Posted by alexandra_k on December 21, 2004, at 17:22:36
In reply to Re: 1.3, posted by smokeymadison on December 21, 2004, at 17:08:33
Indeed!
This delusion (people saying 'I am dead') was taken to be a prime example of an 'ununderstandable' delusion. A delusion whose content is self defeating in some way. I have even read some psychiatrist or other claiming that it is a blatant absurdity as Descartes proved the Cogito!
But that is simply missing the point!
That is what I want to say:Delusions are normal, understandable responses to certain kinds of anomalous experiences. The relevant kind of anomalous experience in the case of the Cotard delusion, for example, is global lack of affective response.
This does involve some interpretation (or perhaps reinterpretation of the delusional subjects utterances, however). Thats another reason why I go with what they say rather than what they believe - it allows for there to be a 'related' or 'lateral' meaning.
:-)
poster:alexandra_k
thread:432064
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/write/20041210/msgs/432561.html