Situation-specific disease and dispositional function

Abstract

In (Kingma [2010]), I argued that Boorse's ([1977], [1997]) biostatistical theory of health (BST) is unable to accommodate diseases that are the normal result of harmful environments. Hausman ([2011]) disagrees: if the BST compares normal dispositional function against the whole population or reference class, rather than against organisms in similar circumstances as I proposed, then my ([2010]) challenge can be avoided. In this paper, I argue that Hausman's response fails: his proposal cannot accommodate a series of common physiological processes, such as sleep and those involved in reproduction. In the course of this argument, I also offer a detailed discussion of the concept of functional efficiency (Hausman [2011], [2012]), and reveal a link between the problem of environments (Kingma [2010]) and that of reference classes (Kingma [2007]).

1 Introduction

2 Kingma on Boorse

3 Hausman on Kingma

4 Response to Hausman

5 Three Possible Replies

5.1 Reference classes

5.2 Temporary pathologies

5.3 Adequacy of function

6 Concluding Discussion

More information

Identifiers

Catalogue record

Export record

Altmetrics