Bodies as communication systems. The relevance of Michel Serres’s philosophy of science for health care

Aldo Houterman*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

This article demonstrates the value of French philosophy of science for medical practice through an exposition of Michel Serres’s philosophy of the body. It explores how Serres’s examination of the similarity between scientific models and works of art can provide insight into different conceptions of the human body. What makes Serres’s method of unique is that it does not see art and literature as subordinate to the natural sciences: they are both involved in mapping the communication lines of the body. Since early modernity, we can roughly speak of three successive communication models of the body: mechanical, thermodynamic and informational. This article finally discusses the relationship between those different conceptions and explains how they help to articulate different aspects of the body, health, and medical ethics.

Original languageEnglish
JournalMedicine, Health Care and Philosophy
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 26 Dec 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2024.

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