Lovers and Livers : Disease Concepts in History

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The Philosophical History of Disease Concepts.

Lovers and Livers is a must-read for history, philosophy, and medicine enthusiasts. Jacalyn Duffin presents a unique and intriguing view of diseases as ideas and theories. The book teaches readers about the evolution of two diseases - Love Sickness and Hepatitis C - through the centuries, and how social, cultural, legal, and scientific preoccupations have combined to give rise to the terms. With vivid examples from Duffin’s own clinical experiences, this book is written with humour and compassion and stands out as an innovative and informative exploration of medical concepts.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

Lovers and Livers : Disease Concepts in History

Regular price
Unit price
per
Compare to estimated retail price: RM86.00 MYR  
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ISBN: 9780802038050
Date of Publication: 2005-06-18
Format: Paperback
Goodreads rating: 3.75
(rated by 12 readers)

Description

Can a disease be an idea? A theory? Does disease exist without a patient to suffer from it? In Lovers and Livers, Jacalyn Duffin provides a lively overview of the ideas around disease. She introduces philosophical theories of disease and delves into the history of two distinct afflictions - one old, one new - which serve as examples to show how applying theory can uncover surprising aspects of the medical past and present. Written with humour and compassion, and using poignant examples from Duffin's own clinical experience, Lovers and Livers is based on a series of public lectures and innovates by utilizing audience participation and a wide variety of sources including art, poetry, literature, medical journals, newspapers. Duffin's first example of a disease concept - the now possibly defunct disease of Lovesickness - had its origins in the poetry of antiquity and its demise in twentieth-century scepticism, but Duffin argues that it may not be as pass as is generally thought. The second example is the new disease Hepatitis C.
Duffin demonstrates that it too stems from ancient tradition and that it has been shaped by discoveries in virology and recent tragedies in transfusion medicine, as well as by legislators, journalists, and patients. In any given time and place, coherent concepts of disease emerge from combining social, cultural, legal, and scientific preoccupations with current epistemological priorities about what constitutes clear thinking. Lovers and Livers will be of special interest to scholars of history, philosophy, and medicine, as well as many others.


Author: Jacalyn Duffin
Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 240
Publisher: University of Toronto Press
Publication Date: 18 Jun 2005
 

The Philosophical History of Disease Concepts.

Lovers and Livers is a must-read for history, philosophy, and medicine enthusiasts. Jacalyn Duffin presents a unique and intriguing view of diseases as ideas and theories. The book teaches readers about the evolution of two diseases - Love Sickness and Hepatitis C - through the centuries, and how social, cultural, legal, and scientific preoccupations have combined to give rise to the terms. With vivid examples from Duffin’s own clinical experiences, this book is written with humour and compassion and stands out as an innovative and informative exploration of medical concepts.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.