Philosophy of Disease and Illness

Catalog description

What is disease? What does it mean to be unhealthy, or have a physical or mental disorder? Are the concepts of health and disease purely naturalistic, or are they in some ways socially constructed? What is “mental illness,” and how might it be different from physical illness? In this course, we’ll explore an analytic philosophical perspective on these questions, diving into the philosophy of science, medicine, and disorders. We will also explore why the answers to these questions might matter for our healthcare system and our sense of ourselves, through philosophical analysis, discussion, and formal and informal writing.