Einstein (São Paulo) invites submissions for a special issue exploring the broad Philosophical Dimensions of Medical Science. This issue seeks to engage with foundational questions that intersect philosophy and medicine, addressing critical debates in ethics, epistemology, methodology, ontology, and pseudoscience as they apply to medical research and clinical practice.

In a rapidly evolving medical landscape driven by technological advancements, the philosophical questions underpinning medical science are more pressing than ever. From the ethical challenges posed by AI in healthcare to the epistemological dilemmas of evidence-based medicine, as well as the rise of misinformation and denialist movements in medicine, this special issue aims to gather insights that can illuminate the complex interplay between philosophy and the practice of medicine.

We welcome contributions from philosophers, medical scientists and practitioners, bioethicists, sociologists of science, and interdisciplinary researchers who are exploring these and related questions.

Themes and Topics

Submissions should address, but are not limited to, the following intersectional subjects:

• Ethics and Political Philosophy in Medical Science: Paternalism vs. Patient Autonomy; Human Enhancement and the Ethics of Biotechnology; Global Health Priorities and Resource Allocation; Drug Decriminalization, Public Health and Human Rights; Health Disparities and Social Justice; Race and Gender in Medicine, Abortion and Reproductive Rights, Medicine as a Commodity etc;
• Epistemological Perspectives in Medical Science: Evidence-Based Medicine vs. Personalized Medicine: The Role of Uncertainty in Medical Decision-making; The Nature of Medical Expertise; The Philosophy of Causation in Medical Science; The Basis of Advances in Medical Knowledge; Models and Mechanisms in Medicine; Reductionism in Medical Science; Interpreting Clinical Trials and Research Translation; Placebo and Nocebo Effect and Medical Science; Big Data and AI in Medicine; Ethical Implications of Study Design; Scientific Misconducts (g., Data Manipulation/Fabrication, Plagiarism, Gift Authorship etc); Reproducibility Crisis and Methodological Rigor; The Impact of Methodological Innovations on Evidence Hierarchies, Phenomenology and Hermeneutics in Medicine etc
• Philosophical Foundations of Health and Disease: The contextual factors underlying the Nature of Disease; The Ontology of Mental Health Disorders (Mental Disease vs. Biopsychosocial Phenomena; The Ontology of Disease in the Age of Genomics; Hermeneutics and Phenomenology in Medicine; Philosophical Considerations of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM); The Ontology and the Concept of Wellness Overdiagnosis and Medicalization; Medical Care for Diverse and Atypical Bodies; Philosophical Aspects of Euthanasia etc.
• Critical Thinking in Medical Science: Philosophical underpinnings of medical denialism (e.g., anti-vaccine or climate change denialism); The Epistemic Duties of Individuals and Institutions in Combating Medical Pseudoscience; The Role of Skepticism in Science vs. Denialism; Moral Responsibility of Media and Social Platforms on Spreading Misinformation; Denialism During Pandemics (g., COVID-19); Educational Approaches to Countering Pseudoscience etc.

Submission Guidelines

Article Types: We invite Original Articles, Reviews, and Special Articles. Contributions should critically engage with the philosophical dimensions of medical science, incorporating ethical analysis, epistemological inquiry, and methodological reflection. The manuscripts should strictly follow the Instructions for authors.

For inquiries about the special issue, please contact Bruno Gualano at gualano@usp.br.

We look forward to your contributions to this critical exploration of the philosophical dimensions of medical science.

Guest Editors: Anderson Nakano, Bruno Gualano, Marcus Sacrini Ayres Ferraz

Editors-in-Chief

Kenneth J. Gollob and Claudio R. Cernea