Suchergebnisse

- This charter describes the main theoretical sources used by Achille Ardigň to develop his theory of sociology of health and illness. The influence of Durkheim might be found in the interest Ardigň has for the nexus between social integration and health. Ardigň recognizes the founding father' role of Parsons in the sociology of health, yet he criticizes Parsons because he is too much concerned with the systemic integration and because he doesn't pay attention on empathy. Moreover, the theory of the sick role is tailored on people suffering only for acute diseases - today, more importance should be given to chronic conditions. Some answers to the weak points of Parsons and Durkheim theories are found in phenomenology and its concepts (empathy, Lebenswelt, Körper). In order to avoid to become too much subjectivist, Ardigň integrates, in his sociology, but only partially, the views of the conflictualistic approaches on illness and social stratification. My final proposal is to consider Achille Ardigň as a very eclectic scholar.Keywords: Ardigň, sociology of health, empathy, Parsons, Durkheim, Illich.Parole chiave: Ardigň, sociologia della salute, empatia, Parsons, Durkheim, Illich.

- While medicalization is the process of extending the medical gaze on human conditions through the mechanism of pathologization, human enhancement actions are implemented towards normal conditions. In this sense, human enhancement can not be considered either health care or health promotion because its aim is optimization, not healing nor prevention. As the borders between normality and pathology are blurred, biomedical interventions aiming at improving a normal individual today could be conceived as health care practices directed towards a sick person tomorrow. Therefore, human enhancement actions should be analyzed through the lenses of the medicalization-theory proposed by Conrad - but on a long-term scale. Under an ethical perspective, human enhancement interventions - being very heterogeneous - should be analyzed case-by-case.Keywords: medicalization, human enhancement, medicine, normality, health promotion, disease.Parole chiave: medicalizzazione, miglioramento umano, medicina, normalitÀ, promozione della salute, malattia.

- While medicalization is the process of extending the medical gaze on human conditions through the mechanism of pathologization, human enhancement actions are implemented towards normal conditions. In this sense, human enhancement can not be considered either health care or health promotion because its aim is optimization, not healing nor prevention. As the borders between normality and pathology are blurred, biomedical interventions aiming at improving a normal individual today could be conceived as health care practices directed towards a sick person tomorrow. Therefore, human enhancement actions should be analyzed through the lenses of the medicalization-theory proposed by Conrad - but on a long-term scale. Under an ethical perspective, human enhancement interventions - being very heterogeneous - should be analyzed case-by-case.Keywords: medicalization, human enhancement, medicine, normality, health promotion, disease.Parole chiave: medicalizzazione, miglioramento umano, medicina, normalitÀ, promozione della salute, malattia.

A self-help buzzword, a sociological concept, and a target for political institutions; 'wellness' can be interpreted in different ways. It is viewed as a heterogeneous set of activities aimed at increasing both physical and mental individual well-being, including maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle, being physically active and taking care of mental health. From a sociological perspective, 'wellness' can raise problematic issues; the pursuit of wellness activities is inherently affected by social and economic factors and social determinants, and the individual nature of the pursuit of wellness means it is not strongly related to community empowerment, the production of social capital and social cohesion. Wellness, Social Policy and Public Health: Bridging Human Flourishing with Equity considers wellness as an ecosystem instead of an activity to be carried out by an individual. Case studies explore current welfare policy and its relationship with wellness activities, demonstrating that individual flourishing related to wellness is activated only in a context of solid welfare infrastructures.