Rationality and compulsion
Subtitle: applying action theory to psychiatry
By: Lennart Nordenfelt
Series: International perspectives in philosophy and psychiatry
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2007
Place of publication: Oxford; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 206
ISBN-13: 9780199214853
Subjects: Compulsive behavior -- Psychological aspects; Irrationalism (Philosophy); Delusions
Description: "Delusion is common to many mental disorders, resulting in actions that, though perhaps rational to the individual, might seem entirely inappropriate or harmful to others. So what is it that causes these actions, and why do they continue? The theory expounded in this book shows how the key to this problem might be compulsion." "This book presents a new analysis of the notion of compulsion - developed from action theory. The books starts with an introduction to action theory (for the benefit of non-philosophers). It then shows how insights from action theory can help us better understand mental illness, before developing an analysis of compulsion that emphasizes the element of unavoidability. The book argues that what is fundamentally disturbing to the person suffering from delusion is not so much the fact that the disorder tends to lead to irrational actions but rather the fact that he or she is unable to avoid performing these actions. The individual is or feels compelled to act in the way he or she does. The book contains some concrete illustrations of this idea as applied to several psychiatric diagnoses, such as paranoia, phobia, and psychopathy."--Jacket.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [197]-201) and index
Table of contents: title: Elements of the philosophy of action; title: On the possibilities for action : ability, opportunity, and competence; title: Towards a theory of health and illness; title: On the understanding and explanation of actions; title: Reasons for action and rationality; title: On defective rationalization of action; title: Towards a theory of mental disorder : the place of compulsion; title: Towards a new analysis of compulsion; title: Compulsion and specific mental disorders