Insanity :The Idea and Its Consequences
Insanity :The Idea and Its Consequences
paperback
Published:
1 April, 1997
paperback
Published:
1 April, 1997
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Description
The idea of insanity pervades every aspect of our daily lives. Thomas Szasz contends that the term actually functions as a euphemism for problems in living, as an excuse for crime and misbehaviour, as a stigma for invalidating adversaries - and, generally, as a metaphor and legal fiction. In ""Insanity"", Dr. Szasz presents a systematic articulation of the precise character and practical consequences of the idea of mental illness. He shows the way to a better understanding of this almost universally misunderstood condition by first establishing the scientific criteria and linguistic conventions we use for deciding what constitutes bodily disease, and then demonstrating the metaphorical character of the ""diseases"" that affect the mind rather than the brain. This book was originally published in 1987 by John Wiley.
More Details
| Type | Book |
|---|---|
| ISBN13 | 9780815604600 |
| ISBN10 | 0815604602 |
| Number Of Pages | 432 |
| Item Weight | 595 g |
| Product Dimensions | 152 x 229 x 24 mm |
| Publisher / Reseller | Syracuse University Press |
| Format | paperback |
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Media Reviews
Dr. Szasz is a brilliant debator, and the unpopularity of his position only serves to hone his formidable writing talent. He can turn a topic as somber as insanity and its social context into a book that is extraordinarily entertaining. He is as likely to quote Shakespeare or Moliere as Freud and Jung, and when it suits him he quotes Ann Landers and Dear Abby, too. His irreverence and moral outrage fairly sizzle on the page.
Author's Bio
Thomas Szasz is the author of over six hundred articles and twenty-four books. He was a practicing psychiatrist and professor of psychiatry emeritus at the Health Science Center, State University of New York, in Syracuse.