[Understanding the organism as a central problem medicine].

The history of scientific inquiries about the organism within medicine and biology is characterized by controversies about the adequate research methods and forms of explanation. These controversies continue well into our time. In different variations the more mechanistic approaches are opposed to the more vitalistic approaches, reductionistic approaches are opposed to the more holistic ones. Partly these different views are reflected in some of the differences between conventional and complementary medicine. This epistemologic inquiry discusses some of these approaches to show their potentials as well as their deficits. It is pointed at concepts that are searching for forms of explanation beyond mechanistic and vitalistic views. They are suitable to solve these long-standing debates and to lead nearer to the specific properties of the organism. It is emphasized that it is important to further develop the concepts of an 'organismic biology', and its relevance for medicine and medical research is demonstrated.