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Is disease a natural kind?

¹Department of Philosophy, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611, USA.

The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy

|October 1, 1995

Summary

This study challenges the idea that disease is not a natural kind. It critiques arguments suggesting disease lacks natural classification, proposing disease is not a natural kind term.

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Area of Science:

Philosophy of Medicine
Conceptual Analysis
Philosophy of Science

Background:

Lawrie Reznek's work, "The Nature of Disease," posits that disease is not a natural kind term.
This perspective challenges traditional medical and philosophical classifications of disease.

Purpose of the Study:

To critically evaluate Reznek's central arguments for disease not being a natural kind.
To present objections to Reznek's conceptual and empirical claims regarding disease classification.

Main Methods:

Analysis of Reznek's a priori, conceptual argument against naturalism.
Examination of the empirical diversity of disease symptoms and manifestations.
Critique of Reznek's definition of natural kinds and the role of classification conventions.

Main Results:

Reznek's a priori argument against disease as a natural kind is found to be weaker than presented.
The empirical diversity of disease symptoms is a more significant challenge to natural kinds than Reznek's conceptual argument suggests.
Questions are raised regarding Reznek's specific account of natural kinds and the exclusion of classification conventions.

Conclusions:

Reznek's assertion that disease is not a natural kind term is contested.
The empirical variability of disease manifestations presents a substantial challenge to the concept of natural kinds in medicine.
Further philosophical inquiry is needed into the nature of natural kinds and disease classification.

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