TY - JOUR
T1 - Psychiatry, Pathology, and Disease
T2 - Some Benefits of Philosophical Reflection
AU - Pilkington, Bryan
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2026. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Journal of Medicine and Philosophy Inc. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact [email protected] for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact [email protected]. This article is published and distributed under the terms of the Oxford University Press, Standard Journals Publication Model (https://academic.oup.com/pages/standard-publication-reuse-rights)
PY - 2026/4
Y1 - 2026/4
N2 - This issue of the Journal of Medicine and Philosophy brings together five articles, each of which highlights, in distinct ways, the benefit of philosophical reflection for the practices of modern medicine. In so doing, it is a fitting issue to appear in 2025, as the Journal marks its fiftieth year. The practices of modern medicine, and indeed the practices of the health professions generally, place practitioners—physicians, nurses, psychologists, and others—in situations in which inconsistent, unclear, or insufficiently rigorous thought can lead to challenges for providing optimal care for patients and for theorizing about that care. In some situations, more information is needed. In other situations, competing complexities must be resolved. In still others, logistical and bureaucratic hurdles must be overcome. Philosophical reflection can lead both to better and more fitting care for patients, potentially reduce the burdens on health professionals and the related instances of moral distress, and aid in the ethical practice of the health professions.
AB - This issue of the Journal of Medicine and Philosophy brings together five articles, each of which highlights, in distinct ways, the benefit of philosophical reflection for the practices of modern medicine. In so doing, it is a fitting issue to appear in 2025, as the Journal marks its fiftieth year. The practices of modern medicine, and indeed the practices of the health professions generally, place practitioners—physicians, nurses, psychologists, and others—in situations in which inconsistent, unclear, or insufficiently rigorous thought can lead to challenges for providing optimal care for patients and for theorizing about that care. In some situations, more information is needed. In other situations, competing complexities must be resolved. In still others, logistical and bureaucratic hurdles must be overcome. Philosophical reflection can lead both to better and more fitting care for patients, potentially reduce the burdens on health professionals and the related instances of moral distress, and aid in the ethical practice of the health professions.
KW - dysfunction
KW - ecology
KW - moral distress
KW - philosophical reflection
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105043860906
U2 - 10.1093/jmp/jhaf045
DO - 10.1093/jmp/jhaf045
M3 - Editorial
SN - 0360-5310
VL - 51
SP - 79
EP - 88
JO - Journal of Medicine and Philosophy (United Kingdom)
JF - Journal of Medicine and Philosophy (United Kingdom)
IS - 2
ER -