#philosophy of medicine

[quotesfrommyreading]

All things are poison, and nothing is without poison; the dosage alone makes it so a thing is not a poison.

  —  Seven Defences (Paracelsus)

#history #medicine #medical history #philosophy #philosophy of medicine #toxicology #paracelsus

[eligalilei]

Just a thing I wrote somewhere in DMs, thought it was funny/vaguely accurate. Also, anyone who knows me has heard me say some shit like this, so... eh. Maybe nothing to see here:

Psychiatry genuinely is a fucking church.

I mean, I'm genuinely not attacking the use of all meds for all conditions. Some things genuinely work for some people sometimes.

But..... the poor rate of response, its utter unpredictability, and the sort of cryptically ensouled/disavowedly spiritualized nature of some of the conditions, ensures also that it be so, and operate on faith in the one behind the curtain, (Mr.?) Science, and His priests, doctors (of psychiatry, but it is important for their self esteem to emphasize the doctor part whenever given the opportunity).

In order for this to work (placebo is real, and is supported, nay, even enactuated, by the priest's various rituals and workbooks), and to deal with the mysteriously weighty burden of the vacuum of unknowledge.... the priesthood must know.

And if you attack, or even question, the idea that they Know, you attack.... everything. It's an affront to identity, even, for some people.... since the dia-'γνῶσις' is their excuse (though that terming somewhat denigrates sickness...in that word I intend not to attack the sick, which would be all too easy, given our constitutive unsteadiness, but rather to target an attitude toward it, and an idea of what it is) for not being well, for, to be frank, failing at life. Such a situation needs any salve available, real or intangible.

It's not enough to be merely sick (in fact that is the terror... perhaps even the essence of existential terror itself.... the monster, the enemy, unknown... structurally, it cohabits the space of The Thing)... that phrasing is intentionally off-kilter: it is an entire negative in its unknownness, even only a suggestion of (demand for?) suspicion or a dirty signifier of malingering.... to be as a positive, a token accepted as legal tender in any economy, it needs to be a known (sickness).... with little tabs specialmade to be sewn carefully into your identity. . There is no other way.

Also, it resonates with and inherits the structures of what Foucault calls 'pastoral power'.... which is embodied in the systems of sin, confession, penance, and the divine gaze. It's a spiritual inheritor of the church, only sanitized and scientificalized.

No all-knowing God... but rather a messianic all-knower sitting (in hopeful visions, nearly) at the end of history, from the gaze of whom you can hide no spot of illness.

This doesn't, I know, describe everyone involved, everyone who takes meds, every doctor and every nurse.... but it is a common enough attitude that it tangibly haunts the actual efficacy of these systems... more, in fact, it shares with them its rather more tangible breath, which enlivens them, despite not everyone believing in the reality of the ghost.

#psychiatry #religion #foucault #pastoral power #philosophy of medicine

[toastyslayingbutter]

Why the fuck are the untranslated portions of Foucault’s The Birth of the Clinic even included in the text?

It’s useless.

#Foucault #the birth of the clinic #philosophy of medicine

[the-remaining-half]

9th March 2024 | Saturday

Day 1 of 100 Days of Productivity 🪴

Here is my day at a glance:

Started my new skin care regime

Ate a health bowl of fruits for breakfast

Studied my least favourite subject all day because mom picked that finger

Had study sessions with my bff

Used pretty study background

Ate all meals of the day

Did my night time skin care

Just doing all of this on day one made me feel motivated to do it the next day. Good luck to me! I hope I can complete this challenge and come out with better habits. 🍓

#rants #life #medical school #blog #writing #college studyblr #philosophy #medschool #study #studyspiration #study movitation #studyblr #study blog #study inspiration #studying #study motivation #studyblr community #college life #college #college student #med #medstudent #medical student #med school #med student #med studyblr #medblr #medicine #productivity #time management

[pratchettquotes]

"It shouldn't be like this."

"There isn't a way things should be. There's just what happens, and what we do."

"Well, couldn't you help him by magic?"

"I see to it that he's in no pain, yes," said Miss Level.

"But that's just herbs."

"It's still magic. Knowing things is magical, if other people don't know them."

Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of Sky

#tiffany aching #miss level #a hat full of sky #discworld #terry pratchett #magic #medicine #witches #life #life philosophy #knowledge #context #idealism #pragmatism #education #the way things should be #the way it is #knowing things is magical

[scrubsandsweats]

On moving out:

When people say you find yourself when you move out, what they mean is that you find out how to govern yourself. You find out your priorities, hobbies, and habits. You decide how you decorate and how much money you are allowed to spend. You discover what you value. You get a glimpse of yourself when no one is watching.

You might realize you are not the labels that define you. Nor are you the person society expects of you. You’re not your past or previous actions. You’re simply experiencing existence. A consciousness defined in stone, despite being made of flesh. Maybe we are our thoughts, which by nature are fleeting and temporary. Did I find myself after moving out? Who am I looking for? The answer is subject to change.

Once I die, my life will be over. Parts of it will be revised, edited and eventually forgotten. Where do I find myself then?

#personal #stumblr #moving out #college #dark academia #academicism #med student #medical student #medicine #philosophy #philoblr #diary #living alone

[1o1percentmilk]

ajin is so good on so many levels but i am particularly interested in the philosophical and ethical implications it raises from the doing away with death

#ITS SO GOOD RRR #something i might actually want to write about #as a warmup. or practice #but grrr ajin and its many implications #its the perfect intersection of everything i care abt #medicine - research meta - security - ontology - ethics - public health - interpersonal relations - technology - law/policy - media #like at its core its a very action oriented manga but i think the questions it raises is a lot more interesting than anything #ajin as a very complex thought experiment from many disciplinary angles #pleasr talk to me if u have any thoughts 🙏 #ajin #or like. r interested in seeing this happen from me #annoying philosophy guys gotta write

[nerdgirlnarrates]

Recently I was talking to another med student and shared that before my grandmother died, her heart failure had gotten so bad that her doctors couldn’t effectively diurese her and she ended up needing several thoracenteses. The other med student suggested that these procedures were too aggressive and my grandmother’s doctors should have let her die instead. And I’m confused, because these procedures were very much palliative in nature: it is painful to have a pleural effusion preventing you from breathing well. She needed surgery to address the valve issues causing her heart failure, but she was not a good candidate for surgery, so she had already foregone curative measures. Also, my grandmother did not want to die of a pleural effusion. I’m not saying her quality of life was good--it wasn’t--but she didn’t want to essentially drown to death. And I’m kind of upset at the notion that her doctors should have forced her to die that way. That’s not humanity, peace, or dignity in death. Maybe I’m misunderstanding something, but the conversation has left me unhappy.

#I honestly hope I'm missing something #but I really think refusing my grandmother a procedure she wanted that relieved her pain would be incredibly cruel #also not sure how we're bypassing the issue of her very much having capacity and consenting to the procedure #idk this philosophy that this decision about her life #both its quality and quantity #should be taken away from her #makes me queasy #medblr #med school #med student #medicine #palliative care #end of life #my content #my text posts

[kafkasapartment]

These simulated cerebral constructs actually evolve in complexity. And as ethical concerns have started, scientists and governments are debating the future of humanness and the juncture where neural tissue transforms into personhood. Some bright people could figure out the ethical issues right up to the moment equal weight be given the opinion of people who think vaccines contain nanobots capable of mind control.

#science #culture #psychology #singularity #computing #ai #medicine #ethics #philosophy

[gale-in-space]

You ever come up with a banger concept for a story but it’s literally just a string of like 5 words

#the surgeon and the physicist #something something love and philosophy and medicine and the universe and our bodies and different perspectives and poetry #staying up late trying to figure life out. what is true happiness. #is it in our achievements or what we find in each other #hmmm

[vertov-mango]

"We have the money, the power, the medical understanding, the scientific know-how, the love and the community to produce a kind of human paradise. But, we are led by the least among us. The least intelligent, the least noble, the least visionary."

— Terence McKenna

#terence mckenna #money #power #society #technology #medicine #humanities #paradise #heaven #politics #governance #government #intelligence #noble #vision #science #service #culture #history #philosophy #quotes #anthropology

[quotesfrommyreading]

In some ways disease does not exist until we agree that it does–by perceiving, naming, and responding to it.

