The Polish School of Philosophy of Medicine

My 'discovery' of the Polish School of philosophy of medicine stemmed from my studies in the genesis of Ludwik Fleck's epistemology. These studies, and my interest in the scientific roots of Fleck's epistemology were a nearly 'natural' result of my own biography: like Fleck I had been trained, an had worked as an immunologist, and had later switched to studies in the social history of medicine and biology. Moreover, it so happened that Fleck's book, Genesis and Development of a Scientific Fact -the description of a science as it is, not as it should be -was the first epistemological study in which I found echos of my experience in the laboratory. My interest in Fleck was also highlightened by the fact that in his works, and, as I discovered later, in the works of his predecessors of the Polish School of philosophy of medicine, was formulated the problem that had stimulated my interest in the history of medicine and biology, and is still central to my present investigations: the relationships between biological knowledge and clinical practice. The writing of the book was made possible through to the help of many colleagues and friends. The unfailing support for my research, whatever its subject might be, from my colleagues from Unit 158 of INSERM and in particular from its head Patrice Pinell, has made my study of the Polish School possible.

I. Introduction: Philosophy of Medicine in Poland.- II. The Last Follower of 'Medical Systems' or a Pioneer of a New Approach to Therapy?.- II.a. Text of Cha?ubi?iski: Excerpts from The Method of Finding Therapeutic Indications (1874).- III. Edmund Biernacki on the Science of Diseases and the Art of Healing.- III.a. Text of Biernacki: Excerpts from The Essence and the Limits of Medical Knowledge (1898).- IV. W?adys?aw Biega?ski Between the Logic of Science and the Logic of Medicine.- IV.a. Texts of Biega?ski: Excerpts from General Problems of the Theory of Medical Sciences (1897).- Thoughts and Aphorisms on Medical Ethics (1899).- The Logic of Medicine or the Critique of Medical Knowledge (1908).- V. Zygmunt Kramsztyk and the Critical Evaluation of Medical Practice.- V.a. Texts of Kramsztyk: 'Rational Treatment' (1897).- 'Is Medicine an Art or a Science?' (1895).- 'A Clinical Fact' (1898).- 'On Being-up to Date' (1907).- VI. From Medical Critique to the Archives of the History and Philosophy of Medicine: The Institutionalization of Polish School of Philosophy of Medicine.- VI.a. Texts of Wrzosek and Trzebi?ski: Wrzosek: 'Trends in contemporary medicine' (1900).- Trzebi?ski: 'Rationality and 'Rationalism' in Medicine' (1925).- 'Absurdity in Medicine' (1927).- VII. From Philosophy of Medicine to a Constructivist and Relativist Epistemology.- VII.a. Texts of Fleck and Bilikiewicz Fleck: 'some Specific Features of the Medical Way of Thinking' (1927).- Fleck: 'On the Crisis of 'Reality'' (1929).- Fleck: 'Science and Social Context' (1939).- Bilikiewicz: 'Comments on Ludwik Fleck's 'Science and Social Context'' (1939).- Fleck: 'Rejoinder to the Comments of Tadeusz Bilikiewicz' (1939).- Bilikiewicz:'Reply to the Rejoinder by Ludwik Fleck' (1939).- VIII. Conclusions: Philosophizing at the Bedside.- Name Index.