Resumo

AYRES, José Ricardo de Carvalho Mesquita. Subject, intersubjectivity, and health practices. Ciênc. saúde coletiva [online]. 2001, vol.6, n.1, pp. 63-72. ISSN 1413-8123.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1413-81232001000100005.

This article discusses the concept of subject as used in health practices. The underlying thesis is that the predominant concept of subject in the health field is not in keeping with the values and premises currently orienting the renewal of health concepts and practices, which defend the relational, pragmatic, and reconstructive nature of subjective identities as opposed to the individualistic, a priori, and objectified approach prevailing in practice in the health sector. This reflection leads to the defense of changes in health practices, based on interrelated theoretical/philosophical twists: a) as a priority, replace the notion of subject with that of contexts of intersubjectivity, in the construction of categories for knowledge and intervention; b) subsume the interest in the technical control of diseases within the broader idea of practical success in projects for human happiness, in defining goals for intervention; c) transformation of care, in the attitude orienting the set of actions focused on individuals' health.

Palavras-chave : Health practices; Subject; Intersubjectivity; Care.