[boagie]

Aedes,

Quote:
Originally Posted by boagie
From your outline the one thing that jumps out at me is this genetic disease, this is truely intrinsic

"Perhaps, but you could even make the case that there are extrinsic influences on genetics. For instance, a genetic error takes place at some stage in the genetic history of a family lineage -- and whether it only affects the offspring in question, or it's an inherited gene from generations past, it is still something with influences that are extrinsic to itself (though not necessarily the outside world)." quote

First you will have to give me that, I am not just trying to be difficult. The above seems to me a matter of perspective, granted perhaps an unusual one. Genetic history could be said to be the constitution of said individual as well as his ancestors, a recessed gene, not activated, is still a part of the individuals contstitution is it not. I am thinking of Arlo Guthrie he could not be sure he would not come down with huntingtons until he was fifty. At anyrate this is the constitution of a given individual, the orginal source of the genetic mistake or its cause would not be descernable.

"That said, there are many many other disease processes that I'd argue are intrinsically derived. Take autoimmune diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn's disease or scleroderma or lupus. These result from an intrinsic dysregulation of the immune system by which it inflicts damage on the host. Normally the immune system is intrinsically conditioned to ignore the host and only attack foreign invaders (i.e. microbes)"

The above diseases the cause of which are dysregulation of the immune system, either this is genetic or there is a infectional cause is there not? A perfectly healthy individual's immune system does not suddenly turn on itself. What has caused this disfunction and/or reaction, it is unknown is it not. Aids of course is attributed to a virus is it not.

"And don't forget that many extrinsic things only exert their influence because someone is intrinsically predisposed. For instance UV light can lead to malignant melanoma. But people with very dark skin are far less likely to get melanoma given the same sun exposure.

Yes I have no difficult with weak or healthy constitutions coming down with something, it is reasonable that a weak constitution is a vulnerable one. That certain aspects of the constitution of the less vulnerable are not as susceptible to the same risks due to their difference in constitution is understandable.


Quote:
I do not think the fact the an individual is weakened by say a bacterial infection and left more susceptible negates the premise that most diseases are reactionary in nature. Once the constitution is compromised it is further compromised by foreign organisms and their by products, the seige is on so to speak.

"Fair enough, but there is no way to separate ourselves from the world we live in. Our bodies depend on the physics of our world, we are covered inside and out with bacteria, we depend on food with all its macronutrients and micronutrients, we depend on social contact to some degree, etc. There is no such thing as the human organism in isolation." quote

The very basis of my premise is based on the inclusiveness of a fully relational world, reaction being the bases of all transformations, including the transformation into a diseased state. One aspect you have brought to the fore though that I did not think of, was, reaction to the need unfulfilled, we are indeed inseparable from the physical world, and most any need we have is out there to be had, so when the body lacks there is reaction in the form of perhaps a chemical change. Lonelyness is quite a reality in this society, and it is one of these needs unfulfilled.

"So when you talk about something being reactionary, what you're really referring to is a chain of causality that has some agent that is biologically external to the disease in question. But if you look hard enough, that will be true in every case, if for no other reason because who we are as hosts depends on our entire genealogy." quote

Geneology determines the form and constitution, the real assurance of the premise is in the belief that the world is entirely relational. If this is established, the premise does not seem outrageous at all. It in fact could be no other way. Sorry doc, this must sound terriably cheeky, particularly coming from a layman.