Abstract:
Introduction:
Due to the complexity of the current medical approach, several topics from different fields should be considered as part of its understanding, such as hermeneutics. This philosophical branch has contributed to several paradigm shifts in the last few centuries, but such paradigms could only be truly overcome from the 20th century onwards, especially since Martin Heidegger’s work, Being and Time.
Development:
This purpose of this essay was to relate some implications of Being and Time to medical semiology, one of the cornerstones of the medical activity. Exploring briefly some basic themes of medical practice in light of hermeneutic phenomenology, it is possible to identify contributions it has made to the training of health professionals beyond technical parameters, by asking questions such as: what is Semiology? What is talking? How do Anthropology and Medicine interact? What is “empathy” and how should we deal with “death”? It is necessary to highlight the importance of this approach to provide greater human understanding about medical practices.
Conclusion:
Although this discussion does not provide definitive solutions, it shows how hermeneutic phenomenology is a field of potential interest to medical training.
Keywords:
Medical Education; Hermeneutics; Interdisciplinary Communication; Medical Philosophy