Living in a Material World

• Published in: Issues in science and technology Vol. 30; no. 2; pp. 29 - 31
• Main Author: WERNICK, IDDO K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington The University of Texas at Dallas 2014; National Academy of Sciences; Issues in Science and Technology
• Subjects: Analysis; Bias; Biology; Climate change policy; Climate models; Computers; Consumer attitudes; Dating; Definitions; Disease models; Ecological monitoring; Economic Research; Environmental impact; Government bureaucracy; Government spending policy; Health outcomes; Human; Human Body; Human societies; Lead; Materialism; Mathematical descriptions; Mathematical models; Medical; Medical care; Medical care (Private); Medicine; PERSPECTIVES; Policy sciences; Scientific Enterprise; Scientists; Social policy; Society; Statistical Data; Statistical models; Statistical Studies; Studies; Syntax; United States; United States
• ISSN: 0748-5492; 1938-1557

The doctrine of materialism, dating back to the ancient Greeks and Chinese and providing background for Descartes and Marx, argues that all phenomena found in nature can be explained by causal material factors. Because materialism is assumed to apply to all observed phenomena, it is also assumed that materialism can be applied to explain the behavior of life and systems of living things. This assumption forms a basis for the study of animal and human biology, as well as the study of ecological and social systems. Unlike in the physical sciences, description, more than explanation, continues to occupy most life scientists. Better description of ailments constituted much of medical practice until the beginning of the 20th century. Because protecting and promoting human life remains fundamental to human society, medicine is always necessary whether or not it derives from a complete understanding of how the human body works. The patient is sick and must be treated.