Institute of Human,Environment and Future

Subject of a research

Medical Practice and Humanities: Interdisciplinary Research on Suffering, Empathy, and Medical Therapies

Research Period

2014. 12. 1 – 2017. 11. 30

Framework of Study

Objective of Study

The purpose of this study is to explore the practical possibilities of the humanities in the medical field through the social and ethical issues.

The first subject, named as humanistic ground-research of suffering·sympathy·health, plans to understand and intensify the basis and principle of medical treatment by screening the fundamental concepts underlying medical formation from the studies of the basic concepts or principles of existence in the humanities which leads to apply to the medical fields.

The second subject, named as reestablishment of healing and medical therapies: medical utilization of humanistic research, plan to practically and directly supplement medical treatment through accumulated knowledge and wisdom in the humanities.

Method of study

This study seeks to combine humanistic inquiry of suffering and empathy with medical therapies through the interaction of basic and applied studies.

In order to combine theoretically fundamental research with medically applied research, this study consists of the interdisciplinary research teams by cooperating broadly two research fields; one is the humanities representing philosophy or ethics, the other is social and natural sciences including medicine and public health. Also, research concerning to empathy would be essential to connect between individual-level and community-level, because empathy would be one of the key passages to show humanities as personal issues and social practice activities associated with morality at the same time.

Expected Effect

1. Theoretical and empirical foundation concerning to the changed concept of ‘human' and the restored humanity provided
2. Changes in medical treatment environment through the empathically-converted perspective for patients’ suffering
3. Theoretical and empirical foundation for interdisciplinary research across the humanities and medicine provided
4. Practical utilization of humanity-based educational programs for health professionals
5. Development of teaching aids and curriculum based on integrated vision across philosophy, medicine, neuroscience, sociology, and anthropology
6. Formation of theoretical and empirical foundation for meta-interdisciplinary research and practical utilization of the connection between theory and reality

Projet Member

Director	Kim, Hye Kyung (Professor, Inje University)
Cooperation Researcher	Kang, Sung-Hoon (Professor, Philosophy Department, Seoul National University) Kim,KwangKee(Professor,GraduateschoolofPublicHealth,InjeUniversity) Kim,Youl-Ri(Doctor,Neuropsychiatry,SeeoulPaikHospital) Paik,ToHyung(Professor,PhilosophyDepartment,SoongsilUniversity) Yang,Sunny(Researchprofessor,InjeUniversity) Youhojong(Yonsei University college of medicine professor) You,Hojong(Researchprofessor,GraduateschoolofPublicHealth,YonseiUniversity) Lee,Tae soo (Professor, Inje University) Kim, Hyo-eun (Teaching professor, Ewha Woman’s University)
Researcher	Jang, Misung Kwag, Kyung Hwa Shim, Jiwon
Research assistant	Anhyesu (Soongsil University philosophy department worthy scholar)
Assistant	Jung, Hye Jin