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Dowling College        Spring 2006        Dr Christian Perring

PHL 4180A/PSY 4180A       Philosophy of Psychiatry and Psychology

 

MW 100-220PM  RC 422

 

Office Hours: MW 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, M 400 - 5:30PM

 

Office: 330B RC

Office Phone: 244-3349

Email: perringc at dowling.edu (Please put PHL4180 in the subject line of all emails.)

(Note you must use your Dowling email and you will need to use Blackboard)

 

Required Book:

The Philosophy of Psychiatry: A Companion, edited by Jennifer Radden (Oxford University Press, 2004) [PP]

 

Suggested Supplementary Reading:

Of Two Minds: The Growing Disorder in American Psychiatry, by T.M. Luhrman (Knopf, 2000)

 

Course Outcomes:

In this course, students will:

learn how to identify the philosophical and theoretical assumptions behind psychiatric and psychological theories.

learn how to identify the ethical standards of clinical care in treating mental illness.

learn how to identify the rights of people with mental illnesses.

learn about some of the main debates in the philosophy of psychiatry and psychology.  Through writing reflection pieces and a long research paper, students will also develop their skills in comparing the strengths and weaknesses of different views in psychiatric controversies, analyzing particular cases and applying philosophical theories to their own experience. 

 

 

Links to useful websites: http://alien.dowling.edu/~cperring/philosophy-psychiatry-resources.html

 

Prerequisites: Any two classes in Philosophy, Psychology, Anthropology, or Sociology.

 

Your grade: Attendance and Participation 5%; Midterm exam (take home) 25%; 6 Reflection pieces 30%; Final paper 40%.

 

Attendance.  Attendance and participation are 5% of your grade. 

 

Reflection pieces: 6 pieces, one every two weeks.  At least 500 words each: these can be personal or abstract; they should discuss issues raised in class or in the readings.  They can bring in your personal experience, discussions of novels, movies, TV shows, magazine and newspaper articles, as well as what the articles in the class book. 

 

Midterm Exam: the midterm exam will be take-home.  Students will be asked to explain some of the central ideas and arguments as they have appeared in the class readings.

 

Term Paper: Your research paper should be about 4000-5000 words.  It should discuss academic articles and scholarly books on an issue in the philosophy of psychiatry.  It can also discuss memoirs, novels, TV shows or movies.  It is your responsibility to come up with a topic.  You are required to write a draft, which is due by April 15; I will give you feedback on your draft.  It can be a survey of views in the field, or it can take a position and argue for it.  It is essential that your paper address a controversial issue in the philosophy of psychiatry, and that it demonstrates an understanding of the main views taken by academics who have addressed this issue.  All papers must be submitted electronically using turnitin.com.  The paper is due by noon on May 8.  Late papers lose 10% for each 24 hours late.  Papers must be submitted electronically, using Turnitin.com (class ID is 1108286) or by email.

 

Plagiarism and Cheating.  All research for papers must be carefully documented and footnoted.  Minor plagiarism will result in you receiving a zero grade for the work.  Major plagiarism will mean you fail the class.  All plagiarism will be documented and reported to the Dean of Students. 

 

Date

Topic

Assigned Reading

Work Due

M 1/30 

Introduction

Watch "Bellevue" DVD

 

 

W 2/1

Norms, Values, Ethics

PP Ch 17: Culver & Gert: Competence

 

M 2/6

 

PP Ch 19: Chadwick & Aindow: Treatment and Research Ethics

First Reflection

W 2/8

 

PP Ch 20: Wilson & Adshead: Criminal Responsibility

 

M 2/13

 

PP Ch 18: Robinson: Dangerousness

 

W 2/15

 

PP Ch 21: Hopkins & Battin: Religion

 

M 2/20

 

PP Ch 15: Potter: Gender

Second Reflection

W 2/22

 

PP Ch 16: Nissim-Sabbat: Race

 

M 2/27

Classifying and Diagnosing Mental Disorder

PP Ch 30: Elliott: Mental Health and Its Limits

 

W 3/1

 

PP Ch 29: Gert & Culver: Defining Mental Disorder

 

M 3/6

 

PP Ch 11: Sadler: Diagnosis/Antidiagnosis

Third Reflection

W 3/8

The Nature of Psychopathology

PP Ch 4: Charland: Character

 

M 3/13

 

PP Ch 3: Soble: Desire

 

W 3/15

 

PP Ch 5: Mele: Action

 

M 3/20

 

PP Ch 12: Phillips: Understanding/Explanation

Mid-term exam due

W 3/22

 

PP Ch 8: Gallagher & Vaever: Body

 

M 3/27

 

PP Ch 1: Gillett: Cognition

Fourth Reflection

W 3/29

 

PP Ch 2: Hansen: Affectivity

 

M 4/3

 

PP Ch 7: Braude: Memory

 

W 4/5

 

PP Ch 9:  Radden: Identity

 

M 4/10

 

PP Ch 10: Perring: Development

Draft of paper due

W 4/19

Scientific Foundations

PP Ch 13: Thornton: Reductionism/Antireductionism

 

M 4/24

 

PP Ch 25: Garner & Hardcastle: Neurobiological Models

Fifth Reflection

W 4/26

 

PP Ch 22: Murphy: Darwinian Models of Psychopathology

 

M 5/1

 

PP Ch 26: Erwin: Cognitive-Behavioral Models

 

W 5/3

 

PP Ch 27: Church: Social Constructionist Models

 

M 5/8

Outsider Art

Henry Darger DVD

 

Paper due

W 5/10

 

Excerpt from How to Look at Outsider Art by Lyle Rexer

Sixth Reflection

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Links: