| Explanatory pluralism in the medical sciences: theory and practice. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 20721631 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Explanatory pluralism is the view that the best form and level of explanation depends on the kind of question one seeks to answer by the explanation, and that in order to answer all questions in the best way possible, we need more than one form and level of explanation. In the first part of this article, we argue that explanatory pluralism holds for the medical sciences, at least in theory. However, in the second part of the article we show that medical research and practice is actually not fully and truly explanatory pluralist yet. Although the literature demonstrates a slowly growing interest in non-reductive explanations in medicine, the dominant approach in medicine is still methodologically reductionist. This implies that non-reductive explanations often do not get the attention they deserve. We argue that the field of medicine could benefit greatly by reconsidering its reductive tendencies and becoming fully and truly explanatory pluralist. Nonetheless, trying to achieve the right balance in the search for and application of reductive and non-reductive explanations will in any case be a difficult exercise. |
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Authors:
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Leen De Vreese; Erik Weber; Jeroen Van Bouwel |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Theoretical medicine and bioethics Volume: 31 ISSN: 1573-0980 ISO Abbreviation: Theor Med Bioeth Publication Date: 2010 Oct |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2010-09-24 Completed Date: 2010-10-21 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9805378 Medline TA: Theor Med Bioeth Country: Netherlands |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 371-90 Citation Subset: E; IM |
Affiliation:
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Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science, Ghent University, Blandijnberg 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Leen.DeVreese@UGent.be |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Alzheimer Disease
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genetics Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / drug therapy, metabolism Biochemistry Biological Science Disciplines* Biomedical Research* Disease* / genetics Genetics Holistic Health* Humans Metaphysics* Philosophy, Medical* |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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