title: Cross-disciplinary perspectives on a liberal education for physicians.
abstract: From an interdisciplinary perspective, this paper has explored the role of the humanities, social sciences, and natural and physical sciences in the preparation of physicians. To become an effective practitioner, a student must acquire both conceptual (theoretical) and sensuous (experiential) knowledge. The humanities provide the student with a uniquely rich opportunity to gain sensuous knowledge. The social sciences assist the medical student to gain conceptual and experiential knowledge, especially in the realm of understanding the self and in identifying similarities and differences between individuals, groups, and entire communities. The natural and physical sciences assist the student of the medical sciences in developing the conceptual knowledge needed to understand how the human body works and what causes disease. Beyond that, however, the sciences can help a medical student to develop reasoning power, sharpen problem-solving abilities, and realize how scientific knowledge influences his/her own personal world view. Finally, the sciences provide the conceptual and methodological tools that enable a medical student to serve others.
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum; D004501:Education, Medical; D004516:Education, Premedical; D006809:Humanities; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012586:Science; D012942:Social Sciences