ABSTRACT

Although ophthalmology has made significant progress and awareness about eye care and the accessibility of health technology has increased, there are still aspects that might be improved. One of the ways to achieve improvement is philosophical investigation of some reasoning and behavior styles in ophthalmology. Philosophy means love of wisdom, and the philosophical approach can contribute to increasing the wisdom of ophthalmologists. Logical fallacies currently affecting the decisions of ophthalmologists can be reduced. “ontology” can contribute to a better understanding of “the nature of reality”. A detailed inquiry about the basic concepts concerning ophthalmology may support better reasoning styles. Reflecting on epistemological questions such as “What is true knowledge?”, justifying information, and having a skeptical attitude may help to make decisions with more accurate information. The philosophy of science is concerned with the detailed investigation, questioning, and understanding of ophthalmologists’ scientific activities and may form the missing link between ophthalmology and philosophy. Moreover, the claim that philosophy’s contribution to science is of no interest to scientists warrants consideration. The philosophers of science Karl Popper and Thomas Kuhn have made significant contributions to the perception of science that are still valid today. Karl Popper proposed that a demarcation between science and pseudo-science might be made through the concept of “falsification”. According to this concept, a statement is scientific if it can be tested and falsified using valid methods. Thomas Kuhn stated that major scientific changes (i.e., revolutions) occur through paradigm shifts. Although the areas of moral philosophy/ethics/bioethics have generated useful ideas and practices for the improvement of the art of medicine, bioethics in particular deserves to be questioned philosophically by physicians living in real life. Ophthalmologists can develop more beneficial and realistic ophthalmology education, research, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation practices by utilizing the basic methods of philosophy.

Introduction

Ophthalmology has shown significant progress and achievements, particularly in the last 20 to 30 years. Surgical incisions are made on a micron scale, and drugs that act against pathological vascularization are providing more “successful” results in incurable diseases. Societal awareness of eye health has increased, and technological products for diagnosis and treatment have become widespread and more accessible. Thus, in many parts of the world, ophthalmology utilizes these advanced capabilities to reduce vision loss and improve people’s quality of life.

Although science in general and ophthalmology in particular have made major progress, when examined objectively, one can recognize aspects of both that can be improved.^1,2,3,4,5 One means of improving these aspects is a philosophical approach that subjects some established thoughts and behaviors to more rigorous examination and inquiry.^{6,7,8,9,10,11,12} Philosophy is not an “ivory tower” activity that quotes important philosophers, deals only with the theoretical realm, and is carried out with complex words. Although unnoticed, philosophy is an activity that positively or negatively affects life in many ways and determines the basic mental processes that guide life. Ophthalmology practices, like all activities of life, are shaped by some fundamental philosophical approaches.

This article provides an introduction to philosophy and the areas in which philosophy and ophthalmology interact. Philosophy in Turkish means “love of wisdom,” and we will discuss the connection and relationship between ophthalmology and philosophy based on the premise that the main purpose of philosophy is to “acquire wisdom.” We use the concept of “wisdom” within the scope and historical meaning of the Turkish language, not implying a “mystical” wisdom of Far East or similar origin. We use a plain language, avoiding expressions and terms that are not used by people outside the field of academic philosophy, such as “geist,” “phenomenology,” and “transcendental.” This article will attempt to raise the call to carefully reexamine ophthalmology, which has historical ties and interaction with philosophy, within the conditions of our language (Turkish) and country.

Conclusion

Science and philosophy had nearly the same meaning historically but have been divergent for several centuries, and today the connections between science and philosophy are rather obscure. For thousands of years, philosophy has involved thinking and producing written works on various subjects, whereas science has used mental abilities to innovate practices to make life better. Over time, the ties between science and philosophy have weakened; philosophy remained purely a field of intellectual production, while science continued on to become a field of intensive technology production and use, but limited in terms of inquiry.

Even if ophthalmologists are not interested in philosophy, just asking the question “Is it possible that what is said may be untrue?” will constitute the first stage of wisdom. Philosophy can contribute to an ophthalmology practice that is firmly grounded and consistent with how physicians want themselves and their families treated, not swayed by the researchers, authors, and opinion leaders (although rare) who abuse the drug industry’s support. For such medical practices, there may be important benefits to revisiting and reconstructing both the “logos” and “ethos” areas of ophthalmology (i.e., ophthalmo-logos).

A philosophical attitude that pursues wisdom makes an important contribution to more accurately observing, thinking about, and interpreting one’s experiences. This may enable a more comprehensive and sound evaluation of professional practices. The essence of the professional activity performed can be better recognized and understood. Philosophy provides individuals and the profession with valuable intellectual abilities and tools applicable in a broad range of contexts, from advancing ophthalmology research to defending against malpractice claims. For these reasons, ophthalmologists need philosophical activity and the wisdom they can gain from it.