Philosophy of Psychology

Catalog description

This course examines the philosophical issues raised by the theory and practice of human psychology. Questions to be considered are: How should we understand concepts like mental health, mental illness, and neurodiversity? In what sense do different approaches to psychological care embody different underlying philosophical assumptions about the nature of the mind, the mind/body relationship, or the role of society in shaping our understanding of self? To what extent are mentally ill persons morally responsible for their actions? Broadly, this course welcomes investigation into some metaphysical, epistemological, ethical, and socio-political questions related to our mental functions via engagement with both psychology and psychiatry.