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Meaning and Use of Placebo: Philosophical Considerations

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Handbook of the Philosophy of Medicine

Abstract

Confusion around the concept placebo and its derivatives is widespread, and the aim of this chapter is to elaborate the nature of these concepts in medicine. The historical development is first described. The current understandings and conceptual problems related to placebo are then examined. Finally, ways to clarify the ongoing conceptual disarray are proposed.

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Correspondence to Pekka Louhiala .

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Louhiala, P., Puustinen, R. (2017). Meaning and Use of Placebo: Philosophical Considerations. In: Schramme, T., Edwards, S. (eds) Handbook of the Philosophy of Medicine. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8688-1_34

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