On Medical Paradigm Shift and the Change of Medical Perception： A Case Study Based on the Finding of Helicobacter Pylori and Its Impact on the Medical Science
Date Issued
2010
Date
2010
Author(s)
Tung, Lun-Chuan
Abstract
Abstract
This thesis deals with the scientific discovery of the Nobel Prize winners for medicine in 2005, Barry J. Marshal and Robin Warren and its implications for paradigm shift in science asserted by Thomas Kuhn. The two scientists found the Helicobacter pylori in 1982 that caused the peptic ulcer diseases. Having challenged the cognition and assertion of conventional gastroenterological circles which assumed the factors of the disease being pressure on emotion and abnormal life style, they researched and discovered the real cause of the disease. Such research subverts the traditional and conventional medical knowledge to the extent that it confirms the importance of Kuhn’s theory of paradigm shift and Habermas’s theory of communication. The treatise especially points out that the two physicians undergone the change in medical perception, in order to solve those issues regarding the relative relation between the bacterium and the disease, thus proved scientific truth, In the history of human peptic ulcer, bacterium in fact was close to the occurrence of the disease. However, the two Australian physicians, made great effort to take another research approach and finally found helicobacter pylori as the real cause of peptic ulcer. This paper is intended at first to explore a distinction between natural science and social science. Interdisciplinary study confirmed the existence and application of Kuhn’s postulate, namely the paradigm shift in science. The interdisciplinary approach is not easy to explain the distinction in short time. Using theory of Kuhn’s postulate, namely the paradigm shift in science. one can get roughly the distinction and its merging in terms of Habermas’ idea of discursive communication. This paper discusses the historical fact of medical scientific revolution, including the doubts raised by the members of medical scientific community and the final success of the “dissidents”, their efforts to get rid of the obstructions established by the scientific circles. Thus, it is worthy to study the theory and practice of the paradigm and its shift propounded by Thomas Kuhn.
Key word
Paradigm shift, helicobacter pylori, peptic ulcer, medical scientific revolution, gestalt switch.
Subjects
Paradigm shift
helicobacter pylori
peptic ulcer
medical scientific revolution
gestalt switch.
SDGs
Type
thesis
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
Loading...
Name
ntu-99-D93341006-1.pdf
Size
23.53 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum
(MD5):33ee8bbb49df15992caa38908dd2eaff