title: [Epistemology as health research propedeutics].
abstract: The present article advocates the need for epistemological training prior to the study of biostatistics and epidemiology. Taking Plato as the starting point, we reached this conclusion after analysis of the paradigm problems affecting biostatistics and the connotations of causality and research time in major epidemiological designs. External validity is intimately linked to the philosophical problem of induction. Evidence-based health could be renamed as "neopositive health" and could possibly have a French origin.
authors.affiliation: Distrito Sanitario de Atención Primaria Sevilla, Sevilla, España. ortegacalvo@terra.es
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ortega Calvo
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Román Torres
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lapetra Peralta
mesh_terms: D056808:Biostatistics; D015984:Causality; D004813:Epidemiology / Q000193:education*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000266:history; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D008128:Logic; D008433:Mathematics / Q000266:history; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010684:Philosophy / Q000266:history*