Ethics, Law, and Psychology: Interdisciplinary Reconstruction of Humanities in Medicine
Date:
March, 14th, 2026 (UTC+8)
Organizer:
Research Center for Science, Technology, and Industrial Culture, Zhejiang University
Symposium Chair:
Personal Bio:
Dr. Sheng Xiaoming, Professor at the School of Philosophy, Zhejiang University, and Professor at Westlake University. He has long led academic teams in pioneering research on the Social Studies of Science, Cultural Studies of Science, the naturalistic turn in Philosophy of Science, and normative issues in Post-academic Science, and is recognized as a leading figure in the field of Philosophy of Science and Technology in China. He has presided over multiple key national projects, including the National Social Science Fund Major Special Project and the Ministry of Education Major Research Project, and has twice received National Awards for Teaching Achievements. Professor Sheng's substantial body of work speaks to his profound academic expertise.
Symposium Members:
| Dr. Aoyu Hou | China Agricultural University | houaoyu@cau.edu.cn |
| Professor Zhi Chen | School of Medicine, Zhejiang University | chenzhi@zju.edu.cn |
| Associate Professor Li Zhang | Research Center for Science, Technology, and Industrial Culture, Zhejiang University | nigaud@zju.edu.cn |
| Researcher Huiren Bai | School of Philosophy, Zhejiang University | baihuiren@zju.edu.cn |
| Researcher Liang Guo | Center for Science, Technology and Law, Zhejiang University | qiushi@zju.edu.cn |
| Associate Professor Hong Huang | School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University | huanghong1119@126.com |
Call for Papers
Background:
The current development of the humanities in medicine in China faces systemic challenges. The dominance of technological rationality in modern healthcare has constrained space for ethical reflection and psychological understanding. The traditional Chinese notion of Ren Xin (“benevolent heart”) has not been systematically incorporated into contemporary frameworks of care. Meanwhile, the potential contributions of law, psychology, and philosophy—especially in shaping ethical norms, promoting empathy, and safeguarding patients’ rights—remain underutilized. The resulting disciplinary isolation has led to theoretical fragmentation and narrow practices, hindering the comprehensive response to the complex ethical, emotional, and institutional demands of clinical contexts. Building robust interdisciplinary dialogue mechanisms that integrate legal reasoning and psychological insight is therefore essential for advancing the depth and societal impact of the humanities in medicine.
Goal / Rationale:
This symposium aims to foster interdisciplinary collaboration among law, psychology, philosophy, sociology, and both modern and traditional Chinese medicine, with the goal of promoting theoretical integration and practical innovation. Emphasis will be placed on exploring applicable pathways for embedding humanistic values into healthcare, such as constructing interdisciplinary curricula, establishing evaluation frameworks for ethical and psychological dimensions of care, and improving legal and institutional safeguards that ensure patient rights and professional accountability. The forum also seeks to reinterpret and modernize the humanistic wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine within contemporary ethical and legal contexts. Ultimately, it aspires to advance the creation of institutionalized and sustainable models of humanistic practice, enabling a healthcare system that harmonizes medical expertise with empathy, justice, and human dignity.
Scope and Information for Participants:
This symposium welcomes contributions that explore the intersections of ethics, law, psychology, and the humanities in medicine. Key themes include, but are not limited to:
- Legal and ethical challenges in promoting the development of the humanities within China’s healthcare system, along with innovative policy and institutional responses;
- Integrative approaches that connect the humanistic, ethical, and psychological dimensions of Modern Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine;
- Psychological and communicative aspects of care, including empathy, emotional regulation, and doctor–patient interaction from a humanistic perspective;
- Human-centered design of medical environments, technologies, and educational programs that respond to ethical and psychological needs as well as practical demands;
- Construction of legal frameworks and institutional safeguards that uphold justice, accountability, and sustainability in humanistic medical practice.
