A Look at Two Mental Disorders from a Philosophical Perspective of Personal Identity

• Main Authors: Maricelli Soberanis, 索伯妮
• Other Authors: Thomas Benda
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2013
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/40885975253805179373

碩士 === 國立陽明大學 === 心智哲學研究所 === 101 === Abstract This study looks at two mental disorders, schizophrenia and dissociative identity disorder, and examines them from a philosophical perspective of personal identity. As a backdrop, I present the medical model of schizophrenia giving a brief history, methods for diagnosis and treatment options available. I look at several philosophers’ views of personal identity in relation to schizophrenia. I argue that schizophrenia is a loss of personal identity and examine personal identity in persons with schizophrenia. I present a second disorder, dissociative identity disorder and examine it from a philosophical perspective. I argue that philosophers should take disorders like schizophrenia seriously because these disorders are also of philosophical relevance. The philosophical relevance is that these disorders touch on personal identity, and personal identity is indeed central for our metaphysics of the mind. I then look at personal identity from a different angle, examining meditation and its relevance to personal identity. I discuss what meditation means to me from first person perspective of my experience meditating. I conclude that these disorders should be studied more by philosophers. We can learn more about the mind by studying about these disorders that affect the mind.