Those who teach medical science or research techniques should exhibit “technical” knowledge − the product of their teachings being the skills that are imparted to their students. Teachers should further develop practical wisdom by applying and practicing virtuous behavior in their own lives so they can become role models for their students.
We constantly make decisions in medical research. What is the quality and character of those decisions? What shapes the researcher's decision‐making process? It requires wisdom to exercise discernment and make good decisions in research ; in order to aquire wisdom, the researcher needs first to know what wisdom is, and then to diligently work towards fostering it.
7.4.1 Wisdom Is the Space Where Science and Religion Can Meet
Since antiquity, wisdom has been understood as a psychological trait and has been examined in many humanities disciplines. In modern times, wisdom has been variously described as involving social attitudes or behaviors, pragmatic knowledge of life, emotional homeostasis, reflection or self‐understanding, value relativism and tolerance, and the acknowledgment of uncertainty with the ability to cope with it effectively. Although broadly defined, wisdom is consistently recognized as including thoughtful decision‐making, compassion, altruism, and insight (Meeks and Jeste 2009).
In ancient philosophy, wisdom was considered attainable in the context of practicing askezis, which implied exercises of self‐control, self‐discipline, self‐denial, and meditation guided by a mentor.
Many of the world's religions emphasize that adhering to a spiritual path increases emotional maturity. It brings hope of a transcendent wisdom that is accompanied by a heightened consciousness, a sense of inner silence, joy, gratitude, and morality. Both Western and Eastern religions teach that in order to develop wisdom, one needs to practice constraint, disciplined morality, charitable concern, and compassionate actions (Meeks and Jeste 2009).
According to Pavel Florensky (1882−1937), a Russian Orthodox theologian and thinker, wisdom is divine and is a direct representation of God's creative love. “Sophia is the original nature of creation, God's creative love… For everything exists truly only insofar as it communes with the God of Love, the Source of being and truth” (Florensky 1997). As a result of this act of love, wisdom is imprinted in each one of us, “in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who is given unto us” (Romans 5:5, New King James Version).
The art of medical research is to integrate science with wisdom for the benefit of patients. In a clinical setting, the purpose may not always be to cure, but to help the patient throughout the process, while instilling a realistic hope or peace in individual suffering. Very often, medical science cannot provide that hope to the patient. Therefore, medical disciplines serve a greater purpose: to understand the needs and sufferings of patients and address these problems through medical practice and research. We suggest that the training of practitioners and researchers needs to challenge the development of the Self as a prerequisite of developing the sensitivity to others.
7.5 A Crystallizing Example
As we have noted, religion and spirituality may enter the medical research sphere on a personal level, where researchers see their work as part of a Divine calling. The individual may view medical research as part of an obligation to serve humanity and thereby indirectly attain Divine grace. A researcher may decide to work toward ameliorating a particular disease, like diabetes, because it ravages a large swath of humanity – or works to serve an underprivileged community with worse health outcomes in order to bring about health equality. A spiritual researcher may even engage to serve his religious community by investigating health conditions that are more prevalent among a population within his or her own religious community. These sorts of research endeavors encompass a drive to bring about maximal scientific benefit, but also contain an element of Divine service.
A medical researcher who is motivated by religious concerns may also strive to focus his activities upon a more vertical plane, whereby he works to develop within himself the sort of moral character that is pleasing to God and other humans. For example, he may practice prayers that help him stay in connection with God and through that connection instill virtuous behaviors – thereby becoming a better servant of God and as well the community that he serves.
These two dimensions (horizontal and vertical) involve the formation of the researcher and are often pursued simultaneously; as such, there may be places for overlap. A case example is a researcher who employs his skills to introduce virtues into the medical education curricula, affecting physician behaviors and patient care in the process. Another example is a researcher who examines the ways in which religion impacts patient behaviors and works to develop healthcare systems that serve the religious and spiritual needs of patients, clinicians, and researchers alike.
The content presented in this chapter may enable a future researcher to render a deeper consideration of the idea that a fundamental relationship exists between the rigorous scientific growth and spirituality, and to encourage further reflection and meditation on the universal and particular aspects of this perspective.
Acknowledgment
We thank Dr. Farr Curlin at Duke University for reviewing an earlier version of the manuscript and making many helpful suggestions.
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