Some ways that a thing can go wrong : malfunctions, disorders and perversions

"Selection and Artifacts" is about how artifacts acquire functions. According to Karen Neander, the function of an artifact is the purpose for which it is designed or built. But I argue that in order for an artifact to have some function its parts and properties must also have been properly selected. "Defining 'Disorder"' examines the conceptual analysis of medical disorder. I defend and develop the idea that a medical disorder is a harmful malfunction. "Teleological Theories of Sexual Perversion" examines attempts to analyze sexual perversion in terms of the biological goal of sex or the functions of sexual organs and psychological mechanisms. I argue that teleological theories are false, and defend the view that sexual perversion is excessive, and therefore unwarranted, sexual attraction, especially sexual attraction to that which is disgusting.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Linguistics and Philosophy.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Bach-y-Rita, Peter

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Judith Jarvis Thomson.

• Linguistics and Philosophy.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/37419

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/37419