ABSTRACT
A partir de conceptos básicos de la sociología, se traza una elaboración teórica que busca una primera aproximación para la construcción de una epistemología de la salud colectiva. El texto expone, inicialmente, una conceptualización de la epistemología, recordando que las diversas epistemologías -fenomenológica, constructivista, histórica y arqueológica- han iluminado la construcción científica de la Salud Colectiva. Si bien los desdoblamientos de estas disciplinas no son abordados, el análisis enfatiza como punto de partida las nociones de concepto, constructos y categorías analíticas. Se destacan tres conceptos fundantes de las ciencias sociales, que se convierten en categorías analíticas: colectivo, sociedad y estructura. Estos conceptos son articulados de forma interactiva con otros tres: individuo, representación y acción. Se apuntan las principales características de esos conceptos y la interrelación entre ellos, así como la idea de que se pueden desprender otros conceptos de esta base conceptual. Se enfatiza la cuestión de superar las oposiciones (objetivo/subjetivo, colectivo/individual) y la necesidad de pensar conjuntamente aspectos de la realidad, clásicamente entendidos como antagónicos.
From basic concepts of sociology, a theoretical elaboration is outlined which looks for a first approach for the building of an epistemology of Collective Health. The paper exposes initially a conceptualization of epistemology, taking into account that different epistemologies -phenomenological, constructivist, historical and archeological-have illuminated the scientific construction of Collective Health. Although the split of these disciplines are not taken into account, the analysis emphasizes the notions of concept, constructs and analytical categories as a starting point. Three founding concepts in the social sciences are stressed, which turn into analytical categories: collective, society and structure. These concepts are articulated in an interactive way with three others: individual, representation and action. The main characteristics of these concepts and their interrelation are highlighted together with the idea that other concepts may derive from this conceptual basis. The question of overcoming the oppositions is emphasized (objective/subjective, collective/individual) along with the need to think together these aspects of reality, which were classically understood as antagonists.
ABSTRACT
Este trabalho discute os diferentes significados do conceito de Medicina Alternativa e Complementar (MAC) no Brasil, onde pesquisa sobre este tema tem pequena tradição com influências da Antropologia, da Sociologia do Conhecimento e Epistemologia, da Sociologia das MAC e da Clínica. Por meio dos conceitos encontrados elaboramos um quadro de diferentes tipos de sentidos. Os nomes Medicina Alternativa e Medicina Complementar foram encontrados em mais de um dos tipos do quadro. A Medicina Alternativa identifica um modelo de prática médica influenciado pelo contexto sócio-político/econômico e pela lógica da produção científica do conhecimento com pares de oposição. A partir dos anos de 1980, o expressivo volume de reflexões sobre a prática médica oficial e a procura de outras formas de produção do conhecimento, levou à criação do conceito de Medicina Complementar. Seu significado é de uma nova forma epistemológica de produção do conhecimento entre os pólos oficial e alternativo, de um conjunto de práticas terapêuticas e de uma confusão com a nomenclatura dos exames que auxiliam no diagnóstico médico, chamados em português "exames complementares".
This article discusses the various meanings ascribed to the concept of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in Brazil, where research on this theme has a limited tradition in terms of influences from anthropology, sociology of knowledge and epistemology, and sociology of CAM and clinical medicine. By means of the concepts identified in the literature, we elaborated a table with types of meanings. The terms Alternative Medicine and Complementary Medicine were found in more than one of the types in the table. Alternative Medicine identifies a model of medical practice influenced by the social, political, and economic context and by the logic of scientific production based on opposing pairs. Beginning in the 1980s, the important volume of reflections on official medical practice and the search for other forms of knowledge production led to the creation of the concept of Complementary Medicine. Its meaning is that of a new epistemological form of knowledge production between the official and alternative poles, a set of therapeutic practices, and confusion with the nomenclature for ancillary medical diagnostic tests, referred to in Portuguese as "complementary exams".