The Phenomenon of Mental Disorder

Perspectives of Heidegger’s Thought in Psychopathology

Petr Kouba author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Springer International Publishing AG

Published:10th Sep '16

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

The Phenomenon of Mental Disorder cover

This book provides a critical introduction to Heidegger’s impact on psychiatry and psychology, and has a focus on the application of his philosophy to psychiatry. This is a complete revision of Heidegger’s existential philosophy in the light of psychopathological phenomena. Readers will find here a philosophical inquiry into the problem of mental disorder, which shows Heidegger’s own philosophy in a new light, uncovering both its strengths and its weak points. The author maps not only Heidegger’s interaction with psychiatric thought, as depicted in his Zollikon Seminars, but also his influence on Swiss phenomenological psychiatry. The work treats Heidegger in a critical way, taking the phenomenon of mental disorder as a touchstone on which Heidegger’s thought is tested. The results of such a critical examination are important, not only for a better understanding of psychopathological phenomena, but also for a new understanding of Heidegger’s approach to human existence. This work treats the phenomenon of mental disorder as a philosophical problem that reflects the ontological character of human existence. Heidegger’s approach to mental disorder is confronted with the conceptions of Foucault, Deleuze and Guattari in a novel way. The book is more than just an historical overview as it highlights the limits of phenomenological thought in the area of psychiatry and it shows a possible way of moving beyond them. This is a philosophical work with an interdisciplinary range. Scholars of philosophy and those in the growing field of philosophy of psychiatry, as well as those with an interest in Heidegger Studies will be particularly interested in this work.

“This is an examination of the concept of mental illness through the lens of Heideggerian philosophy, with good attention to several philosophers who have raised objections to those views. … This is written at the level of the professional philosopher. … The book does very well at taking a broad look at the works of Heidegger. This is an excellent examination of the philosophy of psychiatry as found in the works of Martin Heidegger.” (Eric Gausche, Doody's Book Reviews, June, 2015)

ISBN: 9783319362373

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 3518g

214 pages

Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 2015