The philosophical foundations of public health: an invitation to debate.

Philosophy and epidemiology The philosophy of epidemiology and public health in general, and the philosophy of coping with uncertainty in particular, are themes which this number of JECH con- tinues. Colleagues from the Netherlands have contributed an Editorial commenting on (and not entirely agreeing with) an original article from London on causation in epidemiology. The similarities in theme between these articles and a recent Editorial in the Journal of Public Health Medicine (September 1993) indicate that critical thinking about epidemiological concepts, methods and meanings is still required.