ALIENATION AND THE PRODUCTION OF STRANGERS - WESTERN MEDICAL EPISTEMOLOGY AND THE ARCHITECTONICS OF THE BODY, AN HISTORICAL-PERSPECTIVE

A critical history of the architectonics of the Western body and the s cientific methodologies which underlay its construction in late sevent eenth England offers insight into current experiences of alienation an d estrangement on the part of a substantial number of patients and hea lth-care providers. The bodily architectonics outlined formed normativ e personae that continue to shape a number of medical and social disco urses. This essay outlines some features of this bodily architecture a nd summarizes some of the factors that helped shape its historical for mation. Discussion then moves to consideration of those who opposed th e new formulations and/or methods, and finally suggests some ways in w hich this bodily architecture remains both current and problematic tod ay.