Anarchism and public health: Forgotten principles in the analysis of health problematics in a sick society

Within the public health and other health sciences, given the hegemonic presence of the pathological biomedical approach and the biological ideology inspired by the positivist paradigm, there is a lack of key social theoretical discussions to achieve understanding of the "causes of the causes " of diseases. Before a concrete definition of public health as a discipline, there were scientists and health professionals proposing an interdisciplinary perspective in the search of the origins of health and disease. Much of the principles, values, beliefs, and concepts within this perspective were originated from an ideological and philosophical vision; proponent of an alternative redistribution of social power called anarchism. The positivist conception in health and social sciences limits possible interventions that can be implemented to lessen the aspects of social reality that affects the population health outcomes. This presentation aims to contribute to the epistemology of public health providing evidence to support the relevance of anarchist philosophical principles with in the public health discipline. It is possible to hypothesize that anarchism has inspired the key principles of health promotion and public health education. Through a systematic review of the literature, this paper has the intention of contributing with evidence that support the influence of anarchist principles in the design and practice of public health.