The Cartesian Split Lives On

Cartesian philosophy has significantly influenced modern Western medicine, in ways that have been detrimental to the doctor-patient relationship and holistic patient care. By reducing the diagnosis to what can be observed and measured the sum total experience of illness and pain often escapes the diagnostic taxonomies leaving the patient frustrated and doubting self without a ”label”.

The Cartesian Split Lives On

Cartesian philosophy has significantly influenced modern Western medicine, in ways that have been detrimental to the doctor-patient relationship and holistic patient care. By reducing the diagnosis to what can be observed and measured the sum total experience of illness and pain often escapes the diagnostic taxonomies leaving the patient frustrated and doubting self without a ”label”. We expose the enlightenment model of mind body split and how this still informs the thought patterns of modern medicine to the detriment of the patient.