Rational and irrational suicide in Plato and modern psychiatry

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 229-235
Author(s):  
Bianca M. Dinkelaar
Keyword(s):  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Historical Background ◽  
Careful Examination ◽  
Duty Of Care ◽  
Contemporary Society ◽  
Rational Suicide ◽  
Philosophical Approach ◽  
Complex Issue ◽  
Modern Psychiatry ◽  
Open Discussion

SUMMARYSuicide is a complex issue that is sparking increasingly more debate in contemporary society. There is need for an open discussion on the concept of rational suicide, specifically in relation to psychiatric disorders, so as to resolve the conflict between the duty of care of psychiatrists and the autonomy of patients. To be able to conduct such a discussion in an objective manner, we must first be made aware of the potential prejudices that we harbour on the topic of suicide as a result of our societal and historical background. A historical and philosophical approach to the topic, through careful examination of the topic of suicide in the texts of Plato, helps create such an awareness.

scholarly journals The Cartography of Childhood. A Parcours of Philosophy for Children / Community and Cartography

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-66
Author(s):  
Silvia Bevilacqua
Keyword(s):  
Summer School ◽  
Human Geography ◽  
Theoretical Research ◽  
Contemporary Society ◽  
Philosophy For Children ◽  
Philosophical Approach ◽  
Philosophical Debate ◽  
Philosophical Discourse

The following reflections are born from some practical and theoretical trajectories undertook by the writer – already since a few years in my research scope – around philosophy for children/community and philosophical practices. The experience of some activities proposed at the Liceo Vasco/Beccaria/Govone in Mondovì during the Cespec Summer School 2017 around the issue of Humanitas in the contemporary society was recently added to these reflections. It is a theme that engaged us in several experiences of Philosophy for Community. Throughout these gatherings, we proposed a cartographic writing and philosophical approach. In particular, this contribution will explore the concept of children cartography (cartografia d’infanzia), as an occasion of translating the philosophical discourse into a map of a philosophical debate, also mutuating the concept of philosophical confluence considered by Pierpaolo Casarin. The adopted perspective is the transdisciplinary border where human geography, philosophy, and writing, as disciplinary subjects, can confound their identities and boundaries in a space of immanence in the making. Summarizing, we intend to highlight the themes, concepts, and practical propositions around some practical and theoretical research trajectories, current and future, which hold implications for all of us (and for humanity). Such practices allow again – and still – the possibility of orienting and losing oneself thanks to the Humanitas.

Hallucinogens: Spiritual and Therapeutic Use, Overuse, and Complications

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles S. Grob
Keyword(s):  
Belief Systems ◽  
Historical Background ◽  
Careful Examination ◽  
Mental Health Clinicians ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
History Of ◽  
Vital Component ◽  
Human Use ◽  
Cultural Upheaval

A fascinating class of psychoactive substances possessing a long and mysterious history of human use are the classic hallucinogens. Forming a vital component of prehistorical and aboriginal culture and belief systems, hallucinogens were ultimately condemned and repressed by evolving civilizations, only to the “rediscovered” in the 20th century. Of compelling interest to anthropologists, ethnobotanists, pharmacologists, medical scientists, and mental health clinicians, their use was diverted to the general culture, particularly among youth during the politically tumultuous 1960s: it was determined to be the cause of a period of cultural upheaval associated with a perceived public health crisis. After decades of quiescence, however, the careful examination of hallucinogens under rigorous and approved research conditions has resumed. This chapter will explore the historical background, neuropharmacology, cultural use, risks of adverse events/addiction, recent renaissance of controlled research, and models for optimal use and implications for the future.

scholarly journals Is valuation of property a real science?

2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 123-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Ryska ◽  
A. Valder
Keyword(s):  
Modern Science ◽  
Contemporary Society ◽  
Practical Skills ◽  
Property A ◽  
Human Race ◽  
Philosophical Approach ◽  
Real Science ◽  
Science And Art ◽  
Scientific Disciplines ◽  
General Opinion

