著者

杉岡 良彦

出版者

日本医学哲学・倫理学会

雑誌

医学哲学 医学倫理 (ISSN:02896427)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.25, pp.61-70, 2007-10-18 (Released:2018-02-01)

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Dr. Makoto Kondo, a radiologist at Keio University, has suggested that one should not fight against cancer. His arguable claims are that (1) cancer screening is ineffective and that (2) cancer is divided into two categories: true cancer and pseudo-cancer ("gan-modoki" in Japanese). The former has a strong potential to be invasive and has already reached the invasive state on detection by screening. The latter is noninvasive and therefore the affected patients need not undergo medical treatment unless they exhibit some symptoms. Kondo highlights the evidence provided by medicine and informs us of how poor its basis is. It should be noted that he reached this conclusion through in-depth reflection on findings regarding cancer, without submitting to the opinions of the authorities. From the perspective of philosophy of medicine, we may state that his attitude is that of a philosopher. However, he also discourages patients who believe that cancer screening and treatment are effective. On the other hand, Dr. Toru Abo, an immunologist and a professor at Niigata University, has developed a theory regarding the close relationship between the autonomic nervous system and the immune system, and maintains that cancer can be cured by activation of the latter. In contrast to the claims of Kondo, many of Abo's claims lack medical evidence, but he offers hope to patients. Kondo's theory is based on positivism, and he does not raise the hope of patients. Kondo's position is very effective in revealing the insubstantial basis of medical science, but he confronts patients with nihilism, while Abo offers hope without considering the fact humans are mortal. Based on the opinions of these two doctors, we can reflect on the limits of application of positivism in medicine and the importance of the optimism that patients display and their individual initiative.

著者

杉岡 良彦

出版者

日本医学哲学・倫理学会

雑誌

医学哲学 医学倫理 (ISSN:02896427)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.29, pp.15-25, 2011-09-30 (Released:2018-02-01)

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The purpose of this article is to discuss the relationship between scientific research and spirituality. Thus far, many epidemiological researchers have studied the positive effects of spirituality on depression. Borg et al. showed a negative association between inter-individual variability of serotonin 5-HT_<1A> receptor binding potential and spiritual acceptance, whereas Karlson et al. reported no association between them. Although the 5-HT_<1A> receptor plays a crucial role in major depression, neither of these studies showed a positive association between the 5-HT_<1A> receptor binding potential and spiritual acceptance. Thus, both these studies deny the possibility that the 5-HT_<1A> receptor may be a confounding factor connecting spirituality and depression. Generally, there are two different negative attitudes to such researches: some think that spirituality is a mystical and non-scientific concept, which is inappropriate for medical research, while others believe that the transcendent(i.e., God) cannot be examined by scientific methods. Our stance depends on neither of these attitudes, but if spirituality does in fact influence our health, we should confirm whether biological research on spirituality is possible because spiritual experiences have a close association with our brain. This viewpoint may resonate with the theological perspective of imago Dei, wherein the human being as a whole is believed to be the bearer of the divine image in a spiritual as well as in a physical dimension. The effects of spirituality on health are open to scientific research. The purpose of introducing the concept of spirituality to medical science is to reject the reductionist view of human beings and to consider each individual as a whole.

著者

杉岡 良彦

出版者

日本医学哲学・倫理学会

雑誌

医学哲学 医学倫理 (ISSN:02896427)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.32, pp.11-21, 2014 (Released:2018-02-01)

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Recently, a growing number of scientific studies and publications have focused on loneliness. They reveal that loneliness influences a variety of psychological and physical diseases, and even mortality. Some researchers point out that loneliness, just like smoking, is one of the most crucial factors contributing to the development of many diseases. However, the human experience is essentially lonely or existential. Philosophers have emphasized the positive effect of loneliness, suggesting that it may provide us with maturity and wisdom. I believe we have to realize that humans can be regarded as dual structures, experiencing being both lonely and relational. Scientific research on loneliness is apt to focus on the relationship aspect of humans. By ignoring the dual structure of humanity and depending more on the scientific research on loneliness, medical professionals may encourage people to avoid loneliness. This approach may overlook the maturity brought about by the pain of being lonely. It is true that adequate medical and social strategies are indispensable to address loneliness as a risk factor, but medical professionals also need to understand the positive effect of loneliness in our life. There must be adequate treatments and scientific researches focusing on the positive aspect of loneliness.

