Placebo and the Philosophy of Mind and Matter in Drug Research

A placebo is a non-therapeutic substance administered under the camouflage of medication to deceive patients into believing that they are receiving medications; this done solely for psychological and not for physiological effects. Placebo may usually be used to compare its effects with the effects of other drugs in drug research.

Let's take the case of an experiment that tries to establish whether a particular drug, say to treat weariness, is genuine or merely has the effects of a placebo. Suppose 20 candidates are chosen for this experiment. 10 are given the drug and the rest are put on a placebo while they are told that the placebo is a genuine medication. They need to make sure that the deception is well carried on for the success of the experiment. If both the groups make similar improvements after taking the treatments, the new drug seems to only function as a placebo in effect.

The basic hypothesis of the placebo raises the question of mind over matter. Of course, this pushes the question into the domain of philosophy. If the dualism is strongly affirmed, one implication can also be that sometimes physiologically active drugs may not be effective when hindered by psychological conditions.

But, what is the nature of this "dualism"? Is there a limit of interaction? How far can one push the mind? Is it ethically justifiable to deceive patients to use placebo? How can knowing (even being deceived) affect therapy? What is the nature of faith and its relation to therapy?

Researchers continue to probe these questions.

God and Professional Training

"Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain." (Psalm 127:1)

We do not go to someone having no training and experience in construction to get a building project done. We hire trained professionals for it. When the time came for the making of the Tabernacle, God chose skilled workmen for the job. Similarly, He expects us to be skilled workmen in the ministry of the Word.

But, it is vain to rely just on knowledge, training, and experience. Unless the Lord builds, all labour is in vain.

Similarly, a man with a heart problem is expected to go to a cardiologist and not to a dentist. However, unless the Lord heals, the doctors labour but in vain.

Paul tells Timothy about the training of a soldier. An untrained soldier is not expected to be sent into battle. Similarly, an untrained athlete is unqualified for any competition. The Bible encourages wisdom, understanding, and skill, but it caps it with the instruction to not rely in our own understanding but trust the Lord with all our heart.