Health AI Central
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Diagnosis (Berl)2026;13(1):116-119.February 1, 2026Journal Article

The poverty of diagnostic essentialism: reimagining diagnosis in the age of artificial intelligence.

Cory Rohlfsen1, Andrew S Parsons2
1Department of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
2Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
PubMed DOI

Abstract

The pursuit of medical diagnosis has long been shaped by an epistemic framework that assumes diseases have inherent, discoverable essences. This essentialist approach, deeply rooted in Aristotelian thought, has historically guided diagnostic reasoning and classification for over a century. However, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is catalyzing a philosophical and practical shift toward no…

Create a free account to keep reading

Free members get 10 full research views every month across publications, clinical trials, FDA clearances, adverse events, and NIH grants. No credit card required.

Create Free AccountSign In

Want unlimited research access? See Pro plans

Data Accuracy Notice: Research intelligence on Health AI Central is aggregated from public sources (PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, FDA, NIH, CMS, and others) and refreshed nightly. Classifications and derived metrics are produced by automated methods described in our Methodology. We recommend verifying critical data points against the primary sources before making decisions.