CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATIONS OF MEDICINE: A PHILOSOPHICAL ANALYSIS
Keywords:
Philosophy of medicine, Epistemology, Bioethics, Clinical reasoning, Medical humanism, Ontological status of disease.Abstract
This paper explores the fundamental intersection between philosophy and clinical medicine, examining how philosophical frameworks shape medical understanding. While modern medicine is often viewed strictly through a biotechnological lens, its core—the definitions of health, disease, and the healing process—remains deeply rooted in ontological and epistemological questions. The study analyzes the shift from a purely biomedical model to a more holistic, humanistic approach. By examining the conceptual foundations of medical practice, the authors argue that a philosophical grounding is essential for medical students and practitioners to navigate the ethical and diagnostic complexities of contemporary healthcare. The integration of philosophy into medicine does not contradict scientific rigor; rather, it provides the necessary framework for interpreting biological data within the context of human existence.
References
1. Cassell, E. J. (2004). The Nature of Suffering and the Goals of Medicine. Oxford University Press.
2. Engel, G. L. (1977). The need for a new medical model: A challenge for biomedicine. Science, 196(4286), 129-136.
3. Foucault, M. (1973). The Birth of the Clinic: An Archaeology of Medical Perception. Routledge.
4. Ibn Sina (Avicenna). (1025). The Canon of Medicine (Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb). Pellegrino, E. D., & Thomasma, D. C. (1981). A Philosophical Basis of Medical Practice. Oxford University Press.
5. Toombs, S. K. (1992). The Meaning of Illness: A Phenomenological Account of the Different Perspectives of Physician and Patient. Kluwer Academic Publishers.
6. World Health Organization (WHO). (2020). Ethical considerations in health policy and clinical practice. Geneva: WHO Press.



