| Literature DB >> 18270546 |
Abstract
According to Christopher Boorse's Bio-Statistical Theory (BST), 'health' is statistically normal function in a reference class, and 'health' and 'disease' are empirical, objective and value-free concepts. I demonstrate that the success of the BST depends on its choice of reference classes; different reference classes result in different accounts of health. I argue that nothing in nature empirically or objectively dictates the use of reference classes Boorse proposes. Reference classes in the BST, and the concept of health, are therefore not value-free. Nor is there a reason to favour the BST over accounts of health that use different reference classes.Entities:
Year: 2007 PMID: 18270546 PMCID: PMC2239248 DOI: 10.1093/analys/67.2.128
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Analysis ISSN: 0003-2638