The Cristian Perspective
Despite the advent of science, religion and the Christian faith still play a prominent role in the field of healthcare. In the medical industry, care professionals are responsible not only for ensuring the physical but mental well-being of their patients as well. Christian principles can provide the healthcare professional guidance on the matters of patient care, relationships with colleagues, and attitudes toward human life. The core beliefs mainly align with the values of care, compassion, and kindness. The Christian worldview supports that a healthcare worker should provide their services to people indiscriminately of their race, age, social status, or beliefs (Christian Ethics in Medical Practice). Each patient should be able to receive care according to their needs, leading to the maximum amount of benefit for the person involved. Ultimately, the Christian worldview also values the rights and individuality of each patient, acting in an effort to best represent the person’s wishes and safeguard their health (Christian Ethics in Medical Practice). In relation to professional relationships, a healthcare worker should strive for honest and open cooperation with their colleagues, aiming to provide benefit to the patients. Postmodern relativism offers another interesting perspective on the issue, allowing some healthcare professionals to approach patient care from a different standpoint. Relativism, as a belief system, argues for the value of different perspectives, and the relative truth to the customs of various cultures. In terms of healthcare, this can manifest in an effort to take into account the opinions and wishes of a person from a different background (cultural relativism as a medical student – Ethics toolkit for medical students). When treating patients with differing life circumstances, it may be important to approach their treatment from a standpoint familiar to them. Relativism in terms of healthcare may also manifest in embracing alternative treatment methods, and the enabling of the patient taking the main priority (Salladay). While the Christian approach uses biblical values and personal concerns to guide the medical practice, the postmodern approach is more flexible and individual-oriented in providing healthcare.
Scientism
Scientism is a worldview that promotes the scientific outlook in all spheres of human life, including politics and society. This method states natural science as the top authority in discerning matters of any kind, disregarding other approaches to learning or culture (What is Scientism?). The scientific method is applied to all possible scenarios to determine the objective truth. This outlook, however, is flawed and is subject to much criticism. The first, fundamental argument against this stance, is that scientism approaches are not rooted in science, but in memory, senses, and perception (Hietanen et al.). While science itself can be used to explain phenomena, the process through which people accomplish this is not fully reliant on science. This means that, since the sources of the scientific approach are not considered to be knowledge, their product cannot be used to give knowledge (Hietanen et al.). Another major argument against scientism concerns the self-referential incoherence of the outlook. In essence, the claim of natural science being the source of knowledge is not created as a result of natural knowledge, therefore, is not valid by its own criteria (Hietanen et al.). If the basic thesis of a worldview cannot be proven by the worldview’s principles, one cannot rationally believe it. Without rational belief, people are unable to determine whether an outlook is true.
Personal Perspective
The Ultimate Reality
Personally, I am not a religious person, meaning that the discussion about the ultimate reality of the universe is difficult to comprehend. Having the ability to read up on different religious perspectives, I think that is some truth to their propositions. I lean towards thinking that some kind of entity, beyond human comprehension or perception, may be responsible for the creation of all other matter. While the existence of a particular human-like God seems to be too specific and centered on finding similarities between their own being and higher powers, I do think that the conception of life could not have happened on its own. From my perspective, it feels like a being that is capable of creating matter could not be possibly compared to a human.
The Nature of the Universe
Taking into account the intricacies of human systems and the cheerful variety between flora and fauna of the planet, it seems impossible that they were created randomly. For me, the existence of the human population as it is, suggests the presence of intelligent design in the universe. While I do know whether most of the matter created was created with expressed intent, I think that some kind of thought was put into designing the systems under which our world functions.
What is a Human Being?
A human being, principally, is an organism capable of both expression and self-awareness. I believe that humans are incredibly varied, and trying to fully categorize them may be impossible when taking into account the number of individuals present on Earth at any single moment. However, the human tendency towards creation, occupation, and communication with other individuals feel like the greats signifiers of one’s humanity to me.
What is Knowledge?
Knowledge is something each human acquires throughout their life. Through studying what is left by previous generations, making observations, inventing new ways of looking at things, humans learn. Knowledge in itself is a tool of both adaptation and understanding, giving human beings the ability to innovate, grow, and prosper. It is a process that is crucial in gaining insight into the intricate workings of the mind and the high machinations of the universe. Knowledge is a goal to strive to, the ultimate ideal for any seeking self-improvement. By applying different tactics to the world around us, humans have had the ability to better themselves.
The Basis of Ethics?
Ethics is a difficult concept to grasp or explain, partially due to their immeasurable nature. They are rooted in tradition, in the culture of many societies, in beliefs that have managed to transcend their origins and leave an impact on the common consensus of people. Ethics are largely a collection of principles that humans have come to view as beneficial for their individual good and the well-being of their communities. They are a concept that stands as the foundation for societal norms and laws human follow. Ultimately, ethics have come from the experiences of previous generations, as a societal tradition that allows humans to thrive and develop in peace with each other.
The Purpose of Your Existence?
Purpose of one existence, I feel, is something they have to figure out during the course of their life. Some have had the fortune to find a path they value, a higher calling, or a dream they can strive toward in their time. Others have put aside such transgressions, choosing to focus on the day-to-day routine of their life without higher concern. Personally, I would put myself closer to the latter of the two outlooks. It is hard to imagine something to look forward to as a long-term cause, an issue or passion to devote myself to fully. While I cannot say that I find my existence completely meaningless, I find it hard to presently find any noble reason for me to exist. As such an outlook does not bring me much personal satisfaction, I try my best to focus the attention on things that give my life some semblance of purpose. Nowadays, just finding enjoyment in smaller things, and regarding the process of living as something worthwhile helps me cope immensely. I think that it might not be necessary for a person to search for a meaning actively, or desire to achieve something bigger. Sometimes, small desires, wishes that can be easily be fulfilled are as much of a reason to exist as any other. Having the ability to experience the world, form relationships, make my own small contributions and derive meaning from my daily life are all the reasons I have to exist as of now.
Reference List
“Christian Ethics in Medical Practice.” Christian Medical Fellowship. Web.
“Cultural Relativism as a Medical Student – Ethics Toolkit for Medical Students.” The British Medical Association, 2020.
“What Is Scientism?” American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Hietanen, Johan, et al. “How Not to Criticise Scientism.” Metaphilosophy, vol. 51, no. 4, 2020, pp. 522–547.
Salladay, Susan Anthony. “The Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine.” CFI Archives.