The evaluation of property is one of the basic human professions that have accompanied the human race ever since money was first used. At the time of the formation of modern science, this discipline was not included among the economic sciences. The stipulation of the value of property was based not only on theoretical knowledge of the economics, knowledge of goods, technology, agriculture and law, but also practical skills, knowledge of markets and the art of correctly assessing the requirements of customers. This situation continued until the end of the last millennium, when the evaluation of property stood apart from official science and was presented as an activity that links science and art and for this reason it was not possible to include it among the scientific disciplines. There is given analysis of value and valuation of property. On the base of philosophical approach to value and process of valuation, it can be stated that Valuation is a science in terms which in modern science have meaning. This would enable surveyors to participate also in the promotion of their profession on the academic floor and thus have more influence on the general opinion of value and its influence on contemporary society.

scholarly journals Personal Self-identity As an Aspect of Educational Space and Time

2021 ◽  
pp. 26-35
Author(s):  
Andrei D. Korol ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Behavior ◽  
Historical Background ◽  
Internal Space ◽  
Philosophical Approach ◽  
Self Identity ◽  
Internal Time ◽  
Space And Time ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Interdisciplinary Knowledge ◽  
Pedagogical Science

The article implements a philosophical approach to the problems of education. The author sees the main problem in the fact that stereotyping and monologiza­tion of human behavior, thinking and communication in many ways are a conse­quence of the education system being monologue: most importantly, the content of education is viewed as a pedagogically adapted social experience transmitted to a student without taking into account his personal, cultural and historical background and other characteristics. The article debates that such a knowledge-transfer, subject-object nature of education leads to the expansion of the exter­nally specified content of education as the capacity of educational space. Most arguably, it does not take into account the student himself in education, his mis­sion, purpose, peculiarities, it creates preconditions for the loss of a person’s identity as an internal space which the author regards as the interaction of inter­nal forms, words and actions. Overloading the content of education at all its lev­els leads pedagogical science to the problems of pedagogical space and time. In his research, the author shows that the time for the student to create his own metasubject learning results differs from the time it takes for the student to ac­quire integrated, interdisciplinary “knowledge”. Based on the concept of “inter­nal forms” of a word (A.A. Potebnya, G.G. Shpet, P.A. Florensky, N.S. Avtono­mova), the author of the article considers dialogical communication as the nature of the student’s inner space which determines his self-identity. The author’s re­search shows that a heuristic dialogue, in which the questioning dominant in learning new things belongs to the student, and not the teacher, is the most im­portant tool for the formation and development of his inner space – the space of self-change, a condition for the conjugation of the “external” objective (histori­cal) time with the “internal” time – ahistorical, meta-time.

scholarly journals URGENSI FILSAFAT DALAM KEHIDUPAN MASYARAKAT KONTEMPORER: Tinjauan Filsafat Islam terhadap Fungsi Moral dan Agama

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Himyari Yusuf
Keyword(s):  
Human Life ◽  
Contemporary Society ◽  
Philosophical Approach ◽  
Global Era ◽  
Classic Problem ◽  
Global Age ◽  
Religious Dimensions ◽  
And Function ◽  
Meaning And Function ◽  
Relationship Of