  —  Disease in history: frames and framers (Charles E. Rosenberg, 1989)

#charles e. rosenberg #medicine #philosophy #philosophy of medicine #sociology #language

[yoga-onion]

The Quest for Buddhism (118)

Buddhist cosmology

[Spinoff] Transcendental Meditation – One of the modern meditation methods.

As a comparison and contrast to Vipassana meditation (Ref) as an alternative medicine, we would like to mention Transcendental Meditation of Hindu origin.

Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a form of silent mantra meditation technique derived from the Vedas, made known in the mid-1950s by Indian Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Maharishi summarised and presented the Vedic teachings in a form that was understandable to Westerners, using scientific language.

Advocates of the Transcendental Meditation movement (TM) claim that the technique promotes a state of relaxed awareness, stress relief, and access to higher states of consciousness, as well as physiological benefits such as reducing the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.

Transcendental Meditation is said to foster a higher consciousness and improve one's luck (described as receiving nature's support). When done in groups, it is said to promote very powerful attunement, creating harmony and positive influences in the environment (making the world a better place).

The connection between mantra and meditation is considered a "scientific technique" and is called the "science of creative intelligence. It is said to develop latent abilities, drawing out vitality, intelligence, and fulfillment, and even "transcending" thought. Maharishi states that "transcendence" is the transcendence of the mind over thought, the turning of the mind inward, beyond thought, beyond the conscious mind, to experience pure consciousness which being absolute bliss consciousness, totally unchanging and eternal. The "ultimate goal" of transcendental meditation is "God-realisation," the realisation of the value of "God" within oneself, and the attainment of God-consciousness.

Building on the teachings of his master Brahmananda Saraswati (known honorifically as Guru Dev), the Maharishi taught thousands of people during a series of world tours from 1958 to 1965, expressing his teachings in spiritual and religious terms.

Many celebrities and celebrities such as the Beatles studied Transcendental Meditation during this period, and its influence on the subculture was significant. It is known to have had a major influence on musicians during the Flower Movement, and among hippies in the 1960s, 'meditation' and 'zen' were seen as techniques that could provide similar psychedelic experiences without the use of drugs.

They were loved by hippies as a method for 'mental expansion' and so-called 'opening the doors of perception', with Transcendental Meditation being described in the rock media as the most 'effective' and known amongst young rock lovers.

Beginning in 1965, the Transcendental Meditation technique has been incorporated into selected schools, universities, corporations, and prison programs in the US, Latin America, Europe, and India. The technique has still been included in a number of educational and social programs around the world.

仏教の探求 (118)

仏教の宇宙論

[番外編] 超越瞑想 〜 現代瞑想法の一派

代替医療としてのヴィパッサナー瞑想（参照）との比較対照として、ヒンデゥー教由来の超越的瞑想について触れておきたい。

超越瞑想 (ちょうえつめいそう、ﾄﾗﾝｾﾝﾃﾞﾝﾀﾙ･ﾒﾃﾞｨﾃｰｼｮﾝ:TM) は、インド人のマハリシ・マヘーシュ・ヨーギーによって1950年代に知られるようになった、ヴェーダに由来するマントラ瞑想法である。マハリシはヴェーダの教えを、西洋人にも理解しやすい形で、科学的な言葉を使って要約し紹介した。

超越瞑想運動 (TM) の提唱者は、このテクニックがリラックスした意識状態、ストレス解消、より高い意識状態へのアクセスを促進し、心臓病や高血圧のリスク軽減などの生理学的効果もあると主張している。

超越瞑想を行うことで、より高次の意識が育まれ、運がよくなる (自然の支援を受ける、と表現される) という。グループで行うと、非常に強力な同調を促し、環境に調和と肯定性の影響が生み出される (世界がより良くなる) という。

マントラと瞑想の結びつきは「科学的テクニック」とされ、「創造的知性の科学」と呼ばれる。これによって潜在的な能力を開発し、活力、知性、充足感を引き出し、さらには思考を「超越」させるという。マハリシは���「超越」とは、思考を超えた心の超越であり、意識���超え、純粋意識を体���するために心を内側に向けること、純粋意識は絶対至福意識であり、全く不変であり、永遠であると述べている。超越瞑想の「究極の目標」は「神の実現」であり、自らの内にある＜神＞の価値に気づき、「神意識」に到達するとされる。

