumptions made by professionals working in clinical and research medicine. In doing so, it aims to make explicit how active philosophy is in medicine and shows how this awareness can result in better and more informed medical research and practice.

It examines: what features make something a scientific discipline; the inherent tensions between understanding medicine as a research science and as a healing practice; how the “replication crisis” in medical research asks us to rethink the structure of knowledge production in our modern world; whether explanations have any real scientific values; the uncertainties about probabilistic claims; and whether it is possible for evidence-based medicine to truly be value free. The final chapter argues that the most important question we can ask is not, “How can we separate values from science?” but, “In a democratic society, how can we decide in a politically and morally acceptable way what values should drive science?”

Key features:

introduces complex philosophical issues in a manner accessible to non-professional academics; critically examines philosophical assumptions made in medicine, providing a better understanding of medicine that can lead to better healthcare; integrates medical examples and historic contexts so as to frame the rationale of philosophical views and provide lively illustrations of how philosophy can impact science and our lives; uses inter-connected chapters to demonstrate that disparate philosophical concepts are deeply related (e.g., it shows how the aims of medicine inform how we should understand theoretical reasoning).

By: Dien Ho
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm,
Weight: 453g
ISBN: 9781138647787
ISBN 10: 1138647780
Pages: 156
Publication Date: 13 June 2019
Audience: College/higher education , General/trade , Primary , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Annotated Table of Contents A Note on the Cover Introduction Chapter 1: The Boundaries of Medicine Chapter 2: The Concept of Health Chapter 3: Evidence in Medicine Chapter 4: Explanations in Medicine Chapter 5: Probability in Medicine Chapter 6: Value-Free Medicine Chapter 7: Truth and Happiness Index

Dien Ho is an Associate Professor of Philosophy and Healthcare Ethics at MCPHS University, USA. His recent publications include an edited anthology, Philosophical Issues in Pharmaceutics: Development, Dispensing, and Use (2017). He has also written for non-academic publications including Newsweek, Philosophy Now!, The Boston Globe, and other popular media.