The Philosophy of Medicine :: Epistemology

The Philosophy of MedicinePhilosophy of Medicine? In Arthur Caplans 1992 paper entitled Does The Philosophy of Medicine Exist? he argues that if a school of thought of medicate existed it would be concerned with epistemological or metaphysical questions. Caplan states The goal of the philosophy of medicine is epistemological (71). Caplan adds the goal of the inquiry is to understand what those in medicine find they know and why they think they know it (71). In conversation with professor Caplan he has recently stated that he still holds the conclusion of his paper namely, that a philosophy of medicine does not currently exist.1 It will be my general aim to look at the discussion that takes place in some of the abridgment of the medical field with a focus on epistemology. Specifically it will be my intention to distinguish in some of the topical literature if the questions increase ar rightly epistemological yet or in need of some clarification. I accept Professor Caplans stip ulative definition that states that a field must(prenominal) be well-integrated with other cognate inquiries and disciplines, have an established canon of key books, textbooks, anthologies and articles, and a set of distinctive and defining problems (67). Epistemology meets all of these requirements. In attempts to assist medicine, authors from mingled quarters have offered analyses but confused what is and is not rightly epistemology. This confusion in turn blurs the distinction between philosophy in medicine and philosophy of medicine.2 The resulting cloudiness may be an obstacle in the way of the development of the philosophy of medicine. I believe the importance of merely recognizing whether we are asking questions slightly the thinkers or about that which may not be the thinker is a particularly relevant foundation to philosophy of medicine. In line with an element of Professor Caplans definition of the philosophy of medicine (69), I will attempt to explicate the key concept s in philosophy in medicine of uncertainty and underdetermination. Epistemology Epistemology is a branch of philosophy that is concerned with theories of knowledge. Its study focuses around the nature, scope, and basis of knowledge, and the reliability of claims to knowledge. Epistemology must often take up debates over where and how knowledge is obtained, and the role of reason.3 The tools of epistemologists consist of, but are not limited to, truth-bearers, truth-makers, truth-conditions, sentences, propositions, beliefs, criteria, justification, foundations, certainty, determination, coherence, usefulness,and correspondence. All these terms carry different weight and notions within individual epistemological theories, and need not be fully unpacked to facilitate their purpose in this investigation.