How much longer must medicine's science be bound by a seventeenth century world view?

The exclusion of nonmaterial human phenomena mandated by medical science's continuing allegiance to a 17th century scientific world view has constituted a major obstacle to medicine's scientific maturation as a human discipline. But 20th century conceptual changes even in physics (not to m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPsychotherapy and psychosomatics Vol. 57; no. 1-2; p. 3
Main Author Engel, G L
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Switzerland 1992
Subjects
Clinical Competence
Diagnosis
Humans
Physician's Role
Physician-Patient Relations
Science - trends
Sick Role
Therapeutics
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Summary:The exclusion of nonmaterial human phenomena mandated by medical science's continuing allegiance to a 17th century scientific world view has constituted a major obstacle to medicine's scientific maturation as a human discipline. But 20th century conceptual changes even in physics (not to mention the influence of the theory of evolution) now renders that exclusion untenable and in effect legitimizes efforts to devise scientific means appropriate for the human domain. Practical as well as theoretical issues involved in such an undertaking are discussed within the framework of a 20th century scientific world view as represented by the biopsychosocial model, a counterpart to the traditional biomedical model.
ISSN:0033-3190
DOI:10.1159/000288568