title: A foundation for physiology.
abstract: From a study of the literature on the Philosophy of Physiology it became clear that a crisis exists. This crisis was studied by means of a classification of philosophical views. Two main categories, namely Positivistic and Transcendentalistic, frameworks of thought were used. Under the Positivistic category such models as radical materialistic, mechanistic and cybernetic were placed. Under the Transcendentalistic category were classified holistic, humanistic, mystic and eastern ideas. Paradoxic ideas were discussed. None of the frameworks of thought supply a good foundation for Physiology. A liberating foundation for Physiology is proposed. A model of man as a personal unity in a created environment is described. This model does not contain either the contradictions nor polarizations of the positivistic versus transcendentalistic frameworks of thought.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Potchefstroom for Christian Higher Education, South Africa.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Pretorius
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D010684:Philosophy; D010686:Philosophy, Medical; D010827:Physiology / Q000639:trends*