How metaphysical ignorance shapes the discussion on the nature of the mind.
International review of psychiatry (Abingdon, England) 2025 DOI: 10.1080/09540261.2024.2427042 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Keywords | Dualism Dogma Idealism Materialism Metaphysics Mind-body problem Consciousness Mind-matter relationship Ontology Nature of reality Philosophical foundations Philosophical critique Western philosophy Epistemology Critical analysis Inconsistencies Applied philosophy Philosophical education Interdisciplinary philosophy Philosophy of medicine Practical philosophy |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key points | Argues that Western materialism is culturally driven and paradoxically supports dualism, harming psychiatric understanding. |
Abstract
Despite the fact that humans experience the reality of consciousness first hand, a remarkable paradigm shift within the Western worldview has entrenched the notion of an inverted cognitive order: first we have objects, and only then minds, if we have them at all. How the community of minds developed such a counterintuitive theory, and how this mental product was elevated to the status of an undisputable 'scientific' principle is a long story, one that involves more cultural history than sound philosophical arguments, and nearly no science. Oddly, mainstream materialism helped qualifying another model for which very little rational support is available: dogmatic dualism. Psychiatrists in general lack the basic knowledge to deal with this metaphysical aspect of their 'objects', which greatly impoverishes the efficiency and decelerates the advancement of our understanding of the mind. This article will present the major inconsistencies of dualism, and why they ultimately promote materialism. Finally, I will stress how this diversion has been harmful for medicine, and how philosophical education could mitigate it.