Problems of Living

Problems of Living: Perspectives from Philosophy, Psychiatry, and Cognitive-Affective Science examines ongoing philosophical debates on the nature of what a mental disorder is and how it should be approached and treated. Chapters outline each debate from a perspective within psychiatry/psychology, then from philosophy, and then address emergent findings in cognitive-affective neuroscience and how that new information addresses or resolves the debate. Topics include the mind-body problem, reward, pain and suffering in the context of mental disorders, and the relationship between cognition and emotion. This multidisciplinary, integrated approach applies not only to the nature of mental disorders, but also to broader issues on mental health, such as finding the meaning in life.

• Explores long standing debates on the nature of mental disorders and how and when to treat them
• Includes perspectives from psychiatry and philosophy
• Applies neuroscience research to better understanding and resolving these debates
• Examines questions concerning happiness, pain, and reward

Cognitive neuroscientists, biological and biomedical scientists, neuroscientists, psychiatrists, psychologists, post-doctoral fellows, researchers

1. Introduction
1.1 Perspectives of Philosophy
1.2 Perspectives of Psychiatry
1.3 The Big Questions

2. Brain-Minds:  What is the Best Metaphor?
2.1 The Mind-Body Problem in Philosophy
2.2 The Mind-Body Problem in Psychology
2.3 Two Key Mind-Body Metaphors
2.4 Brain-Mind as Wetware
2.5 Conclusion

3. Reason and Passion
3.1 Philosophy of Reason and Passion
3.2 Psychiatry of Reason and Passion
3.3 Neurophilosophy and Neuropsychiatry
3.4 Schemas and Cognitive-Affective Processing
3.5 Conclusion

4. The Pleasures of Life
4.1 Philosophy and Happiness
4.2 Psychiatry and Happiness
4.3 Neurophilosophy and Neuropsychiatry
4.4 Sharpening Ideas on Happiness
4.5 Conclusion

5. Pain and Suffering
5.1 Philosophy and Pain/Suffering
5.2 Psychiatry and Pain/Suffering
5.3 Neurophilosophy and Neuropsychiatry
5.4 Sharpening our Views of Suffering
5.5 Conclusion

6. The Good and the Bad
6.1 Philosophy and Morality
6.2 Psychiatry and Morality
6.3 Neurophilosophy and Neuropsychiatry
6.4 Sharpening our Thinking about Morality
6.5 Conclusion

7. How Can We Know What is True, Then?
7.1 Philosophy and the Truth
7.2 Psychiatry and Truth
7.3 Neurophilosophy and Neuropsychiatry
7.4 Sharpening our Thinking about Scientific Progress
7.5 Conclusion

8. The Meaning of Life
8.1 Philosophy and the Meaning of Life
8.2 Psychiatry and Meaning in Life
8.3 Neurophilosophy and Neuropsychiatry
8.4 Sharpening our View of the Meaning of Life
8.5 Conclusion

9. Conclusion: Metaphors of Life