Is disease a natural kind?
In The Nature of Disease, Lawrie Reznek argues that disease is not a natural kind term. I raise objections to Reznek's two central arguments for establishing that disease is not a natural kind. In criticizing his a priori, conceptual argument against naturalism, I argue that his conclusion rests on a weaker argument that appeals to the empirical diversity in the symptoms and manifestations of disease. I also raise questions about the account of natural kinds which Reznek utilizes and his point that conventions for classification are excluded by there being natural kinds.
D'Amico
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Department of Philosophy, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611, USA.
D001294:Attitude to Health; D003933:Diagnosis; D004194:Disease / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D010686:Philosophy, Medical