Comparative Study On The Philosophical Methods Of Thinking Between Chinese And Western Medicin

Objective"Thinking" is the process of synthesizing and analyzing experiences based on observation and practice,forming concepts,judgments,reasoning,and other cognitive processes.It is a necessary condition for subjective consciousness to grasp objective laws.The analysis and formation of cognitive processes are determined by "philosophical methods." This research project is supported by the National Social Science Fund’s major project titled "Philosophical Methodology of Original Thinking in Traditional Chinese Medicine." It aims to conduct a comparative study of the philosophical methods of thinking between traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine.This study aims to provide valuable insights and strategies for the development of traditional Chinese medicine and the overall advancement of the field of Chinese medicine in China.MethodsThis research project is organized chronologically into five stages to analyze the philosophical methods of thinking in traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine.It involves conducting horizontal comparisons,vertical comparisons,and overall comparisons.Horizontal comparison focuses on comparing the philosophical methods of thinking in traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine at the same stage,particularly exploring the first,second,and fourth stages.This comparison clearly demonstrates how traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine have differentiated into different theoretical systems.Vertical comparison involves analyzing the origins and development of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine within their respective developmental contexts.It examines the "choices" and "gains and losses" that both systems have experienced throughout their evolution.Overall comparison is conducted by accurately understanding the developmental context of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine.It compares the typical philosophical methods of thinking in both systems from the perspectives of worldview,methodology,and clinical pathways.Through horizontal comparison,the strengths and weaknesses of the philosophical methods of thinking in traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine at each stage are revealed.Through vertical comparison,the internal and external logics of the evolution of these methods are clarified.Ultimately,through overall comparison,this research aims to find common ground between traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine,providing insights and strategies for their integration.The specific research methods employed in this study include literature review,logical analysis,and historical research.Conclusions①In the first stage,the philosophical methods of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine were relatively similar,primarily relying on intuitive thinking with auxiliary deductive reasoning.This led to the development of philosophical methods dominated by mysticism and empiricism.In the second stage,traditional Chinese medicine successfully integrated medical experiences from both internal and external evidence by utilizing the Yin-Yang and Five Elements imagery system from Chinese philosophy.It became a theoretical medicine,characterized by the integration of internal and external evidence.On the other hand,Western medicine made progress in the field of anatomy but still primarily relied on empirical medicine in clinical practice,characterized by physical exploration and empirical summarization.In the third stage,traditional Chinese medicine underwent organization and partial development during the Wei,Jin,Southern and Northern Dynasties,followed by further enrichment during the Sui and Tang Dynasties.However,during the Jin and Yuan periods,there emerged divisions among different schools of thought,resulting in disagreements on fundamental concepts.The philosophical methods of traditional Chinese medicine gradually shifted towards "self-realization from classics,verified in clinical practice." Western medicine,on the other hand,faced setbacks due to the fall of the Western Roman Empire,resulting in a regression to mysticism and empiricism in its philosophical methods.In the fourth stage,the various schools of thought within traditional Chinese medicine led to the almost complete loss of the philosophical methods of internal and external evidence integration.However,the Wen Bing(warm diseases)school made advancements in clinical practice,and the technique of "variolation" inspired Europe,leading to the emergence of empirical philosophical methods.Western medicine introduced scientific research methods into medical research,giving rise to modern medicine,with reductionism②This article systematically discusses topics such as the germination process of traditional Chinese medicine,the connotation of the "form,qi,and spirit" concept of the human body,the practical meaning of basic concepts in traditional Chinese medicine,the origin of Yin-Yang and Five Elements theory,the evolution of the correspondence between the Five Elements and the five Zang organs,the origin of meridian theory,the essence of the Six Meridians in the Shang Han Lun(Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders),the development and origins of etiological theories,the principles of observation and pulse diagnosis,etc.From a philosophical method perspective,it provides a detailed explanation of the intrinsic logic of traditional Chinese medicine.③ In contemporary traditional Chinese medicine,it is necessary to unify concepts,theories,and diagnostic and treatment standards,eliminate the negative effects of the"division of medicine," and rebuild the disciplinary paradigm.It is also crucial to firmly adhere to the "scientific" approach and implement the "three elements of new science,"researching the scientific principles behind the theories and diagnostic and treatment systems of traditional Chinese medicine.④Both traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine focus on the human body as the subject of study,aim to prevent and treat diseases,and use the effectiveness of clinical practice as the criterion for evaluation.Therefore,it is inevitable that common ground can be found between the two.After conducting an overall comparison of the philosophical methods of thinking in traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine,this article presents the"Table of Common Ground between Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine."This table can provide a theoretical basis and practical reference for the integration of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine.significance①This study has clarified the origins and development of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine,particularly providing valuable academic insights into the origin and early theories of traditional Chinese medicine.②It has established a clear understanding of the fundamental concepts of traditional Chinese medicine and constructed a logical system for the discipline.③The study has discussed the current shortcomings of traditional Chinese medicine and identified areas for improvement.④From a philosophical method perspective,it has found common ground between traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine,providing feasible approaches for.their integration.⑤The study has proposed the "three new elements of science" contributing to the development of scientific philosophy.