Why Delusions Matter - (Why Philosophy Matters) by Lisa Bortolotti (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Delusions can be many things. They can be symptoms of mental health problems, such as schizophrenia, clinical delusions, or simply the beliefs that people cling to which are unsupported by evidence. We call the latter everyday delusions and they can include anything from the benefits of homeopathy to the dangers of alien abduction. Yet, why do people adopt delusional beliefs and why can they be so reluctant to part with them? In Why Delusions Matter, Lisa Bortolotti explains what delusions really are and that despite their negative reputation, that they can also play a positive role in someone's life, such as providing meaning to people's experiences and strengthening their identities. In a clear and accessible style, she contributes to the growing study of philosophy and the cognitive sciences, providing an intelligent and nuanced view of delusions"--

Book Synopsis

When we talk about delusions we may refer to symptoms of mental health problems, such as clinical delusions in schizophrenia, or simply the beliefs that people cling to which are implausible and resistant to counterevidence; these can include anything from beliefs about the benefits of homeopathy to concerns about the threat of alien abduction.

Why do people adopt delusional beliefs and why are they so reluctant to part with them? In Why Delusions Matter, Lisa Bortolotti explains what delusions really are and argues that, despite their negative reputation, they can also play a positive role in people's lives, imposing some meaning on adverse experiences and strengthening personal or social identities. In a clear and accessible style, Bortolotti contributes to the growing research on the philosophy of the cognitive sciences, offering a novel and nuanced view of delusions.

Review Quotes

"Can we understand the reasons why people believe 'irrational' things? Lisa Bortolotti's new book makes a helpful contribution to this task ... her book consists of carefully considered distinctions and definitions which enable us to focus on the issues more clearly." --Process North

"Why Delusions Matter is an incredible contribution to the philosophy of delusions by the foremost scholar in the field. Bortolotti stresses the continuity of beliefs in clinical and non-clinical contexts, and how we and society should seek to understand the meaning behind delusions and to open up a space of meaning when beliefs are shared." --Matthew Broome, Director of the Institute for Mental Health and Chair in Psychiatry and Youth Mental Health, University of Birmingham, UK

"Lisa Bortolotti's masterful book, Why Delusions Matter, not only provides a concise, current synthesis of the vast philosophical literature on delusions, but also sets out a compelling argument for her signature view that delusions can be purposeful, not pathological." --Justin Garson, Professor of Philosophy, Hunter College and The Graduate Center, USA

About the Author

Lisa Bortolotti is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Birmingham (UK). She works in the philosophy of psychology and psychiatry. She is the author of Delusions and Other Irrational Beliefs (2009), which was awarded the American Philosophical Association Biannual Book Prize, Irrationality (2014) and The Epistemic Innocence of Irrational Beliefs (2020).