Does One Health need an ontological turn?

Area of Science:

• Anthropology
• One Health
• Social Sciences

Background:

• One Health has gained global prominence, facing critiques from social sciences.
• Interdisciplinary collaborations in One Health are challenged by differing epistemological and ontological positions.
• Anthropological theories, specifically the 'ontological turn,' offer valuable insights.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the value of anthropological ontological thinking for the One Health approach.
• To address challenges in interdisciplinary communication within One Health.
• To promote ontological openness in One Health collaborations.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of recent theoretical discussions in anthropology, focusing on the 'ontological turn'.
• Examination of how questioning ontological premises can benefit One Health.
• Presentation of two illustrative examples of anthropologically-informed ontological thinking.

Main Results:

• Questioning assumptions about human-animal distinctions offers new perspectives for One Health.
• Challenging the universality of biomedical knowledge enhances inclusivity in One Health.
• Anthropological ontological thinking can bridge communication gaps between disciplines.

Conclusions:

• An ontological openness is crucial for understanding actors and knowledge in One Health.
• Awareness of different ontological positions facilitates effective communication in One Health.
• Integrating anthropological insights strengthens the One Health approach.