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Chaos and complexity
Volume: 6, Issue 4
The so-called theories of chaos and complexity developed in the second half oflast century look at any natural phenomenon from a radically different point of view. In fact, from this new perspective, any natural phenomenon is seen as an Adaptive and Complex Dynamical System (ACDS), subject to the Butterfly Effect, the extreme sensitivity to initial or external conditions, and generating patterns of all kinds. Together with the basic ideas of complex living systems (Bak, 1996; Kelso, 1999) they are generating a revolution in science (Bohm & Peat, 2000). It has been emphasized recently that ACDS are open, evolving, creative and robust systems (Carlson & Doyle, 2000; Kitano, 2002, 2003; Aldana & Cluzel, 2003). Along with the principles of Quantum Physics and the recent Systems Biology, this new theory calls for an educational trend in teaching and research in terms ofwhat has been called by Morin (2000) and Nicolescu (1999) as a transdisciplinary approach. These issues have been debated at the International Transdisciplinary Congresses already held in Europe in recent years and supported by UNESCO. In this short discussion paper we will be presenting some aspects of what might represent this new approach as applied to family health-related problems in a Brazilian context. In order to search for emergent properties and other levels of reality as the transdisciplinary approach states, a new complex and dynamical definition of health is required. According to West and D eering (1995), an old and homeostatic definition of health is a very well defined point of equilibrium to which any living system has to be brought back to if for any reason it starts to move away. That concept is being replaced by a homeodynamical one in which health is the condition where an individual has the access to a constellation of complex and interconnected system of points. In the eyes of the new science, the individual in this situation is within a region said to be ?far-from- equilibrium? where even matter ?starts to see? (Prigogine, 1996). The question that we propose to deal with here is: how do we apply this new concept in family health? In this sense, a small and subtle but decisive experience has been carried out in Brazil. With the background in Chaos and Complexity Theory, Transdisciplinary Education, Quantum Physics, Systems Biology and related topics being constantly studied, reviewed and discussed, we have worked hard in order to put these ideas into practice. In doing so, alternative and systemic treatments have been the focus in an official health unit maintained by the Federal Government Program in Brazil called Programa de Sa�de da Familia (Family Healthcare Program). This experience has been carried out in the city of Botucatu, State of Sao Paulo, in one of the seven units called Jardim Iolanda, where the health staff is constituted by thirteen professionals among which, there is one physician and one registered nurse. Natural flowers, homeopathy and other natural and nonconventional methods constitute the mainstream of the prescribed medication in that unit. However, by no means has classical and conventional medicine been disregarded when necessary. Through study and practice, professionals involved in this case are learning how to identify patterns of health in the individuals and in their family, either good or bad, and evaluate those patterns as attractors (fractals) to be wanted or avoided. C ancer patients have received special attention, once the disease has also been analyzed as an ACDS which tends to maintain its robustness and differentiation in order to evolve (Kitano, 2003; Harris, 2004). An understanding of the human being also as an ACDS, where the whole family integration and interconnections are decisive, along with other proper therapies and alternative medications, has been a successful approach in many instances as is evidenced by a number of cases. An overall evolution of the main philosophical ideas will be presented here as necessary for the ultimate comprehension of this study. According to Huertas (1996), this review will allow anyone to understand what is the real meaning of these new trends in health science and especially in health family practice. Discussions will cover topics like, why is the scientific community and society being called to acknowledge and embrace a new paradigm which encompasses the new discoveries of the last century in a deeper sense? Bioethical aspects of this new approach, methodologies, use of new medication and other practices will also be discussed following the directions of a very recent debate raised by Guerrini, etal. (2002) and Guerrini and Spagnuolo (2004).