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Talcott Parsons: His Legacy and the Sociology of Health and Illness

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The Palgrave Handbook of Social Theory in Health, Illness and Medicine

Abstract

There is little doubt that Talcott Parsons is a major figure in the development of the sociology of health and illness. Whether he is the major figure in the sense of being the founder has been the subject of hotly contested debate. Now that several decades have passed, it is possible to assess his legacy and lasting importance to this field of sociology. This chapter argues that although his writings are reflective of the times in which he wrote, and these times have long since passed, his core ideas remain central to the sociological sub-specialty — whether it is called the sociology of health and illness or medical sociology.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, Flinders University, South Australia

    Eileen Willis (Professor of Social Health Sciences)

Authors
  1. Eileen Willis
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Sydney, Australia

    Fran Collyer (Associate Professor) (Associate Professor)

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© 2015 Evan Willis

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Willis, E. (2015). Talcott Parsons: His Legacy and the Sociology of Health and Illness. In: Collyer, F. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Social Theory in Health, Illness and Medicine. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137355621_13

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