Rachel Wolfson
RHE309K
8/31/11
In the article The Normal and the Pathological by Georges Canguilhem, Canguilhem discusses the issues with using the words “normal” and “pathological” while using them in relation to health.
Canguilhem makes the point that the term “normal” is very ambiguous and because of this there is no absolutely correct way to use the word. In the article, Canguilhem mentions Bichat who thought that because nothing ever changes from its “natural type,” there is no need to restore it (122). Canguilhem disagrees and mentions that people should consider a living being as an organization of properties (123). Another person the author mentions is Georges Teissier. Teissier believes that even with “normal” living things, there are some “carriers of mutant genes” (126). This description explains why species become extinct or new species come into existence. Canguilhem agrees and adds, “we can therefore conclude that the term normal has no properly absolute or essential meaning” (127).
When referring to the term “pathological,” Canguilhem notes Claude Bernard. Canguilhem agrees with Bernard’s revelation that an ideal type for everything is never realized because, if it was, there would be no individuals and everyone would be the same (124). Although Canguilhem agrees with Bernard in this aspect he disagrees with Bernard’s idea that individuality is the biggest obstacle facing biology and medicine. Canguilhem believes that individuality is an important factor in really understanding and learning about biology and different aspects of life (124).
In conclusion, Canguilhem believes that when the “norm” and the “normal” are separated, the space between “normal” and “pathological” closes (130). He also concludes that people cannot consider the “pathological” to be the complete opposite of the “normal” because “pathological” is “not the absence of norms but the presence of other norms” (131). The “pathological” is therefore the opposite of “healthy” (131). Finally, Canguilhem says that “normal” will always be a concept used in biology and medicine (133).
Works Cited
Canguilhem, Georges. “The Normal and the Pathological.” Knowledge of Life. Trans. Stefanos Geroulanos and Daniela Ginsburg. New York: Fordham UP, 2008. 121-133. Print.
This summary helped me further understand the article because you focused on ideas that I didn't originally consider in my summary. For example, I didn't really consider the difference between the "normal" and the "norm" in my summary.
ReplyDeleteI think overall, the writing is very well done and clear. However, there are some places that I would add in commas and shorten sentences.