1- Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran
2- , nourimilad79@yahoo.com
Abstract: (11997 Views)
In this article, we aim to discuss one of the essential concepts of medicine. As a rule, such studies attempt to clarify the philosophical principals of medicine, whereby the act of medic can be regulated based on his clear perceptions of the principles of his knowledge.
In this article, we will evaluate the concept of causation in medicine from a philosophical point of view and through historical review, and we aim to clarify the significance of such concepts in clinical decisions.
Medicine is an academic discipline dedicated to learning about illnesses and their causes, curing ailments and promoting social as well as individual health.
There are four general paradigms in the world of medicine, and accordingly four definitions of causation. Along the line of these thaughts are the views of modern philosophers such as rationalists, empiricists and post-modern philosophers. In this article we will look at these four medical paradigms and consequently the four definitions of causation.
Hippocratic paradigm, with reprsentatives such as Hippocrates, Ibn Sina and Galen, was the first paradigm in medicine to presuppose a rationalistic and realisitc view about causation.Biomedical paradigm aquires an attitude similar to logical positivism, seeing causation as a real concept that is true and is provable not through intelect, but by experience. Within this paradigm, a critical clinical approach is specially noticable according to which causation is not a real and necessary concept, but a mental, unprovable concept that is abtained through symmetry-based association, repetition and statistics.
Finally, in the post-modern hermenutical paradigm, discussions of scientific causation and biological and mechanistic topics are replaced by ethical discussions about humans thus the causation is marginalized and loses its relevance.
Type of Study:
Review |
Subject:
Medical Ethics Received: 2013/08/4 | Accepted: 2013/09/8 | Published: 2013/09/8