The place of Surgery in the Philosophy of Medicine.

Surgery has evolved relaying on different material devices, a dedicated space for performance, and a specific kind of knowledge transmission. Textbooks in philosophy of medicine (i.e. Bynum, 2008; Gifford et al., 2011) grant little space to surgery, although its intervening experimental style has been considered as a good example of how tacit knowledge and scientific practice interrelate, and the ethical aspects of surgery (related to the harm caused or to the value of the goals pursued) have been often highlighted.

In my doctoral dissertation I will argue that surgery has been neglected by the philosophy of medicine; thus, its place within this field should be reconceived beyond its being a mere treatment. Because of its history, for a long time separate from that of medicine, surgery has developed a distinct framework for knowledge. More recently, the introduction of new surgical technologies (O’Hara et al., 2014) together with changes in collaborative habits and procedures have transformed some of its characteristics.

Palabras clave: Philosphy of Medicine; Robotic Surgery; History of medicine; History of Surgery.

• Carlos Viesca Treviño