Part 1
Christian perspective of the nature of spirituality and ethics in contrast to the perspective of postmodern relativism within health care
Medicine and religion are interwoven with multiple faith-based organizations establishing hospitals to help enhance quality of life of human beings. However, the relationship between the two has widened following scientific transition of medicine. Scripture plays an imperative role in reflection of ethics in human lives. The Bible provides rules that help guide human relationships in the society. The concept of spirituality is aimed at explaining relationship between man and God (Rima, 2017). Human beings are a reflection of God hence they need to carry out themselves in an appropriate way aligned with Biblical principles. Christian teaching provides a way in which people should lead their lives to experience quality life. When one contravenes principles, they are considered to have sinned. The Biblical perspective of human life connects with the practice of medicine. Both concepts are aimed at improving the quality of life in the society.
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However, postmodernism relativity considers that absolute truth does not exist. This view clashes with the Christian perspective of ethics. Notably, it gives space for criticism of long-held beliefs and conventions, especially the ones allied to religion (Puchalski, 2001). Postmodernism rejects biblical truth. Such views have had an impact in healthcare with various inventions due to scientific research being accepted in care. Aspects of medicine such as genetics have been questioned following contradict with the Christian perspective of life and care. Postmodernism has led to acceptance of the use of euthanasia in taking away lives of people who have painful chronic illnesses that affect their quality of lives. Christian perspective provides that no person has the right to take away another person’s life. People should be left to die a natural death.
Christians who pioneered medical ethics founded them on sacred grounds. However, the principles often go parallel with secular paradigms. According to Rima (2017), Christian ethics are founded on the basis that human beings are created in the image of God, sanctity of life, quality of life, justice, and compassion. Some of the principles conflict with postmodernism views especially in areas of withdrawal of life support, abortion, sterilization, and physician assisted suicide. For example, Christian principles provide that life should be respected but postmodernism views permit abortion in some instances that include when life of a mother is at risk.
Part 2
Scientism is and two of the main arguments against it
Scientism is a term used to promote science as an objective means through which the society should determine both epistemological and normative values. The term is broadly used to refer to scientific principles and the impact that they have on the world (Peels, 2016). According to Burnett, scientism is a recent word used to define ideas, methods, practices, and attitudes relating to human social and political concern. However, as Burnett (2014) explained, the definition is considered broad since other scholars define scientism as placing emphasis on natural science compared to other branches of learning. Individuals who believe in scientism consider it as the only source of real knowledge. Notably, it implies application of empirical knowledge in investigating occurrences experienced in the world. Application of scientific methods is considered the most authoritative worldview that constitutes human learning. However, science is distinct from scientism since it constitutes exploration of the natural world through clearly delineated methods while scientism is a speculative worldview seeking to understand reality as well as its meaning.
Scientism has had various arguments about it. One of the main criticisms of the concept is that it dismisses philosophical scholarship by failing to identify scientific methods that can be used in dissecting the natural world. Scientism does not identify a single scientific method. Instead, it claims that science is essentially co-extensive with reason. Further, it alleges that science relies on an ever-evolving toolbox that provides the paradigms of analysis of all subjects (De Ridder, Peels, & van Woudenberg, 2018). Another criticism of scientism explicates that it is a concept that relies on speculation rather than empirical research. Its methods seek to provide theories that explain the natural world as opposed to science that engages in empirical research. The concept’s weaknesses makes it a weak tool of explaining the worldview.
Part 3
Ultimate Reality
Ultimate reality constitutes a product of the individual conscious mind. Notably, it is used to provide reasons or explanations behind human existence. When considering reality, human beings should avoid being influenced by the materialistic nature of the world as it seeks to explain human existence devoid of natural world influences. An examination of the way the world is organized points out to existence of a master designer. My ultimate reality considers that there is a supreme being responsible for the existence of all living and non-living things. Scientists have attempted to explain occurrence of life in the world but their views have all been inadequate. Thoughts of reasons for existence point out to someone responsible for the planning of the world. Life, world, and the universe is exquisitely designed to the last atom in a way that is beyond human mentality.
What is the Nature of the Universe?
The world should be considered both in a physical and a spiritual realm. Nature is responsible for the behavior of everything in the universe ranging from the motion of planets up to interaction of small particles. Nature is responsible for life. It governs the life of human beings, animals, insects, and plants. Nature is also responsible for human behavior and society. Therefore, everything in the universe responds to nature. When nature is viewed from a physical realm, it becomes easy to explain. Physicists explain nature by observing the physical aspects of it. Notably, they explain the interrelation of physical beings in the world. However, there is also a spiritual aspect of the world constituting the life existing in both animals and plants. Without spirit, it is impossible to define life. Spirit constitutes the difference between living and non-living things.
What is a human Being?
Understanding what it means to be a human being is important in allowing people understand life and how to live with each in the world. To be a human being is more complex that just having life. Indeed, it involves understanding the purpose of existence in the universe. Human beings are more complex than other living things in the world. They have ability to speak, articulate, work, relate, and interact with other animals and physical objects in the world. Being human is also a state of mind. People who behave in an expected ways are considered less humans. Individuals are expected to treat each other with dignity and respect. They should relate and help each other in ways that maintain and improve quality of life.
What is Knowledge?
There are various philosophical definitions of knowledge. However in everyday usage, it is used to refer to awareness or familiarity with various events, objects, and ideas. In a philosophical sense, knowledge is used to delineate something that one believes is true. People gain knowledge as a result of relationship with objects in nature. Interaction with things in reality moves concepts from being beliefs to knowledge. When one can accurately confirm existence of an actual thing, then they have gained knowledge. A representation of something has to be meaningfully networked and justified for it to be considered as knowledge. For example, a doctor who recommends use of paracetamol as a pain reliever has knowledge of the impact of the drug in relieving pain as opposed to other people.
What is your Basis of Ethics?
Ethics involves developing and defending principle that advocate for right behavior in the society. Human beings are supposed to live in a harmonious relationship that exemplifies their role as superior beings in the world. Therefore my basis of ethics states that it should be based on acceptable standards and behavior. What is considered wrong or right should be objectively analyzed and determined based on various cultures in the world. What is considered right should improve quality of life of individuals. Ethical deeds should also promote harmonious living across all the cultures globally.
What is the Purpose of your Existence?
The purpose for my existence is to live harmoniously with other people in the world and radiate love. Human beings are social and enjoy close relationships with one another. Therefore establishing associations through friendships, marriages, and birth forms the core part of our existence. When we lose a person through death, we mourn because we have lost a part of our relationship. When people are afflicted with misfortunes, we become sad because we want everyone to live a fulfilling life.
References
Burnett, T. (2014). What Is Scientism? American Association for the Advancement of Science, accessed , 13 .
De Ridder, J., Peels, R., & van Woudenberg, R. (Eds.). (2018). Scientism: Prospects and Problems . Oxford University Press.
Peels, R. (2017). The Fundamental Argument against Scientism. In M. Boudry, & M. Pigliucci (Eds.), Science Unlimited? The Challenges of Scientism University of Chicago Press.
Puchalski, C. M. (2001, October). The role of spirituality in health care. In Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings (Vol. 14, No. 4, pp. 352-357). Taylor & Francis.
Rima, S. (2017). Spiritual capital: Spirituality in practice in Christian perspective . Routledge.
