Philosophy And Mental Illness
While philosophy is typically associated with reason and logic, a number of philosophers throughout history have had mental illness. And in many cases, these thinkers were significantly influential in the fields of philosophy and psychology. This blog post will discuss some of the most notable mental illnesses faced by philosophers throughout history.
Introduction: Philosophy is associated with reason and logic, but it's been shown that some philosophers have had significant mental illnesses. These thinkers were influential in fields such as philosophy and psychology later on, due to their knowledge they gained from their suffering.
Socrates: According to the Apology, Socrates was sentenced to death for "offending the gods." He was placed in jail and executed by hemlock. Before his death, Socrates (470-399 BC) discussed a number of different philosophical questions with his students and friends. Some of these discussions were recorded in texts such as Plato's Dialogues.
Aristotle: Another notable philosopher that suffered from mental illness is Aristotle (384-322 BC). He suffered from melancholia, a type of depression. Aristotle's philosophy was one of the greatest influences on Western philosophy and psychology. He influenced thinkers such as Aquinas and Descartes, who were in turn very influential themselves.
Descartes: Rene Descartes (1596-1650) was a philosopher that was heavily influenced by his own mental illness. Known for his Cartesian dualism, a theory that separates mind and body, he had some pretty outlandish theories about the workings of the world. He thought that the universe was filled with matter and evil spirits, and he became very interested in mathematics.
Conclusion: These are just a few notable mental illnesses that have affected philosophers throughout history. Philosophers have been influenced by their own suffering, as well as the suffering of others, to create some of the great ideas regarding philosophy and psychology. There are many other examples as well-the article asks that we focus on these four particular philosophers in order to keep it simple and succinct.
Mental illnesses affect millions of people every year. The stigma surrounding those with mental illness has been slowly fading over recent years, and more people are getting the treatment they need. Regardless of how many great works of philosophy were written by those diagnosed with mental illness, their conditions shouldn't discount the legitimacy of their theories. Mental illnesses aren't something to be ashamed of, and shouldn't be a cause for fear. Those that have suffered from your own or another's mental illness are no less faulty than anyone else. And if you've been diagnosed with mental illness, it doesn't define who you are as a person.
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About the Author: Alex is a blogger who writes primarily about Philosophy and Psychology. He is also an aspiring musician with a keen interest in film and music theory. To read more of his articles, visit his website here.
Featured Image: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Descartes_portrait_by_Bry%C3%A9e.jpg
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Tagged: philosophy, psychology, Rene Descartes, schizophrenia, Socrates, The Apology of Socrates and the Trial of Socrates by Plato
Filed under: Philosophy | Tagged: mental illness | Leave a comment »
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This site was last updated on June 25th, 2012.
I've updated this blog post to make it more clear that the author wants to point out the link between mental illness and philosophy throughout history.
When I delved into this article I should have paid closer attention. It's my fault that I did not notice the author's focus on people with mental illness in history, as opposed to people who have a mental illness in general. The link between mental illness and philosophy is one that has been neglected. Yet, it is an important issue to address. Many people who suffer from mental illness seek out philosophy as a way of relieving their symptoms. If people with mental illness are already searching for the answers to the problems they face, it makes sense to give them the tools they need in order to do so. The author would like for more people to realize that poets and musicians are just as qualified as philosophers when it comes to having type II bipolar disorder. So I've decided to repost this article.
-Jaina M. | Storytrail Editor | 10/4/2012
I'm happy that this blog post was posted again! My goal is to bring information like this to people who are interested in reading about it. Since it's a topic that some may be uncomfortable with, I just want to make sure everyone knows that's it's a valid topic -- even if they don't agree with my posting of the article.
Conclusion: Mental illness has a huge impact on the world, both in terms of the effects people with mental illness have on others and the lack of mental health treatment that many countries provide to their citizens. You may feel fine, but ever think about the way you experience certain emotions or how you cope? We see these symptoms in death metal lyrics, where artists like Cannibal Corpse or Napalm Death discuss anxiety and depression. It's important to recognize that all of these might not be caused by mental illness at all.