How to Be a Holist Who Rejects the Biopsychosocial Model
European Journal of Analytic Philosophy April 15, 2024 Diane O’leary 4 citations
After nearly fifty years of revisions, the biopsychosocial model remains philosophically incoherent, particularly regarding dualism. A recent philosophical defense by Bolton and Gillett overlooks this inconsistency, which has clinical consequences. The author argues that the model's core insight—holism—can be preserved by recognizing the reality of human experience and its biological, psychological, and social dimensions. Engel's original idea is best understood as accepting phenomenal consciousness within medical science. This reframing does not fully resolve medicine's stance on dualism but positions it clearly enough to improve patient care.