Four alternatives to a reductive view of knowledge (seeing with a squint)

Area of Science:

• Philosophy of Science
• Medical Epistemology
• General Practice Research

Background:

• The rise of evidence-based medicine (EBM) in UK General Practice has led to a devaluation of other ways of knowing.
• A critical examination of EBM's dominance is needed to re-emphasize diverse epistemological approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present four alternative approaches to knowledge acquisition.
• To challenge the predominance of strictly evidence-based approaches in healthcare.
• To highlight the importance of non-empirical ways of knowing.

Main Methods:

• Philosophical synthesis of works by Heidegger, Sebald, Bachelard, and Gadamer.
• Analysis of the relationship between consciousness and world underlying empirical knowledge.
• Exploration of how diverse authors inform our understanding of knowledge.

Main Results:

• Identified four alternative epistemological frameworks.
• Demonstrated a primordial relationship between consciousness and world that underpins empirical knowledge.
• Showcased how non-empirical understanding is crucial for applying evidence-based knowledge.

Conclusions:

• A strictly evidence-based approach may undervalue other forms of knowing.
• A deeper, primordial connection between consciousness and the world supports and enables the application of evidence.
• Clinical practice should adopt a more cautious approach to evidence, prioritizing professional discretion and judgment.