The Philosophical Defence of Psychiatry [Hardcover]

By first analysing the arguments of psychiatry's critics and the philosophical ideas of such thinkers as Freud, Eysenck, Laing, Szasz, Sedgwick and Foucault and by then providing answers to the many contentious and diverse questions raised, Dr. Reznek aims to establish a philosophical defence of the theory and practice of psychiatry.
As both a qualified philosopher and psychiatrist, the author is exceptionally p[laced to undertake the examination of a subject which has hitherto remained untackled. It will be easily accessible to a wide variety of non-specialists as well. It will be of specific interest to those involved in the practice of philosophy, psychiatry, clinical psychology, social work and psychiatric nursing.Clearly argued and written, the book covers a wide range of philosophical issues, from the concept of mental illness and the political abuse of psychiatry to free will and responsibility.INTRODUCTION: PSYCHIATRY IN CRISIS The clash of paradigms, The idea of a paradigm, Psychiatry is not a normal science, 1 THE MEDICAL PARADIGM The medical paradigm explained, The virtues of the medical paradigm, Challenges to the medical paradigm, 2 SIGMUND FREUD AND THE PATHOLOGIZING OF NORMALITY The essentialist fallacy, The continuum fallacy, The naturalistic fallacy, The psychodynamic paradigm, 3 HANS EYSENCK AND THE NORMALIZING OF NEUROSIS Learning to be neurotic, Re-educating an illness, The behavioural paradigm. 4 RONALD LAING AND THE RATIONALIZING OF MADNESS Madness is method. The insane society. Laingian paradigms. 5 THOMAS SZASZ AND THE PHYSICALIZING OF DISEASE The dualist fallacy, The organic fallacy, The malfunction fallacy, The computer fallacy, The objective fallacy, The voluntary argument, The game-playing paradigm, 6 PETER SEDGWICK AND THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF ILLNESS Inventing disease, The spectre of cultural relativism, 7 THOMAS SCHEFF AND THE LABELLING OF DEVIANCE Strong labelling theory, Weak labelling theory, Values and relativity. 8 MIClS)