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Updated: Jul 31, 2026

Assessing Changes in Volatile General Anesthetic Sensitivity of Mice after Local or Systemic Pharmacological Intervention
Published on: October 16, 2013
[The anesthesia of anesthesia].
1Systematische Theologie/Ethik, Universität Basel. georg.pfleiderer@unibas.ch
Anesthesiology involves inflicting pain to relieve it, requiring anesthetists to maintain emotional distance. This practice, viewed culturally, mirrors ancient healing rituals and modern self-therapy through representation.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Philosophy of Medicine
Context:
- Anesthesiology as a cultural-ethical concept in general medicine.
- Dilemma of inflicting pain to alleviate pain.
- Anesthetist's apathy as a 20th-century observer.
- Modern variation of the priest-sick person relationship.
Purpose:
- To explore the cultural-ethical dimensions of anesthesiology.
- To analyze the concept of 'curing by representation'.
- To connect phenomenological philosophy with therapeutic processes.
Summary:
- Anesthesiology presents ethical dilemmas, balancing pain infliction with relief.
- The anesthetist's detachment is linked to a 20th-century observer role.
- Therapeutic 'representation' involves the patient internalizing the therapist's strength.
- This process, understood through phenomenology, aids in regaining body-soul balance.
Impact:
- Highlights the complex ethical and cultural underpinnings of anesthesiology.
- Connects historical healing paradigms with modern medical practice.
- Suggests insights from the Book of Job's depiction of pain for contemporary understanding.
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