Paradigm errors in the old biomedical science

Albertas Skurvydas

Laboratory of Human Motorics, Department of Applied Physiology and Sports Medicine, Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education, Lithuania

Key words: biomedical science; determinism; reductionism; complex and dynamic systems; paradigm.

Summary. The aim of this article was to review the basic drawbacks of the deterministic and reductionistic thinking in biomedical science and to provide ways for dealing with them. The present paradigm of research in biomedical science has not got rid of the errors of the old science yet, i.e. the errors of absolute determinism and reductionism. These errors restrict the view and thinking of scholars engaged in the studies of complex and dynamic phenomena and mechanisms. Recently, discussions on science paradigm aimed at spreading the new science paradigm that of complex dynamic systems as well as chaos theory are in progress all over the world. It is for the nearest future to show which of the two, the old or the new science, will be the winner. We have come to the main conclusion that deterministic and reductionistic thinking applied in improper way can cause substantial damage rather than prove benefits for biomedicine science.

Correspondence to A. Skurvydas, Department of Applied Physiology and Sports Medicine, Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education, Sporto 6, 44221 Kaunas, Lithuania. E-mail: a.skurvydas@lkka.lt

Received 18 December 2007, accepted 10 May 2008