Philosophy and psychiatry: past, present and a challenge for the future

The extraordinary progress of philosophy and psychiatry in the last twenty years stands in stark contrast to its relative neglect through much of the twentieth century. In this paper I explore some of the drivers of recent progress and look at the lessons they suggest for the future. The paper is in three main parts, past, present and future. I look first at the debt modern philosophy and psychiatry owes to the work of a number of key twentieth century figures. Karl Jaspers is of course a well-known figure in this regard. But there are a number of others whose contributions, equally from philosophy and psychiatry, although less widely recognised, are no less significant. The second part of the paper then reprises some of the main themes in contemporary philosophy and psychiatry. Again, some of these are widely recognised while others though no less significant, are not. I focus in particular on recent developments in what is becoming widely known as values-based practice. Finally, I turn to the future of the field. It might seem that the roller coaster is unstoppable. History warns us that this is not so. And there is indeed I will argue, a key challenge for philosophy and psychiatry arising from its very success, the challenge of what the Oxford philosopher, Isaiah Berlin, called values pluralism. I will conclude with an indication of some of the potential resources for meeting this challenge from the growing international movement in values-based practice.