A3 Book section, Chapters in research books
Who Is Ill When a Society Is Ill? (2021)


Hirvonen, O. (2021). Who Is Ill When a Society Is Ill?. In N. Harris (Ed.), Pathology Diagnosis and Social Research : New Applications and Explorations (pp. 141-162). Palgrave Macmillan. Political Philosophy and Public Purpose. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-70582-4_6


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editorsHirvonen, Onni

Parent publicationPathology Diagnosis and Social Research : New Applications and Explorations

Parent publication editorsHarris, Neal

ISBN978-3-030-70581-7

eISBN978-3-030-70582-4

Journal or seriesPolitical Philosophy and Public Purpose

ISSN2524-714X

eISSN2524-7158

Publication year2021

Pages range141-162

Number of pages in the book286

PublisherPalgrave Macmillan

Place of PublicationCham

Publication countrySwitzerland

Publication languageEnglish

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-70582-4_6

Publication open accessNot open

Publication channel open access

Publication is parallel published (JYX)https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/78472


Abstract

This chapter gives an overview of four different approaches to social pathologies, which are present in contemporary critical social theory, and analyses their social-ontological commitments. The different approaches can be divided into two camps. The ‘thin sense’ of social pathology focuses on social wrongs, and the socially caused and pervasive suffering of individuals. The ‘thick sense’ of social pathology, in turn, claims that society is its own entity, or a whole, which can be ill. This chapter discloses the ontological commitments behind different conceptions of social pathology in order to highlight what difference these commitments make in relation to the critical potential of social theory. The chapter finishes with an outline of a critical social ontology.


Keywordssocial pathologysocial philosophyontologies (information management)


Contributing organizations


Ministry reportingYes

Reporting Year2021

JUFO rating3


Last updated on 2024-26-03 at 09:19