title: Subjectivity and values in medicine: the case of Canguilhem.
abstract: Theories of health and disease which oppose evaluative and descriptive claims or opt for one or the other in defining fundamental concepts err, it is argued, due to an oversimplified conception of both the science of medicine and the art of clinical judgment. The work of Georges Canguilhem on the biological dimensions of value and subjectivity is explored. I conclude that he avoids the falsehoods of (a) neutral, pure fact-based medical science, and (b) cultural, arbitrary notions of value.
authors: Department of Philosophy, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada. ptrnka@mun.ca
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Trnka
mesh_terms: D005602:France; D006296:Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D006304:Health Status; D049673:History, 20th Century; D010686:Philosophy, Medical; D012016:Reference Values