EVIDENCE-BASED MEDICINE - WHY IS THIS EVEN A THING? (PART 4)

****Part 4: The interlink between EBM and Faustian Spirit

The relationship between evidence-based medicine and the Faustian Spirit of Western Culture is complex and multifaceted. On one hand, evidence-based medicine can be seen as a reflection of the Faustian drive for knowledge and progress through the rigorous application of scientific method and empirical evidence. On the other hand, evidence-based medicine can also be seen as a manifestation of the Faustian drive for control and domination over nature and the human body.

At its core, evidence-based medicine is a paradigm shift in medical practice that prioritizes the use of the best available evidence from scientific research to guide clinical decision-making. It emerged in response to growing concerns about the quality and reliability of medical research, as well as a recognition of the limitations of relying on expert opinion and clinical experience alone. Evidence-based medicine seeks to bring scientific rigor and objectivity to medical practice by emphasizing the critical appraisal of research evidence and the use of systematic reviews and meta-analyses to synthesize the available evidence.

From the perspective of the Faustian Spirit, evidence-based medicine embodies the drive for knowledge and progress through the application of scientific method and empirical evidence. This drive is rooted in the Enlightenment and the scientific revolution, which emphasized the importance of reason, observation, and empirical evidence in understanding the natural world. The Faustian Spirit sees knowledge as a means to power and domination, and evidence-based medicine reflects this by seeking to use scientific knowledge to gain control over the human body and its diseases.

At the same time, evidence-based medicine can also be seen as a manifestation of the Faustian drive for control and domination over nature and the human body. The Faustian Spirit is characterized by a restless ambition to conquer and subjugate the natural world, and evidence-based medicine reflects this by seeking to use scientific knowledge to control and manipulate the human body. This can be seen in the emphasis on disease management and prevention, as well as the use of drugs and other interventions to modify the body's natural processes.

Moreover, evidence-based medicine can be seen as part of a broader trend towards the medicalization of society, in which medical science and technology are increasingly used to address social and behavioral issues that were previously seen as outside the realm of medicine. This trend reflects the Faustian drive for control and domination over all aspects of human life, as well as the belief that science and technology can solve all of humanity's problems.

In conclusion, the relationship between evidence-based medicine and the Faustian Spirit of Western Culture is complex and multifaceted. Evidence-based medicine reflects the Faustian drive for knowledge and progress through the application of scientific method and empirical evidence, as well as the Faustian drive for control and domination over the natural world and the human body. However, there are also limitations to evidence-based medicine that challenge the Faustian Spirit, including the narrow focus on empirical evidence and the potential disregard for other forms of knowledge and experience, as well as the potential for reductionism and the loss of humanity in healthcare.