Kant’s concept of madness, psychiatry and anti-psychiatry

Critics of psychiatry (or “anti-psychiatrists”) such as philosopher Michel Foucault, sociologist Erving Goffman and physician Ronald David Laing tend to view a form social control, one the state institutions oppression. The concept “norm” in relation mental health is understood culturally conditioned. Psychiatry used isolate “stigmatise” carriers non-normative rationality, individuals with different states mind patterns behaviour. Kant has no objections practice forced treatment insane, assuming they are declared incompetent. At same time, considers it necessary entrust very procedure declaring person incompetent not medical professionals, but philosophers. This due fact that sees illness breakdown, weakness cognitive abilities. shares modernist ideal single normative which basis moral abilities guarantee personal autonomy. In contrast, anti-psychiatry proceeds from postmodern idea diversity forms or refuses entirely evaluate reason (sanity) an essential attribute human nature, thereby justifying irrational non-rational aspects existence. From this perspective, insane people appear stigmatised alternative, rationality. Accordingly, should be protected any coercion, because doctors, when making their decisions, proceed conditioned criteria rationality relative changing psychiatric norm.