Instrumentalism: (Theoretical) The theory asserting that scientific laws and theories are rules of inference rather than truth claims or sets of truth claims. Source: ‘What is Good? What is Bad? The Value of All Values across Time, Place and Theories’ by John McMurtry, Philosophy and World Problems, Volume I-III, UNESCO in partnership with Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems: Oxford,… Read More

Intentionality: A central supposition of twentieth-century philosophy, most of all associated with Phenomenology, that consciousness or mind always has a referent or is about something. Source: ‘What is Good? What is Bad? The Value of All Values across Time, Place and Theories’ by John McMurtry, Philosophy and World Problems, Volume I-III, UNESCO in partnership with Encyclopedia of Life… Read More

Intermediate health outcomes: Intermediate health outcomes are changes in the determinants of health, notably changes in lifestyles, and living conditions which are attributable to a planned intervention or interventions, including health promotion, disease prevention and primary health care. Reference: new definition See also determinants of health, health outcomes and intermediate health outcomes Source: Health Promotion Glossary… Read More

Internal and external goods: This is the basic distinction between what is a good in itself and what is good as an external possession. Source: ‘What is Good? What is Bad? The Value of All Values across Time, Place and Theories’ by John McMurtry, Philosophy and World Problems, Volume I-III, UNESCO in partnership with Encyclopedia of Life Support… Read More

Interpretation: Interpretations of sentence and argument forms are ordinary sentences and arguments patterned after the forms; interpretations of the term ‘probability’ are views about the meaning of probability claims. Source: ‘What is Good? What is Bad? The Value of All Values across Time, Place and Theories’ by John McMurtry, Philosophy and World Problems, Volume I-III, UNESCO in partnership with Encyclopedia… Read More

Intersectoral collaboration: A recognized relationship between part or parts of different sectors of society which has been formed to take action on an issue to achieve health outcomes or intermediate health outcomes in a way which is more effective, efficient or sustainable than might be achieved by the health sector acting alone. Reference: modified from… Read More

Intrinsic and instrumental value: What is a good in itself versus what is good as a means. Source: ‘What is Good? What is Bad? The Value of All Values across Time, Place and Theories’ by John McMurtry, Philosophy and World Problems, Volume I-III, UNESCO in partnership with Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems: Oxford, 2004-11. 

Invalid argument schema: An argument form or skeleton such that if its variables are appropriately replaced making all its premises true, then it is still possible that its conclusion may be false (assuming no methodological flaws in the argument). Source: ‘What is Good? What is Bad? The Value of All Values across Time, Place and Theories’ by John… Read More

Investment for health: Investment for health refers to resources which are explicitly dedicated to the production of health and health gain. They may be invested by public and private agencies as well as by people as individuals and groups. Investment for health strategies are based on knowledge about the determinants of health and seek to… Read More

Invisible-hand religion: Religion based on the idea that a Supreme Being or Design that regulates across beings to produce the best of possible worlds. See also Theo-capitalism. Source: ‘What is Good? What is Bad? The Value of All Values across Time, Place and Theories’ by John McMurtry, Philosophy and World Problems, Volume I-III, UNESCO in partnership with Encyclopedia of Life… Read More