How Scientists Explain Disease

(Paperback)

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Ranging through the history of medicine, from the Hippocratic theory of humours to modern explanations of Mad Cow Disease and chronic fatigue syndrome, this book analyzes the development and acceptance of scientific ideas. At the heart of the book is a case study of the recent shift in medical understanding of peptic ulcers, most of which are now believed to be caused by infection by the bacterium, Heliobacter pylori. Among the questions asked are: how do scientists develop new explanations of disease How do those explanations become accepted as true How does medical diagnosis change when physicians are confronted with new scientific evidence;pThe book challenges both traditional philosophy of science, which has viewed science as largely a matter of logic, and contemporary science studies that view science as largely a matter of power.

Reviews

"Thagard ... presents a detailed structure for the scientific understanding of disease... [A] valuable work... Recommended."--Library Journal "This book is remarkable for its clarity and its lack of doctrine. At each stage, Thagard outlines in plain terms precisely what he is trying to explain, and illustrates his explanation ... It is precisely this even-handed and commonsense approach that allows him to give an accurate portrayal of what scientific advance is like. If this is what philosophers can do for science and medicine, we need more help from them."--Charles Bangham, The Times Higher Education Supplement "An engaging look at contemporary medical science."--K. Codell Carter, Journal of the History of Medicine "For anyone who has practised medicine long enough to wonder how and why some theories become fashionable and others fail to thrive, this book will make an interesting read. Paul Thagard finds both the traditional view of science as logic and the postmodern view of science as power inadequate for understanding how science develops."--Julia Lowe, British Medical Journal "This clear and easy to read book is suitable for the general public and students, as well as professional philosophers of science... The general reader will appreciate introductions to the logical, cognitive, and sociological approaches to the study of science... Useful summaries at the end of each chapter allow a quick read of main points."--Lindley Darden, Philosophy of Science

Author Bio

Paul Thagard is Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Cognitive Science Program at the University of Waterloo (Canada). His previous books include Conceptual Revolutions (Princeton) and Mind: Introduction to Cognitive Science (MIT Press).