PHILOSOPHICAL PROBLEMS OF BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE: PHENOMENON OF BIORATIONALITY

© 2019 Elena AVERKINA

2019 –  № 2 (18)


Author info:

Elena Ivanovna Averkina, Cand. Sc. Phil., is Associate Professor at the Department of Philosophy, Biomedical Ethics and the Humanities, Yevdokimov Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry.


Keywords: philosophy of biology, philosophy of medicine, phenomenon of biorationality

Abstract: The article highlights the main discussions and results of the proceedings of the 13th Scientific-practical Conference “Philosophical Problems of Biology and Medicine: Phenomenon of Biorationality” that took place in Moscow on October 23-24, 2019.


Summary

The 13th Annual Scientific-Practical Conference “Philosophical Problems of Biology and Medicine: Phenomenon of Biorationality” was held on October 23-24, 2019, by the Department for Philosophy, Biomedical Ethics and the Humanities of the Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, in cooperation with the Institute of Philosophy (Russian Academy of Sciences), and Russian Philosophical Society (RPhS).

The conference focused on the issue of biorationality as specific rationality of life which synthesizes the phenomena of “soma” and “psyche”, the internal and the external, matter and consciousness, the biological and the social, the irrational and the rational. Biorationaly is characteristic of the so-called “organic sciences” – the sciences that study the phenomenon of life and its forms; biology, medicine, and the humanities can be attributed here.

The reports made the attempt to review biorationality as a new integrative type of rationality (Prof. V. I. Moiseyev, Moscow), to clarify its cultural status (Prof. N. N. Sedova, Volgograd).

Candidate of Medical Science M. A. Pronin (Moscow) raised the question of the theoretical constructions that can adequately express the “centaurian”, antinomical character of life and consciousness.

The applied aspect of the biorationality phenomenon is its influence on comprehension of biomedical practices and technologies, aimed at human bioimproving. Extensive formation of electronic health care structures, the use of Big Data technologies in scientific research and medical practices, the use of telemedical technologies require a new integral approach to interpreting these phenomena. On the one hand, the digitalization of medicine creates new opportunities for studying medical problems and administering specialized help to patients, a rapid expansion of technologies set for individual self-control of the medically important parameters (self-trackers). On the other hand, it includes serious dangers for the person and society. The report by Dr. Phil. T. V. Mishatkina (Minsk, Belarus) was dedicated to the humanitarian expertise of the process of biomedical studies. The report by Dr. Phil. F. G. Mailenova (Institute of Philosophy, RAS; Moscow). The phenomenon of consumer genomics was studied in-depth by Dr. Phil. E. G. Grebenschikova (Institute of Scientific Information on Social Sciences, RAS; Moscow). Dr. Phil. O. V. Popova (Institute of Philosophy, RAS; Moscow) made a report with a semiotic approach to understanding the problem of bodily rights. The theme of the published issue brought together representatives of the scientific community from various areas of study and multiple regions of Russia and neighboring countries. Among participants of the conference were students of Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry and 2nd Medical College (Moscow).

The conference proceedings were published in the collection: (Philosophical Problems of Biology and Medicine: Phenomenon of Biorationality [Filosofskie problemy biologii i mediciny: fenomen bioracional’nosti]. Issue 13. Moscow: LENAND, 2019. – 304 pp.). One can study the conference materials in Russian at http://philosophy-msmsu.narod.ru/Sbornik.html?conf=filospbm1014

References

Filosofskiye problemy biologii i meditsiny: Fenomen bioratsional’nosti [Philosophical Problems of Biology and Medicine: The Phenomenon of Biorationality] (2019) Issue 13, Moscow: LENAND.


Citation link:

Averkina E. I. (2019). Philosophical Problems of Biology and Medicine: Phenomenon of Biorationality [Filosofskie problemy biologii i mediciny: fenomen bioracional’nosti]. Medical Anthropology and Bioethics [Medicinskaja antropologija i biojetika]. 2 (18).