Mental disorder: An ability-based view

What is it to have a mental disorder? The paper proposes an ability-based view of disorder. It argues that such preferable biological dysfunction views as Wakefield’s Harmful Dysfunction Analysis and Boorse’s Biostatistical Theory. According the proposed view, having disorder basically matter certain type inability (or: ability not sufficiently high): respond adequately some one’s available reasons in reasons-sensitive attitudes or actions, where threshold determined by being harmed. relevant concepts inability, reasons, harm are sketched. evades problems remaining neutral on questions causation evolution mind. Furthermore, can capture better what distinctively “mental” about On rational relations among individual’s actions “disordered” norms reasons. As further merits, account for degrees disorder, incorporate well social aspects, elucidate disorders, symptoms, their causes.