"The contribution of the German sociologist and philosopher Jurgen Habermas has proved seminal for attempts to understand the nature of social change in the context of global capitalism. This book provides an accessible introduction to his work and shows how his theories can be applied to a wide range of topics in the sociology of health and illness." "This book will open up both new issues and new lines of empirical enquiry that will be of special interest to teachers and students of social theory and the sociology of health and illness, as well as to health care practitioners."--BOOK JACKET.