https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/W_MA_NSNEThe aim of the course is to give the student a systematic introduction into philosophical issues at the interface between neuroscience and the clinical practice of psychiatry. (1) Knowledge & Comprehension: You should be able to define and compare neurocentristic and non-neurocentristic disorder concepts; (2) Application: You should be able to apply these different concepts to concrete examples of psychiatric disorders and determine how ontological assumptions associated with the applied concepts affect our understanding of specific psychiatric disorders. (3) Analysis: You should be able to reflect on the merits and pitfalls of different disorder concepts of psychiatric disorders; (4) Evaluation: You should be able to interpret the implications of the ontological foundations of disorder concepts for clinical practices, including diagnosis and treatment; (5) Creation: You should be able to develop your own view on the conceptualization of disorders and construct arguments in support of your individual position; (6) Methodological Skills: You should gain proficiency in structuring philosophical arguments concerning the merits and pitfalls of disorder concepts in both oral (6a) and written (6b) form as well as to structure and engage in critical discussions with your peer (6c).Psychiatry is frequently characterized as a practical application of brain science. Building upon this premise, the course provides an overview of the advantages and drawbacks associated with this perspective. Emphasis will be placed on neurocentric approaches to understanding disorders and their implications for diagnosis and classification, including Biostatistical Theories, RDoC, and neo-mechanistic approaches. This viewpoint will be contrasted with alternative perspectives, such as network models, computational approaches, phenomenology, and enactivism. In the latter part of the course, attention will be directed towards approaches that advocate a more radical shift in the conceptualization of mental disorders, such as steaming from neurodiversity and madness movements. All these perspectives will be contextualized within the broader framework of a philosophy of psychopathology. Throughout the course, we will explore how discussions about the epistemology of diagnosis and classification intersect with the ontological foundations of disorder concepts. This exploration will encompass various phenomena, including psychosis, mood disorders, eating disorders, or somatoform disorders.(i) Interactive lectures (ii) Student presentations (iii) Group discussionsThe learning objectives will be assessed in the following way i) Term paper (max. 3000 words) (Learning Objective 1 – 5 + 6b) (60%) ii) Peer Teaching (Learning Objective 1 – 4 + 6a + 6c) (30%) iii) Feedback and Meeting Questions (Learning Objectives 1 – 4 + 6c) (10%)Course manual and literature will be published a few weeks ahead of the beginning of the course on Canvas.Target audience of the course are students in the Master 'Philosophy of Neuroscience' and those with equal qualifications, see https://vuweb.vu.nl/en/education/master/philosophy-of-neuroscience/admis Other applications (for instance, for this course as as separate course) are at the discretion of the Admission Board of Faculty of Humanities. Please reach out to the course coordinator in advance for further information.