Moving beyond scientism and skepticism

This chapter aims to address key conceptual debates in philosophy of psychiatry, putting forward an integrative position that is a useful resource for global mental health, neuroethics, and a dialog between these fields. The chapter outlines a number of perennial controversies about the diagnosis, pathogenesis, and treatment of mental disorders, and delineates "classical" and "critical" approaches to each. An integrative position that draws on the strength of each of these approaches, while avoiding the scientism of the classical approach and the skepticism of the critical approach is then put forward. This integrative position is consistent with key features of global mental health and neuroethics, and may also be useful in providing further support for them.