To: <s-acc@yahoogroups.com>

From: "Andrew Phelps" <starfish@northcoast.com>

Date: Sat, 13 Feb 2010 15:17:53 -0800

Subject: Re: [s-acc] Re: cognitive error

 

Moq:

For us "simple folk" it is simply a matter of arguing a difference between "mind" and "brain." This separation of mind and body or body and soul is troublesome because while the existence of "mind" or "soul" are not proven, psychiatry continues to diagnose and "treat" these as if they are "real." What this means is that if you state an emotion (sadness), psychiatry will try to make it go away with powerful drugs (antidepressants). What then happens is that these drugs impact the physical reality of the body (brain) and the results are at best sedation and at worst death. If the approach is to claim the wrongness of psychiatry then we leave the problem still of the "mind" versus "body" split and the underlying issue is left unresolved.

I think my "simple" brain got it. If I'm fundamentally flawed, please let me know. Thanks.

Well I think what you say is a positive starting place. You should also note that the approach used by many people in our movement when they say they are "against the 'medical model'" differs from this critical perspective, is in effect less substantial.

People like Sharfstein seem to puzzle at this point. So they sell puzzlement. Our movement needs to start with "puzzle" at this point also; then we are paying attention to what is actually at issue in the realm of human knowledge. My sense of your 'simple' brain metaphor accords with that.

My thinking is that when "science" actually obtains a lot will be worked through that isn't yet. But some "sparks" or "indicators" exist, in fact many. In Trieste, the psychiatrists engage the people seeking services with the question, "what is your life project?" That's the question that needs to be engaged. We've said, "beauty path" or "creative maladjustment" and people here have other handles on the matter, too.

This is an "opening" not a "complete answer."

Here's a version from Renaissance humanism.

 

Andrew