Diphtheria Serum as a Technological Object

A Philosophical Analysis of Serotherapy in France 1894-1900

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Modern
Cover of the book Diphtheria Serum as a Technological Object by Jonathan Simon, Lexington Books
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Jonathan Simon ISBN: 9781498531481
Publisher: Lexington Books Publication: December 27, 2016
Imprint: Lexington Books Language: English
Author: Jonathan Simon
ISBN: 9781498531481
Publisher: Lexington Books
Publication: December 27, 2016
Imprint: Lexington Books
Language: English

Introduced in 1894 as a treatment for a deadly childhood disease, the diphtheria serum stands as a milestone in pharmaceutical history. Diphtheria Serum as a Technological Object: A Philosophical Analysis of Serotherapy in France 1894-1900 considers the production and use of this serum in France, analyzing the drug in terms of a technological object. To do this, Jonathan Simon draws on the philosophy of technology, exploring the application of this approach to medical drugs and suggesting how such an analysis can in turn contribute to this domain of philosophy. Starting with the manufacture of the serum from horses’ blood, Simon then considers the processes involved in transforming the blood serum into a legal medical drug and establishing its efficacy as a treatment against diphtheria. The book looks at the place the drug assumed in French society at the time, as well as the legal and political implications of its manufacture and use. All these elements are deployed to characterize a specifically French serum, as the author argues that the constitution of the drug in its full sense is not only technical but also social, political, and legal.

Considering the serum as technological object facilitates a philosophical reflection on the nature of medical drugs in general by means of a thorough analysis of this particular historical example. The insights offered in this book will be of interest to students and scholars working on the philosophy of technology, particularly the medical sciences, as well as to historians of medicine, particularly those interested in the history of pharmacy.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Introduced in 1894 as a treatment for a deadly childhood disease, the diphtheria serum stands as a milestone in pharmaceutical history. Diphtheria Serum as a Technological Object: A Philosophical Analysis of Serotherapy in France 1894-1900 considers the production and use of this serum in France, analyzing the drug in terms of a technological object. To do this, Jonathan Simon draws on the philosophy of technology, exploring the application of this approach to medical drugs and suggesting how such an analysis can in turn contribute to this domain of philosophy. Starting with the manufacture of the serum from horses’ blood, Simon then considers the processes involved in transforming the blood serum into a legal medical drug and establishing its efficacy as a treatment against diphtheria. The book looks at the place the drug assumed in French society at the time, as well as the legal and political implications of its manufacture and use. All these elements are deployed to characterize a specifically French serum, as the author argues that the constitution of the drug in its full sense is not only technical but also social, political, and legal.

Considering the serum as technological object facilitates a philosophical reflection on the nature of medical drugs in general by means of a thorough analysis of this particular historical example. The insights offered in this book will be of interest to students and scholars working on the philosophy of technology, particularly the medical sciences, as well as to historians of medicine, particularly those interested in the history of pharmacy.

More books from Lexington Books

Cover of the book Contemporary Christian Culture by Jonathan Simon
Cover of the book North Korean Defectors in a New and Competitive Society by Jonathan Simon
Cover of the book Buddhist-Based Universities in the United States by Jonathan Simon
Cover of the book The Cultural Revolution and Overacting by Jonathan Simon
Cover of the book Gender and Power Relations in Nigeria by Jonathan Simon
Cover of the book Eco-Nihilism by Jonathan Simon
Cover of the book Shifting Perceptions of Migration in Senegalese Literature, Film, and Social Media by Jonathan Simon
Cover of the book America’s War against Global Jihad by Jonathan Simon
Cover of the book Plato's Socrates as Narrator by Jonathan Simon
Cover of the book Central Asian Cultures, Arts, and Architecture by Jonathan Simon
Cover of the book Higher Education and Equality of Opportunity by Jonathan Simon
Cover of the book Cyberculture and the Subaltern by Jonathan Simon
Cover of the book Antisemitism, Gender Bias, and the "Hervay Affair" of 1904 by Jonathan Simon
Cover of the book A Spiritual Bloomsbury by Jonathan Simon
Cover of the book The Bible by Jonathan Simon
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy