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 "passe" 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.
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