著者

杉岡 良彦 中木 良彦 伊藤 俊弘 西條 泰明 吉田 貴彦

出版者

旭川医科大学

雑誌

基盤研究(C)

巻号頁・発行日

2007

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本研究は、宗教が重視する「感謝」の気持ちに注目し、感謝が免疫細胞(ナチュラルキラー(NK)細胞)活性に影響を及ぼすのかどうか、また心理テストでどのような変化が認められるのかを研究した。感謝の気持ちを高める方法は、内観療法を応用した方法を用いた。その結果、NK細胞活性には変化が認められなかったが、「主観的幸福感」を評価する質問票では、「心の健康度」が改善した。さらに「心の健康度」の中では「人生に対する前向きな気持ち」が優位に改善した。「生活の質」を測定する質問票でも有意な改善を認めた。

著者

杉岡 良彦

出版者

日本医学哲学・倫理学会

雑誌

医学哲学 医学倫理 (ISSN:02896427)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.36, pp.32-41, 2018 (Released:2022-07-20)

著者

杉岡 良彦

出版者

日本医学哲学・倫理学会

雑誌

医学哲学 医学倫理 (ISSN:02896427)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.35, pp.14, 2017 (Released:2018-06-20)

著者

杉岡 良彦

出版者

日本医学哲学・倫理学会

雑誌

医学哲学 医学倫理 (ISSN:02896427)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.27, pp.13-22, 2009-10-01 (Released:2018-02-01)

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What is integrative medicine? Integrative medicine refers to the integration of modern western medicine, traditional medicine, and complementary and alternative medicine. The definition of integrative medicine states that it takes into account the whole person (body, mind, and spirit). However, the meaning of the concepts of "integration" and "spirit" is not very clear. This paper aims to clarify these concepts and introduce dimensional anthropology. Dimensional anthropology was advocated by V.E. Frankl. He regards the human being as "a somaticmental (or psychic)-spiritual oneness and wholeness." In addition, he emphasizes that only the spiritual core warrants and constitutes oneness and wholeness. He called this view of the person dimensional anthropology. Human beings are free and responsible. Frankl refutes scientific determinism or scientism because these positions neglect freedom and responsibility of human beings. Determinism or scientism is one form of nihilism. An awareness of the spiritual dimension helps us identify the "existential vacuum." It indicates the condition wherein people suffer from a sense of meaninglessness and emptiness. Logotherapy helps a person to discover the meaning of life and, as a result, the existential vacuum can be overcome. Naikan therapy may also treat the existential vacuum. The introduction of dimensional anthropology to integrative medicine enables us to arrange the types of medicine not according to their principles or methods, but according to the dimension of the person who is using these medicines. Moreover, without dimensional anthropology, integrative medicine may help nihilism prevail in medicine, for the scope of integrative medicine is so broad and it will deal with not only cure but also prevention and health promotion with western, traditional, and complementary and alternative methods. I believe that the introduction of dimensional anthropology is indispensable for integrative medicine, and we must continue to establish a better view of the person in medicine.

著者

杉岡 良彦

出版者

日本医学哲学・倫理学会

雑誌

医学哲学 医学倫理 (ISSN:02896427)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.23, pp.115-124, 2005-10-26 (Released:2018-02-01)

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About fifty years ago, Hisayuki Omodaka set out a "philosophy of medicine" comprising three important and closely related philosophies: the philosophy of science, the philosophy of life and the philosophy of medicine. Medicine has changed dramatically since Omodaka's time, especially with the development of molecular biology, which has brought new forms of diagnosis and new therapies for patients and in turn altered humanity's view of life. The purpose of this paper is to reexamine Omodaka's philosophy of medicine to determine whether it continues to offer some benefit to modern medicine. Omodaka described the human body as having two conflicting and mutually dependent natures, one without extensibility ("α") and the other with extensibility ("β"). The former enables our bodies to be active and is the reason our bodies function harmoniously. We now know that scientific approaches describe in detail the molecular mechanisms of life, with genes having the ability, for example, to begin transcription after transcriptional factors bind to the specific binding motif located throughout the DNA. This reflects the nature of "α". Therefore, molecular biology does not necessarily deny or devalue Omodaka's philosophy of medicine. Omodaka explained that the purpose of his philosophy of medicine was to reflect the present state of medicine, clarify the principles on which that medicine was based, and try to establish better medicine for the people. As has been discussed by many authors, science does not have the ability to reflect science itself. The nature of science lies in "control", as pointed out by Henri Bergson. Therefore, in order to clarify the principles of medicine, develop better medical education and provide better medical care, scientific methods are not sufficient, and a "philosophy of medicine" is indispensable to the achievement of a better medicine.

著者

杉岡 良彦

出版者

日本宗教学会

雑誌

宗教研究 (ISSN:03873293)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.83, no.4, pp.1220-1221, 2010-03-30 (Released:2017-07-14)

著者

杉岡 良彦

出版者

日本医学哲学・倫理学会

雑誌

医学哲学医学倫理 (ISSN:02896427)

巻号頁・発行日

no.25, pp.61-70, 2007

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出版社版

著者

杉岡 良彦

出版者

日本医学哲学倫理学会・関東支部

雑誌

医療と倫理 (ISSN:13459007)

巻号頁・発行日

no.7, pp.23-31, 2007-12