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Medicine as an essentially contested concept.

C McKnight1

  • 1School of Philosophical Studies, Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK. philosophy@qub.ac.uk

Journal of Medical Ethics
|August 22, 2003
PubMed
Summary
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W B Gallie's theory of essentially contested concepts suggests that medicine is a prime example. Debates about medicine's definition are inherently irresolvable due to its contested nature.

Area of Science:

  • Philosophy of Medicine
  • Conceptual Analysis
  • Medical Ethics

Background:

  • W B Gallie's influential concept of 'essentially contested concepts' continues to spark philosophical debate.
  • Understanding the nature of concepts is crucial for resolving disputes within various fields, including medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To apply W B Gallie's notion of essentially contested concepts to the field of medicine.
  • To explore the implications of medicine being an essentially contested concept for definitional debates.

Main Methods:

  • Philosophical analysis of W B Gallie's theory.
  • Application of the theory to the concept of medicine.
  • Examination of the consequences for settling disputes in medical practice and theory.
Keywords:
Health Care and Public HealthPhilosophical Approach

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Main Results:

  • Medicine is argued to be an essentially contested concept.
  • The search for definitive, necessary, and sufficient conditions for 'medicine' is deemed inappropriate.
  • Ongoing debates about the scope and nature of medicine are inherent to its conceptual status.

Conclusions:

  • Recognizing medicine as an essentially contested concept reframes debates about its definition.
  • Focus should shift from seeking definitive answers to understanding the nature of ongoing disputes.
  • This perspective has significant implications for medical ethics, policy, and practice.