Table 1

Patterns underlying thinking in public health

Pattern of thought Nature ontology Nature epistemology Health perspectives
Paretomechanistic-atomistic based utilitarianismpositivistic orientation, methodological individualismdisease perspective
Weberintentionalistic based voluntarismhermeneutic orientation, relational methodological individualismillness perspective
Marxdialectically based materialismpositivistic orientation, relational methodological collectivismillness/sickness perspective
Durkheimorganically based functionalismpositivistic orientation, methodological collectivismsickness perspective