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Related Experiment Videos

Incommensurability: its implications for the patient/physician relation

R M Veatch1, W E Stempsey

  • 1Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA.

The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy
|June 1, 1995
PubMed
Summary

Thomas Kuhn's incommensurability concept challenges scientific and physician authority. Partial incommensurability offers a framework for understanding how world views impact medical science translation into clinical practice.

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Area of Science:

  • Philosophy of Science
  • Medical Ethics
  • Clinical Decision-Making

Background:

  • Thomas Kuhn's concept of incommensurability challenges rational comparison of competing scientific paradigms.
  • This philosophical challenge has significant implications for understanding scientific authority and its translation into medical practice.
  • Previous interpretations have not fully addressed the nuanced role of incommensurability in the medical field.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore how the concept of partial incommensurability can illuminate the translation of medical science into clinical decisions.
  • To analyze the influence of world views and values at each stage of medical science application.
  • To provide a framework for evaluating scientific accounts within medicine despite potential incommensurability.

Main Methods:

Keywords:
Analytical ApproachBioethics and Professional EthicsBiomedical and Behavioral ResearchPhilosophical ApproachProfessional Patient Relationship

Related Experiment Videos

  • Conceptual analysis applying Thomas Kuhn's philosophy of science to medical practice.
  • Distinguishing four key stages in the medical science to clinical decision-making pipeline.
  • Examining the role of theory- and value-ladenness in scientific research and its interpretation.

Main Results:

  • Incommensurability can impact scientific research, clinical interpretation of findings, patient communication, and treatment choices.
  • Each stage of medical research and practice is influenced by the world views and values of involved individuals.
  • Scientific accounts are not all equally valid, but establishing superiority requires further analysis.

Conclusions:

  • Partial incommensurability provides a valuable lens for understanding the complexities of medical science translation.
  • Acknowledging the role of world views and values is crucial for navigating scientific authority in medicine.
  • Further research is needed to develop methods for comparing scientific accounts in the presence of incommensurability.