The “Shu” and “Dao” of AI in healthcare： the ethical reflections based on Taoist thought
10.12026/j.issn.1001-8565.2025.02.09
- VernacularTitle:AI医疗之“术”与“道”：基于道家思想的伦理反思
- Author:
Li JIANG
1
Author Information
1. School of Marxism， Anhui Medical University， Hefei 230032， China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
artificial intelligence;
Taoist thought;
AI in healthcare;
medical ethics
- From:
Chinese Medical Ethics
2025;38(2):201-206
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
The development of the industry represented by “artificial intelligence （AI） +” fully reflects the new requirements of the digital economy era， and AI in healthcare has become a key driving force for innovation in the healthcare industry. AI in healthcare represents the refinement of the “Shu” of medicine. However， a series of ethical issues related to “Dao” raised by AI have not been spared in the healthcare industry. An examination of the ethical issues posed by AI based on the perspective of Chinese Taoist thought found that the excessive application of AI in medicine can lead to the loss of human subjectivity， and the excessive technological intervention can also pose potential risks to the natural life process while raising the issues of data privacy and information security. Based on Taoist thought and reflecting on it， it is suggested that the whole society， especially healthcare institutions， should avoid excessive intervention， apply technology cautiously， protect privacy and dignity， emphasize humanistic care， and pay attention to social justice in the process of using AI in healthcare so that AI can be better used by human beings.
