This book is a contribution to the current philosophical discussion on the nature of health and illness. It contains a comparative analysis and reevaluation of four influential contemporary theories in this field. These are the biostatistical theory of Christopher Boorse which represents the mainstream thinking in medicine, and three versions of a holistic and normative understanding of health and illness which are the theories of Lawrie Reznek, K. W. M. Fulford, and Lennart Nordenfelt. In this unusual volume of assessment, Nordenfelt critically reexamines his own theory, and George Khushf and K. W. M. Fulford contribute critical responses.
Contents: Foreword by Zbigniew Szawarski. Author's Preface. Part One. Disease and Illness Revisited: Where Should Medical Theory Go?
One. Introduction
Two. The Biostatistical Theory of Disease: Christopher Boorse
Three. An Alternative Medical Paradigm of Disease: Lawrie Reznek
Four. Toward Reverse Theories of Health and Illness: K.W.M. Fulford and Lennart Nordenfelt
Five. Toward a Critical Assessment of the Reverse Theories of Health and Illness
Part Two. Two Commentaries by George Khushf and K.W.M. Fulford
One. What Is at Issue in the Debate about Concepts of Health and Disease? Framing the Problem of Demarcation for a Post-Positivist Era of Medicine. By George Khushf
Two. Philosophy into Practice: The Case for Ordinary-Language Philosophy. By K.W.M. Fulford
Afterword
References
About the Authors
Index
Contents: Foreword by Zbigniew Szawarski. Author's Preface. Part One. Disease and Illness Revisited: Where Should Medical Theory Go?
One. Introduction
Two. The Biostatistical Theory of Disease: Christopher Boorse
Three. An Alternative Medical Paradigm of Disease: Lawrie Reznek
Four. Toward Reverse Theories of Health and Illness: K.W.M. Fulford and Lennart Nordenfelt
Five. Toward a Critical Assessment of the Reverse Theories of Health and Illness
Part Two. Two Commentaries by George Khushf and K.W.M. Fulford
One. What Is at Issue in the Debate about Concepts of Health and Disease? Framing the Problem of Demarcation for a Post-Positivist Era of Medicine. By George Khushf
Two. Philosophy into Practice: The Case for Ordinary-Language Philosophy. By K.W.M. Fulford
Afterword
References
About the Authors
Index