Abstract: This study reveals the function of morality and religion, especially for today's contemporary society. In fact, moral and religious issues are intimately related to human life in today's global era which has experiences a change or shift of meaning and function. Truthfully, the function of morality and religion in contemporary society barely possesses any value. Morality is noticeably a classic problem that hinders the freedom of human life, as well as religion is considerably an individual issue and another world issue (hereafter). Therefore, the focus of this study is the nature and function of morality and religion for the contemporary society, and the relationship of man, morality, and religion (Islam). Through answering the various issues above, this study uses a philosophical approach (philosophy as a method). The use aims to wholly, radically, and rationally understand what the nature and function of morality and religion for human life or for the contemporary society to the point that the understanding reaches its essential and fundamental meaning. Those issues are principally related to human and humanity. The moral and religious dimensions have been fused with the existence and essence of human life. Religion (Islam) is in accordance with the nature of humanity, and it contains the values of morality. Thus, philosophically, it implies that man, morality, and religion (Islam) is one species, and they cannot be separated. Consequently, morality and religion (Islam) should be implemented in a whole series of human life in the contemporary and global age like nowadays. Abstrak: Pengkajian ini menampilkan persoalan fungsi moralitas dan agama, khususnya bagi masyarakat kontemporer dewasa ini. Secara faktual persoalan moral dan agama adalah persoalan yang terkait dengan kehidupan manusia yang pada era global sekarang ini telah mengalami perubahan atau pergeseran pemaknaan dan fungsi. Secara faktual fungsi moralitas dan agama pada masya¬rakat kontemporer nyaris tidak memiliki nilai apa-apa. Moralitas dianggap persoalan klasik yang menghambat kebebasan hidup manusia, demikian pula agama hanya dianggap sebagai persoalan individu dan persoalan dunia lain (akhirat). Oleh karena itu yang menjadi pokok kajian dalam tulisan ini adalah apa hakikat dan fungsi moralitas dan agama bagi kehidupan masyarakat kontem¬porer, dan bagaimana korelasi manusia, moralitas, dan agama (Islam). Menjawab berbagai pokok persoalan di atas, dalam kajian ini akan menggunakan pendekatan filsafat (filsafat sebagai metode). Penggunakan pendekatan filsafat, dimaksudkan agar apa yang menjadi hakikat dan fungsi moralitas dan agama bagi kehidupan manusia atau bagi masyarakat kontemporer dapat pahami secara menyeluruh, mendasar (radikal), dan rasional, sehingga sampai pada hakikatnya yang paling hakiki dan mendasar. Persoalan hakikat dan fungsi moralitas dan agama, sesungguhnya merupakan persoalan yang terkait dengan manusia dan kemanusiaan. Dimensi moralitas dan agama sejatinya telah menyatu dengan eksistensi dan esensi manusia sendiri. Agama (Islam) sesuai dengan fitrah kemanusiaan, dan di dalamnya terkandung nilai-nilai moralitas. Dengan demikian secara filosofis dapat dikatakan bahwa manusia, moralitas, dan agama (Islam) merupakan satu spesies, yang satu dengan lainnya tidak dapat dipisahkan. Oleh karena itu moralitas dan agama (Islam) harus diimplentasikan dalam seluruh rangkaian kehidupan umat manusia pada era kontemporer dan globalisasi dewasa ini.

In the Aftermath of Upheaval

2021 ◽  
pp. 5-10
Author(s):  
John C. Markowitz
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Social Supports ◽  
Social Consequences ◽  
Historical Background ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
Social Rhythms ◽  
Psychological Risk

This chapter provides recent historical background for the book: a brief recounting of the onset of the pandemic and its medical and social consequences. It describes in detail some of the losses due to Covid-19, including the loss of sense of safety and health; loss of income and employment; and, too often, the loss of loved ones. The lockdown disrupted social rhythms, a disorienting and anxiety-generating experience for many. With social distancing comes the potential loss of social supports, a risk factor for psychopathology. Excessive social media use is another related psychological risk. Part of the problem for people lies in gauging: how much upset is normal and appropriate in an upsetting time, and how much is excessive and symptomatic? In this destructive context, we anticipate, and are already seeing, a wave of psychiatric disorders following the surge(s) of the virus.

Instrumental rationality and suicide in schizophrenia: a case for rational suicide?

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (12) ◽  
pp. 802-805
Author(s):  
Markella Grigoriou ◽  
Rachel Upthegrove ◽  
Lisa Bortolotti
Keyword(s):  
Assisted Suicide ◽  
Excess Mortality ◽  
Severe Depression ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Rational Suicide ◽  
Philosophical Approach ◽  
Affective Factors ◽  
Loss Of Self ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
The Uk

It is estimated that up to 7500 people develop schizophrenia each year in the UK. Schizophrenia has significant consequences, with 28% of the excess mortality in schizophrenia being attributed to suicide. Previous research suggests that suicide in schizophrenia may be more related to affective factors such as depression and hopelessness, rather than psychotic symptoms themselves. Considering suicide in schizophrenia within this framework enables us to develop a novel philosophical approach, in which suicide may not be related to loss of self-consciousness, thought processing dysfunctions or perception disturbances. The action of suicide may be due neither to persistent hallucinations nor other psychotic symptoms, such as delusional beliefs, but to other underexamined, perhaps rational reasons, such as extreme social isolation, severe depression or emotional withdrawal. This paper does not examine the moral character of suicide. Instead, it argues that we should conceive the action of suicide in schizophrenia as an act that is not necessarily irrational. People with schizophrenia might end their life based on reasons if suicide is the best means to achieve their ends. However, the paper does not support assisted suicide. It aims to provide a better understanding of the reasons why people take their own lives and suggests that understanding can inform effective interventions to reduce high rates of suicide.

scholarly journals Omkring diagnosekulturen – depression som seismograf for samtiden

