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Existentialism and postmodernism. Continuities, breaks, and some consequences for medical theory
1Westfälische Klinik für Psychiatrie Münster, Federal Republic of Germany.
Theoretical Medicine
|January 1, 1994
Summary
Postmodern theory critiques existentialism, emphasizing difference over unified models. This analysis explores postmodernism versus existentialism using concepts of subject, truth, and ethics, highlighting its medical theory relevance.
Area of Science:
- Philosophy of Science
- Medical Humanities
- Critical Theory
Background:
- Existentialism's philosophical influence waned by the 1960s.
- Postmodern theory emerged as a critical framework for Western thought.
- Existentialism's critique of traditional concepts was seen by postmodernists as incomplete, often creating new unified models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To delineate the postmodern program and its divergence from existentialism.
- To examine the concepts of subject, truth, and ethics through both existentialist and postmodern lenses.
- To illustrate the applicability and relevance of postmodernism within medical theory.
Main Methods:
- Comparative philosophical analysis.
- Deconstruction of core concepts (subject, truth, ethics).
- Application of postmodern principles to medical discourse.
Main Results:
- Postmodernism fundamentally differs from existentialism by prioritizing difference over unified concepts.
- Analysis reveals postmodernism's critique of subject, truth, and ethics offers a distinct perspective.
- The study demonstrates postmodernism's potential to inform and reshape medical theory.
Conclusions:
- Postmodernism offers a more radical critique of Western thought than existentialism.
- The concepts of subject, truth, and ethics are re-evaluated, emphasizing multiplicity and difference.
- Postmodern theory provides a valuable framework for advancing critical perspectives in medical theory and practice.