マハリシは、師であるブラフマナンダ・サラスワティ (敬称はグル・デヴ) の教えを基に、1958年から1965年までの一連の世界ツアーで何千人もの人々に教え、その教えを精神的、宗教的な用語で表現した。

この時期、ビートルズなど多くの有名人や著名人が超越瞑想を学び、サブカルチャーに与えた影響は大きい。フラワームーブメントの時期のミュージシャンに大きな影響を与えたことが知られており、60年代のヒッピーの間では、「瞑想」や「禅」は薬物を使用せずに同様のサイケデリック体験ができるテクニックとして捉えられていた。

「精神拡張」、いわゆる「知覚の扉を開く」ための方法としてヒッピーたちに愛好され、中でも超越瞑想が最も「効く」とロック系のメディアで語られ、ロックを愛好する若者の間で知られていた。

1965年以来、超越瞑想法は、アメリカ、ラテンアメリカ、ヨーロッパ、インドの特定の学校、大学、企業、刑務所などのプログラムに取り入れられている。この技法は、現在も世界中の数多くの教育・社会プログラムに取り入れられている。

#transcendental meditation #modern meditation method #vedic tradition #hippie #matra #alternative medicine #mental expansion #flower movement #60s #meditation #psychedelic movement #philosophy #nature #art #history

[somewhere-south-of-neutral]

The Heat is Oppressive

(Transcript in Image Descriptions)

-------------------- I wrote the above poem in the notes app on my phone before a 4th of July party in 2022, because once I thought of it I had to get it on paper before I forgot. I submitted it to my college's literary magazine, which is why it is nicely laid out in pages, and while all of the font and spacing choices were mine, I take no credit for the incredible background and graphic design done by the layout editor I was assigned. In the lit mag I was credited with my real name, but I replaced it with my username as usual.

As always, please give comment and critique, and please reblog and share this. It is one of my favorite pieces I've made and I want as many people as possible to see it.

#poetry #poem #my poetry #please reblog this #politics #usa #philosophy #transphobia #roe v. wave #writing #climate change #4th of july #fourth of july #don't say gay bill #texas #florida #tw: death #gun violence #cost of living #cost of medicine

[the-remaining-half]

11th March, 2024 | Monday

Day 3 of 100 Days of Productivity 🪴

Here is what happened during the day:

did my morning skin care regime

attended college after a really long time (took a break cause of the college fest that we just had which was AWESOME btw)

attending PSM postings

gave an absolutely miserable ENT post-end exam which tired me out first thing in the morning

attended my Pathology lecture on macrocytic anemias

ate a hearty lunch

went for Pathology practicals that dragged on forever and ever

slept accidentally while sitting on my bed after returing

did my night time skin care regime

had a few productive study sessions with my bff to study Parhology

did my online guitar class

College was so draining! But I got quite a bit done for the first day 😋

Also good news is the deadline for a really really prestigious national debate got extended and I found myself a partner so I’m going!!!!! 🍓🦦

Hope tomorrow I’ll manage to be more organised and manage my time better. Let’s hope for an even better day!!

#blog #rants #life #medical school #writing #college studyblr #philosophy #medschool #study #studyblr #med #medstudent #medical student #medicine #med school #med student #med studyblr #medblr #college student #college life #college #study movitation #studyblr community #study blog #studyspiration #study inspiration #studying #motivation #work #work in progress

[jewishdragon]

It’s me, the serial cleric player in dnd

#i love playing cleric and paladin ok #so good #I think I like to put my religious but not spiritual philosophy into it #and that breaks some DMs #my character is just yeah the gods exist and I picked one #I picked this job because the clerical studies were appealing #I didn’t feel MOVED or anything #the gods exist and the religions are not mysterious #i technically worship all of them as my clerics #it’s just one that I chose to give more of my time and effort to training in #the gods exist why would I pray to just one #why would I pray to the god of death when it’s time #to plant crops and i should pray to the god of rain #anyways #it’s funny bc in character we’ve had atheist characters #who are also baffled by my clerics who are just #so academic about being a cleric #’yeah I wanted to heal and train in medicine and I liked that god #so I signed up for training #the rituals are nice and bring in a community #and I get my magic powers