Purpose:
Provide a semantic resolution for the discussion regarding the biological versus constructed nature of certain mental illness in order to expose the more important dynamic issues.
Semantic basis for the argument:
His argument rests on the introduction of two types of classifications, interactive kinds and indifferent kinds, Hackings contribution to the present discussion, which he uses to resolve the sematic issue.
First, let us define key terms:
Mental illness – At least two types of mental illnesses Transient – show up only at some times and some places, for reasons which we can only suppose are connected with the culture of those times and places. Ex. Hysteria and anorexia Non-transient – have been with the human race in most places and times Ex. Schizophrenia and mental retardation …show more content…
It is not affected simply by the fact that we have found out about it.” By hypothesis the pathology P will be an indifferent, not interactive, kind.
But how can we make room for constructivist and biological perspectives? A Medical problem At least two way 1) Bio/psycho choice – focuses on treatment – “Even though on we may be firmly convinced that a disorder is biological in character, one may realize that the best way to treat it, at present, is psychologically.” 2) Predisposing/occasioning model – focuses on cause – “Some mental illnesses are widely believed to result from a basic neurological or biochemical abnormality, typically inherited. It is also thought that they are triggered by some event, possibly organic, possibly social, or possibly socio-organic.”
But how can we make room for constructivist and biological perspectives? A logical