Szasz under fire
Subtitle: the psychiatric abolitionist faces his critics
By: edited by Jeffrey A. Schaler
Contributors: Schaler, Jeffrey A
Publisher: Open Court
Published: 2004
Place of publication: Chicago
Language: eng
Number of pages: 450
Subjects: Szasz, Thomas Stephen, -- 1920-; Psychiatry -- Philosophy; Antipsychiatry
Description: Since he published The Myth of Mental Illness in 1961, Thomas Szasz has been a provocative and polarizing figure, bitterly denounced by some, lovingly defended by others, simultaneously baffling, exasperating, and entertaining to many. In Szasz Under Fire, thirteen outstanding writers criticize Szasz's ideas on specific issues such as the reality of mental illness, physician-assisted suicide, addiction, and the insanity defense. Szasz replies to each criticism in detail, with his famous clarity, forcefulness, and occasional acerbity. Szasz Under Fire includes the first published autobiographical essay by Szasz and a complete bibliography of his writings. The foremost opponent of psychiatric dogma, psychiatric practice, and the hubris of politicized medicine, Szasz has argued passionately and knowledgeably against compulsory commitment of the mentally ill, against the war on drugs, against the insanity defense in criminal trials, against the "diseasing" of addiction and homosexuality, and for the right to suicide.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 403-430) and index
Table of contents: title: Introduction / by Jeffrey A. Schaler; title: An autobiographical sketch / by Thomas Szasz; title: The myth of mental illness / R.E. Kendell; title: Values-based medicine : Thomas Szasz's Legacy to twenty-first century psychiatry / K.W.M. Fulford; title: Persons and Popper's world 3 : do humans dream of abstract sheep? / Ray Scott Percival; title: On Thomas Szasz, the meaning of mental illness and the therapeutic state : a critique / Ralph Slovenko; title: Prescribed addiction / Stanton Peele; title: The legitimacy of the defense of insanity / Rita J. Simon; title: Pharmacracy or phantom? / E. James Lieberman; title: Bombing the cradles : the disorder mental effects of off-the-chart life experiences : mother-assault; sexual abuse and domestic violence; natural disasters; political violence and war / Margaret A. Hagen; title: What kind of freedom?  : Szasz's misleading perception of physician-assisted suicide / Margaret P. Battin and Ryan Spellecy; title: Sideshow : schizophrenia as construed by Szasz and the neo-kraepelinians / Richard Bentall; title: Moving beyond the "myth" of mental illness / Ronald Pies; title: Mental illness as a myth : a methodological re-interpretation / H. Tristram Engelhardt, Jr