and Its Human Values

Abstract

Illness' has been largely defined by the medical profession, and 'mental illness' by psychiatry. Their main authority lies in the claim that their knowledge is objective and value-neutral. Thomas Szasz and other critics of the concept of 'mental illness' are not convinced by this claim and believe that psychiatry is a moral, not a medical discipline. They do, however, accept the natural science view of physical illness. The present paper outlines the medical model of illness and mental illness as presented by Christopher Boorse. Criticisms of the concept of 'mental illness' by Szasz are presented to suggest that the concept is a mistake. The notions of 'species design' and psychic malfunctioning are re-assessed. Arguments are offered to suggest that the concept of physical illness is also normative and not an objective account of reality as claimed by medicine. Ideas of existential philosophers are incorporated to show how medical science reflects specific values. In conclusion, the concept 'illness' is defined as a practically useful metaphor and 'mental illness' dismissed as a misleading concept. We lock up people who gravely and harmfully trespass the limits of understanding. We consider harmlessly insane those systems of interpretation which violate the bounds of good sense by consensus, the bounds which separate that which can be understood from that which cannot. Some things have meaning; some things do not. It is well not to confuse the categories…. You may plausibly chart types and meanings of schizophrenic doodle loops; but if you chart types and meanings of clouds and stones, they will come and carry you away. You will have regressed historically; you will have crossed the border, and committed yourself to the other side of the desk .