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This chapter aims to outline the past and present of Western Biomedicine and raises questions on the future of the Western Biomedical Approach given its large-scale disjuncture from “nature.” It begins with the evolution of health, balance, and wellbeing conversations from ancient Greek philosophy, and it offers brief insights into the ways in which “natura” related discussions are interconnected with health during those ancient and medieval periods. It then shifts into the transformation of health in European lands during the era of colonization, and it provides a small picture of how colonization and a few thinkers of Europe shaped the framework for European colonialism, which led to the emergence of Western biomedicine as a hegemonic medical model by suppressing the native medicinal and healing practices of Asia, Africa, and North America. After that, this chapter also tries to differentiate between ancient and modern views on health, which will be further discussed in later parts of the book. Following this, it critically engages with the problem of biomedical definitions of health and wellbeing by examining the contemporary capital marketplace where biomedicine is located. This is not necessarily a deconstruction of biomedicine and its conceptual frameworks; however, pointing towards the experiences that care and compassion are avoidable practices within the operationalization of biomedical definitions. To elaborate on the problems of biomedical definitions in relation to health and wellbeing, this chapter provides insights on biomedicine and nature from various scholarships across the world. Critiques of the WHO’s definition of health and wellbeing as a foundational element will be examined with various other policies, including the Alma Ata Declaration (1978). The remaining portion of the chapter provides critiques of Western biomedicine and its models and approaches from various angles. Importantly, it highlights the disconnect between nature and health discussions in Western biomedicine and the deep links between politics and medicine from the nineteenth century to COVID-19 through selected insights.

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The Problem of Biomedical Definitions of Health and Wellbeing

  • 章节

  • 发表日期：

    2025年

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  • Janaka Jayawickrama,
  • Devendraraj Madhanagopal

摘要

This chapter aims to outline the past and present of Western Biomedicine and raises questions on the future of the Western Biomedical Approach given its large-scale disjuncture from “nature.” It begins with the evolution of health, balance, and wellbeing conversations from ancient Greek philosophy, and it offers brief insights into the ways in which “natura” related discussions are interconnected with health during those ancient and medieval periods. It then shifts into the transformation of health in European lands during the era of colonization, and it provides a small picture of how colonization and a few thinkers of Europe shaped the framework for European colonialism, which led to the emergence of Western biomedicine as a hegemonic medical model by suppressing the native medicinal and healing practices of Asia, Africa, and North America. After that, this chapter also tries to differentiate between ancient and modern views on health, which will be further discussed in later parts of the book. Following this, it critically engages with the problem of biomedical definitions of health and wellbeing by examining the contemporary capital marketplace where biomedicine is located. This is not necessarily a deconstruction of biomedicine and its conceptual frameworks; however, pointing towards the experiences that care and compassion are avoidable practices within the operationalization of biomedical definitions. To elaborate on the problems of biomedical definitions in relation to health and wellbeing, this chapter provides insights on biomedicine and nature from various scholarships across the world. Critiques of the WHO’s definition of health and wellbeing as a foundational element will be examined with various other policies, including the Alma Ata Declaration (1978). The remaining portion of the chapter provides critiques of Western biomedicine and its models and approaches from various angles. Importantly, it highlights the disconnect between nature and health discussions in Western biomedicine and the deep links between politics and medicine from the nineteenth century to COVID-19 through selected insights.