The Philosophy of Psychiatry

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This resource features original essays by leading thinkers in the emerging inter-disciplinary field of the philosophy of psychiatry. Contributors aim to define this field and explore the philosophical assumptions underlying psychiatric theory, the concept of mental disorder, and its social, clinical, and legal treatment. Psychiatry, as a branch of medicine, is grounded in philosophical presuppositions about rationality, personhood, and autonomy, which shape our understanding and treatment of mental disorders. Philosophical inquiries into evidence, reality, truth, science, and values enrich the practices surrounding mental health care. Topics such as the psyche, mind-body relations, subjectivity, consciousness, personal identity, and emotions are central to both traditional philosophy and psychiatry. The philosophy of psychiatry began to take shape in the late twentieth century, driven by the realization that philosophical ideas influence clinical practice, psychiatric theorizing, mental health policy, and the economics of care. This volume reflects the research from vital cross-disciplinary exchanges among academic philosophers, practitioners, and philosophically trained psychiatrists. It showcases original discussions by leading thinkers from various fields, offering critical and imaginative perspectives that break new theoretical ground. The essays are methodologically eclectic, presenting diverse assumptions and conclusions