Dr. Graham to Speak at Neurophilosophy Forum
On Friday, November 12, 2010 the Department of Philosophy‘s Neurophilosophy Forum will present a talk by Dr. George Graham entitled “How to Be a Realist About Mental Disorder.”
Abstract: A mental disorder ‘realist’ is someone who affirms the reality of what a mental disorder skeptic or ‘anti-realist’ denies. This is the existence or reality of mental disorder. What role, if any, should notions of disease, natural kind and/or brain disorder play in defending realism? This presentation addresses a piece of the puzzle. Suppose we want to frame a form of realism about mental disorder that isn’t pre-committed to a disease, natural kind or brain disorder conception of mental disorder. In this presentation I describe how to do this. One consequence (I prefer ‘advantage’) of my approach to mental disorder realism is that it leaves certain issues associated with being a mental disorder entirely open without denying the existence of mental disorder. Recognize the existence of a mental disorder first; then ask whether it is a disease, natural kind or brain disorder. The answer to such questions may well be no.
Dr. Graham’s teaching covers many areas of philosophy. His research is focused on philosophy of mind and related topics in metaphysics and philosophy of psychology and psychiatry.
The talk will be held in the Conference Room of the Department of Philosophy, 34 Peachtree St., 11th floor from 12:30-2:00 and is free and open to the public.
Recent publications by Dr. Graham, include:
Graham, G. The Disordered Mind: An Introduction to Philosophy of Mind and Mental Illness. Oxon: Routledge, 2010.
Stephens, G. L. and Graham, G. “An Addictive Lesson: A Case Study in Psychiatry as Cognitive Neuroscience.” In Psychiatry as Cognitive Neuroscience: Philosophical Perspectives, edited by M. Broome and L. Bortolotti. 203-220. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009.
Graham, G., Horgan, T., and Tienson, J. “Phenomenology, Intentionality, and the Unity of Mind”. In Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Mind, edited by B. McLaughlin, A. Beckerman, and S. Walter. 512-537. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009.
Stephens, G. L. and Graham, G. “The delusional stance.” In Reconceiving Schizophrenia, edited by M. Chung, K. W. M. Fulford, and G. Graham. 193-215. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007.
Fulford, K. W. M., Thornton, T., and Graham, G. The Oxford Textbook of Philosophy and Psychiatry. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006.