WHAT IS THE OATH HIPPOCRATE OF OUR DAYS? ANALYSIS FROM THE PERFORMATIVITY OF LANGUAGE FROM JOHN AUSTIN

Abstract

Because modern medicine raises many ethical issues, it is
necessary to question what allows physicians to progress in
a humane and ethical way. The purpose of this article is
to show how the oath of Hippocrates occupies an essential
function for the practice of medicine. Our consideration is
not focalized to neither the oath itself, nor its ethical content,
but to question the fact of taking the oath and under what
conditions. Based on the philosophy of John Austin and
the notion of performativity of language, authors brought
to the light four functions of Hippocratic Oath. By taking
the oath, the doctor recognizes himself as a doctor. This
awareness must last for lifetime. The oath has a function of
maintaining the professional identity, according Paul Ricœur
philosophy. In addition, the practice of medicine presupposes
that physicians recognize each other and are recognized by
patients. The performativity of the language can explain
how the Hippocrates oath has also these last two functions.