P. Kouba, The phenomenon of mental disorder

Anthony Fernández

pp. 145-150

in: Human Studies 40 (1), 2017.

Abstract

In his book, The Phenomenon of Mental Disorder, Petr Kouba sets out to achieve three aims: (1) to articulate Martin Heidegger’s understanding of mental disorders; (2) to elucidate the work of Heideggerian psychiatrists (primarily Ludwig Binswanger and Medard Boss), clarifying their relation to Heidegger’s own project; and (3) to propose a new Heideggerian approach to psychopathology based in Heidegger’s later thought. Regarding the first and second aims, Kouba succeeds in illuminating the work of these figures, offering some of the most insightful analyses and criticisms of their work available today. Regarding the third aim, I have some reservations—as much about its clarity as its success—which I address in the concluding section.

Cited authors

Heidegger Martin