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-26
Author(s):  
Anders Petersen
Keyword(s):  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
General Public ◽  
Psychiatric Diagnoses ◽  
Contemporary Society ◽  
Ideal Self ◽  
Sociology Of Diagnosis ◽  
The Times ◽  
The Way

Denne artikel diskuterer, hvad der har muliggjort, at vi lever i en diagnosekultur. Diagnosekulturen er karakteriseret ved, at ikke alene fagpersoner (læger, psykologer, psykiatere osv.), men også lægmænd og den brede offentlighed mobiliserer psykiatriske diagnoser og kategorier som meningsgivende fortolkningsrammer for stort set alle former for lidelse og afvigelse. Spørgsmålet er, hvordan den logik har kunnet få samfundsmæssig fodfæste. I artiklen forklarer jeg, hvorledes overgangen fra en dynamisk til en diagnostisk funderet psykiatrioptik har banet en del af vejen for diagnosekulturens samfundsmæssige forankring. Men jeg argumenterer også for, at det perspektiv behøver at blive suppleret for at give et mere nuanceret billede af, hvorfor diagnosekulturen har kunnet internalisere sig i vores samtid. Som afsæt for den del af analysen benytter jeg mig af en sociologi om diagnoser – en forgrening af sociologien, hvis primære genstandsfelt er diagnoser – og hvad de kan fortælle os om forskelligartede sociale udviklinger, processer og ikke mindst den samtid, vi lever i. Nærmere bestemt benytter jeg mig af depressionsdiagnosens symptomer til at analysere og tydeliggøre, hvordan depressionsdiagnosen kan bruges som seismograf for samtiden. Pointen med denne tilgang er, at jeg dermed både kan bidrage til en forståelse af diagnosekulturens tilstedeværelse samt orientere om, hvilket ideelt selv samtiden efterstræber. ENGELSK ABSTRACT: Anders Petersen: Diagnostic Culture – Depression as a Seismograph for Contemporary Times This article discusses the development of a diagnostic culture. A diagnostic culture is characterized by the fact that not only professionals (doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, etc.), but also laymen and the general public use psychiatric diagnoses and categories for understanding psychiatric disorders. The question then is how this logic has been able to anchor itself in the overall nexus of society. In this article, I explain how the transition from dynamic to diagnostic psychiatry has paved part of the way for the societal anchoring of a diagnostic culture. I also argue that this perspective should be expanded in order to provide a more nuanced picture. To do that I employ diagnostic sociology – a branch of sociology whose primary subject is diagnoses and what they can tell us about diverse social developments, processes, and especially the contemporary epoch in which we live. I use symptoms of the contemporary diagnosis of depression to analyze and clarify how the diagnosis of depression can be seen as a seismograph of our current epoch. The article aims to contribute to a better understanding of the presences of the diagnostic culture as well as analyzing which type of ideal self that contemporary society strives to be. Keywords: Diagnostic Culture, depression, self-realization, diagnosis of the times, sociology of diagnosis.

Editor's Introduction

2005 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 5-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Cleary
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Value Systems ◽  
Careful Examination ◽  
Societal Change ◽  
Complex Issue ◽  
Cultural Conditions ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Crisis Discourse ◽  
Irish People ◽  
Gender Variations

Being a man has become a more complex issue in Ireland today. To quote Harry Ferguson, ‘while men were and are everywhere in Irish society, little attention was given to them as men, as gendered subjects' (2003: 1). Their emergence from (gender) invisibility is taking place in the midst of unprecedented social and economic change in Ireland. It has been suggested that present socio-cultural conditions adversely affect young people in giving rise to a sense of liminality, of living between cultures and identities (Keohane and Chambers, 2003: 48). Yet generalised explanations of change outcomes, and the crisis discourse which surrounds young men in particular, need careful examination. These accounts frequently make assumptions of causal links between change indictors and ‘negative’ outcome where none exist and rarely highlight socio-economic, age and within-gender variations. We live in a more individualistic and globally defined society than heretofore, but while the ‘moral certainties of being’ (Haywood and Mac an Ghaill, 2003) are gone, strong belief and value systems are still in evidence (Fahey, Hayes and Sinnott, 2005: 219; Cleary, 2005). Furthermore, change has had much positive impact, as reflected in high levels of satisfaction amongst Irish people (Fahey and Smyth, 2004). With so little evidence of a negative effect on people generally how has societal change become a crisis for men?

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