Social factors in illness

Abstract

Man is a biological entity, but it is eroneous to think of him simply as a biological entity - man in these circumstances would be a non-entity. The collection of tissues - of muscles, blood, brain and water that together make up man exist within a social, cultural, and political setting. The well-being of the organism depends largely on the extent to which it adapts to its environment. Terms such as "well being", of course, are open to much argument and semantic dispute - "well being" varies from society to society.