Spinozan Doxasticism About Delusions

In Defence of Modest Doxasticism About Delusions

Here I reply to the main points raised by the commentators on the arguments put forward in my Delusions and Other Irrational Beliefs (OUP, 2009). My response is aimed at defending a modest doxastic account of clinical delusions, and is articulated in three sections. First, I consider the view that delusions are in-between perceptual and doxastic states, defended by Jacob Hohwy and Vivek Rajan, ...

The Causal Role Argument against Doxasticism about Delusions

In this paper we consider an argument that is very influential in the philosophical literature, the argument from causal role against the view that delusions are beliefs. The argument has two premises, that many delusions fail to play belief-roles and that playing belief-roles is necessary for a mental state to be a belief. We assess both premises and suggest that they can be resisted.

Delusions about the Internet.

As computer use increases throughout the world, more people are becoming familiar with computers, the Internet, and the roles that both play in their daily lives. There have already been reports of people becoming addicted to the Internet, and we now report on two cases of men who had delusions that they were controlled by and entwined with the Internet. We feel that this phenomenon is not a ne...

Insane Delusions

Paraphrenia and Persecutory Delusions: Brief Reflection about Neuropsychology Evaluation in the Elderly without Dementia

Naming psychiatric disorders began long go with Hippocrates in 460-377 (b.c.). Pinel and Esquirol in the eighteenth century also proposed new concepts to classify psychiatric illnesses based on observations and data systematization. Nineteenth century, Kraepelin modified the classification, based also on observation and organization of symptoms. This is where the term early dementia came from. ...