The Routledge Handbook of Philosophy and Science of Addiction

The problem of addiction is one of the major challenges and controversies confronting medicine and society. It also poses important and complex philosophical and scientific problems. What is addiction? Why does it occur? And how should we respond to it, as individuals and as a society?

The Routledge Handbook of Philosophy and Science of Addiction is an outstanding reference source to the key topics, problems and debates in this exciting subject. It spans several disciplines and is the first collection of its kind. Organised into three clear parts, forty-five chapters by a team of international contributors examine key areas, including:

the meaning of addiction to individuals

conceptions of addiction

varieties and taxonomies of addiction

methods and models of addiction

evolution and addiction

history, sociology and anthropology

population distribution and epidemiology

developmental processes

vulnerabilities and resilience

psychological and neural mechanisms

prevention, treatment and spontaneous recovery

public health and the ethics of care

social justice, law and policy.

Essential reading for students and researchers in addiction research and in philosophy, particularly philosophy of mind and psychology and ethics, The Routledge Handbook of Philosophy and Science of Addiction will also be of great interest to those in related fields, such as medicine, mental health, social work, and social policy.