Learning objectives
By the end of the class, students will be able to:
1. Understand and navigate the basic vocabulary and the core debates within contemporary philosophy of psychiatry.
2. Connect the concepts acquired in class to traditional philosophical debates (e.g. mind-body problem, personal identity, etc.)
3. Assess empirical and clinical data, while at the same time understanding their contribution to debates in philosophy and the humanities.
4. Debate on topics discussed during the course and master the relevant argumentative strategies and vocabulary.
5. Read and understand scientific and philosophical texts focused on the class topics.
Prerequisites
Good command of English for reading, writing, and discussion purposes. Additional tools and resources will be offered by the instructor throughout the course.
Course unit content
Philosophy of psychology and psychiatry.
Topics:
- Mental disorder
- Psychiatry as a science
- Normality and social world
- Case-studies (autism)
- The neurodiversity approaches
Further details will be provided in the "Extended Program" (see below)
Full programme
What is it to have a mental disorder? Is it possible to draw a meaningful boundary between mental health and pathology? Are mental disorders reducible to neurological disruptions, are they “problems of living”, or something else entirely? Can we understand ordinary functioning better in light of disordered minds? These are some of the questions that we will tackle in this seminar, touching on areas such as philosophy of mind, philosophy of psychology and psychiatry. We will also explore a few disorders in more detail through case studies and first-person accounts.
The specific focus of this class will be on the notions of normality and pathology in connection with the social world. Autism and the neurodiversity approaches will be primarily discussed through two recently published books (Chapman 2023 and Frazer-Carroll 2022).
Further details will be provided throughout the semester
Bibliography
For students who are not attending the class
Guerini, R. & Marraffa, M. (2020). Psicopatologia e scienze della mente. Dalla psichiatria organicista alla neuroscienza cognitiva clinica. Carocci
Miyazono, K. & Bortolotti, L. (2021). Philosophy of Psychology. An Introduction. Polity Press.
For students who are attending the class:
All the readings will be provided during the course
Teaching methods
This a discussion-based seminar, where more traditional lectures will be complemented by debates, exchange of ideas, and in-class activities.
More details on class format will be discussed during the first week of class.
Assessment methods and criteria
For students participating in the class, the final grade will result from various components, including a final paper, a class presentation, and some shorter assignments to be turned in throughout the course.
Students who are not participating live are encouraged to get in touch with the instructor to talk about alternative ways of assessing preparation.
Other information
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