Evolution of Sickness and Healing

Horacio Fàbrega, Jr. presents Evolution of Sickness and Healing, a theoretical work that explores the evolution of human sickness and healing through the lens of evolutionary theory. He argues that sickness and healing are innate biological traits grounded in evolution and offers a new vantage point from which to examine the institution of medicine.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 382 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

Evolution of Sickness and Healing is a comprehensive theoretical work that explores the grand scope of human illness and healing through the lens of evolutionary theory. Authored by Horacio Fàbrega, Jr., this original synthesis brings together various disciplines in the social studies of medicine to provide a holistic understanding of these phenomena. By examining human sickness and healing through the prism of evolutionary theory, Fàbrega not only highlights the vulnerability to disease and injury but also emphasizes the innate biological traits that drive the need for showing, communicating, and seeking healing. This interconnectedness of sickness and healing, as integral components of a unique human adaptation developed over the course of hominid evolution, offers a fresh perspective from which to examine the institution of medicine.

To demonstrate how this intricate, integrated adaptation for sickness and healing forms the foundation of medicine, and how it manifests culturally in response to the shifting historical circumstances of human societies, Fàbrega traces the characteristics of illness and healing across the early and later stages of social evolution. In addition to offering a novel conceptual framework and methodology for analyzing medicine in evolutionary terms, Fàbrega showcases the relevance of this approach and its implications for the social sciences and medical policy. Health scientists, medical practitioners, medical historians, economists, anthropologists, and sociologists now have the opportunity to consider every essential aspect of medicine within an integrated framework.

This title is part of UC Press' Voices Revived program, which commemorates the University of California Press' commitment to seek out and nurture the brightest minds and provide them with a platform to express their ideas, reach a wider audience, and have a significant impact. Drawing on a backlist dating back to 1893, Voices Revived utilizes print-on-demand technology to make high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again. By revitalizing these titles, UC Press aims to preserve and disseminate valuable knowledge, ensuring that it remains accessible to scholars and the general public alike.

In conclusion, Evolution of Sickness and Healing is a groundbreaking work that offers a profound understanding of human illness and healing through the lens of evolutionary theory. By integrating various disciplines and perspectives, Fàbrega provides a holistic framework that sheds light on the origins.

Weight: 544g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520307148