ABSTRACT
It is across this landscape-from fine-grained analyses to straightforward pragmatism-that a multitude of perspectives on the nature and importance of the concept of disease coexist. This chapter offers a survey of this landscape and specific examples that illustrate the confusing nature and ambiguous applications of the concept of disease. We begin with a historical sketch and then examine contemporary philosophical theories of disease. To demonstrate the way these theories shape empirical realities, we offer cases across a range of medical specialties to illustrate theoretical perspectives.
