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On illness, disease, and priority: a framework for more fruitful debates.

Anke Bueter1

  • 1Institute of Philosophy, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Im Moore 21, 30167, Hanover, Germany. anke.bueter@philos.uni-hannover.de.

Medicine, Health Care, and Philosophy
|January 18, 2019
PubMed
Summary

This study clarifies the disease vs. illness debate by identifying differing interpretations of priority. It proposes a neutral framework and heuristic priority concept to improve conceptual clarity in medical philosophy.

Keywords:
Christopher BoorseConcepts of disease and illnessLennart NordenfeltPsychiatric classificationReverse view

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Area of Science:

  • Philosophy of Medicine
  • Conceptual Analysis
  • Medical Ethics

Background:

  • The naturalism vs. normativism debate hinges on the distinction between 'disease' and 'illness'.
  • Current discourse exhibits disagreement on prioritizing 'disease' or 'illness' concepts.
  • Implicit interpretive differences underlie the naturalism/normativism disagreement.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze and disambiguate the differing interpretations of 'disease' and 'illness' within naturalism and normativism.
  • To develop a theoretically neutral distinction between 'disease' and 'illness'.
  • To introduce a concept of 'heuristic priority' for a common ground in conceptual debates.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis of philosophical arguments regarding disease and illness.
  • Disambiguation of terms and concepts within the naturalism/normativism debate.
  • Proposal of a new conceptual framework and terminology.

Main Results:

  • Identified that naturalists view 'disease'/'illness' as descriptive/prescriptive, while normativists see them as cause/effect.
  • Demonstrated how differing interpretations of 'priority' lead to debate conflation.
  • Developed a theoretically neutral distinction and introduced 'heuristic priority'.

Conclusions:

  • The proposed framework and shared terminology can resolve common confusions in disease-concept debates.
  • A neutral approach to distinguishing 'disease' and 'illness' enhances philosophical clarity.
  • The concept of heuristic priority offers a path toward more fruitful interdisciplinary discussions.