Philosophy of medicine, as a branch of philosophy, encompasses the epistemology, analysis of knowledge in terms of its origins as well as justification and ontology of medicine, which refers to the exploration of problems and questions regarding the nature and existence of objects or events as well as their associated forces or factors. Philosophy of medicine engages in the way medical knowledge is generated and what the nature of medical knowledge is concerned with. Causation is a topic particularly of interest as causal relationships are established to understand the causes of disease and causes of betterment for people. To illustrate, the causal mechanisms involved in disease etiology and treatment represent extensive areas of investigations for philosophy of medicine. Within this context, epistemological, conceptual and methodological questions arise through the reflection on medical science and practice. Besides these, meta-scientific concepts like reduction, discovery, theories and models apart from causal inference and scientific realism are addressed as they are applicable to medicine based on intellectual approaches, conceptual analyses and examinations of periods in history [Marcum, J. A. (2016)].
Medical thinking is also called to attention to offset the overdependence on the science of medical thinking which reflects the cognitive faculties of clinicians in their making of rational decisions on what affects the patients and how to proceed in the best way possible so that they can be treated effectively, promptly and safely. The risk of medical errors also needs clearer analysis of science of medical thinking which is positioned traditionally on both logical and algorithmic methods of decision-making and clinical reasoning [Gifford, F. (Ed.). (2011)].
Broadly put, philosophy of science reflects on the concepts, theories, arguments, assumptions, aims and methods of science. In that regard, scientific theory, its definition as well as the applications as validated by its predictions are important as units of analyses. When the applications and models are integrated with philosophy of thought, this mindset and approach can enhance the understanding into the onset of the diseases and the way they progress in medicine, for instance. The other advantage of such thinking based on analyses is related to the examination of available treatment strategies that can allow for the identification of the most optimal one for each medical and / or clinical case.
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