Book contents
- Ethical and Clinical Complexities in the Treatment of Schizophrenia
- Ethical and Clinical Complexities in the Treatment of Schizophrenia
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Contributors
- Preface
- Part I Neuroscience
- Part II International Policy Perspectives
- Part III Neuroethics
- Chapter 26 A Unified Understanding of the Human Mind – A Neuroethical Perspective
- Chapter 27 A Neuroethical Approach to Human Life, Identity, and Liberty of Patients with Schizophrenia
- Chapter 28 Neuroethics and Treatment Without Consent
- Chapter 29 Advance Directives in Patients with Schizophrenia
- Chapter 30 Dignity Restored
- Chapter 31 The Four Principles of Bioethics in Cases of Anosognosia
- Chapter 32 Complexities of Competency and Informed Consent as Applied to Individuals with Symptoms of Anosognosia
- Chapter 33 Evidence-Based Treatment for Schizophrenia
- Chapter 34 Inmate Mental Health Assistants
- Chapter 35 Remarks of Father Alberto Carrara to the American Psychiatric Association – May 2025
- Index
- References
Chapter 26 - A Unified Understanding of the Human Mind – A Neuroethical Perspective
Tracing the Evolution in Western Thought and the Integration with Neuroscience, Psychology, Psychiatry, and Relational Dimensions
from Part III - Neuroethics
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 April 2026
Book contents
- Ethical and Clinical Complexities in the Treatment of Schizophrenia
- Ethical and Clinical Complexities in the Treatment of Schizophrenia
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Contributors
- Preface
- Part I Neuroscience
- Part II International Policy Perspectives
- Part III Neuroethics
- Chapter 26 A Unified Understanding of the Human Mind – A Neuroethical Perspective
- Chapter 27 A Neuroethical Approach to Human Life, Identity, and Liberty of Patients with Schizophrenia
- Chapter 28 Neuroethics and Treatment Without Consent
- Chapter 29 Advance Directives in Patients with Schizophrenia
- Chapter 30 Dignity Restored
- Chapter 31 The Four Principles of Bioethics in Cases of Anosognosia
- Chapter 32 Complexities of Competency and Informed Consent as Applied to Individuals with Symptoms of Anosognosia
- Chapter 33 Evidence-Based Treatment for Schizophrenia
- Chapter 34 Inmate Mental Health Assistants
- Chapter 35 Remarks of Father Alberto Carrara to the American Psychiatric Association – May 2025
- Index
- References
Summary
This article, titled “A Unified Understanding of the Human Mind - A Neuroethical Perspective,”examines the evolution of the concept of the human mind in Western thought and its integration with neuroscience, psychology, psychiatry, and relational dimensions. The author explores how the understanding of the mind has changed over time, influenced by shifts in philosophical paradigms, scientific advancements, and societal perspectives. The article traces the historical development of the mind’s concept, starting from ancient Greece, through influential thinkers like Plato and René Descartes, and progressing to contemporary perspectives. It highlights various philosophical and scientific approaches, including structuralism, functionalism, empiricism, and associationism, which have shaped our understanding of the mind. The article also delves into contemporary integration, where advancements in neuroimaging and the rise of holistic approaches offer a more nuanced understanding of the human mind. The author emphasizes the importance of the relational dimension and the interconnectedness of mental processes, the brain, and the external environment. This integrated perspective can benefit psychiatric treatment and psychological assessments by fostering a holistic approach to mental health. In conclusion, the article advocates for a multidimensional perspective that bridges subjective and objective aspects of human experience, offering promise for theoretical knowledge and practical applications in psychology, psychiatry, and neuroscience.
Information
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- Ethical and Clinical Complexities in the Treatment of SchizophreniaLiberty or Life, pp. 205 - 212Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2026
References
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Aquinas, T. On Being and Essence. Trans. Ralph McInerny. Selected Writings. London: Penguin; 1998:36.Google Scholar
Snead, OC. What It Means to Be Human. The Case for the Body in Public Bioethics. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; 2020:69–70.Google Scholar
Snead, OC. What It Means to Be Human. The Case for the Body in Public Bioethics. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; 2020:88.Google Scholar
Snead, OC. What It Means to Be Human. The Case for the Body in Public Bioethics. Cambridge, MAQ: Harvard University Press; 2020:88.Google Scholar
Snead, OC. What It Means to Be Human. The Case for the Body in Public Bioethics. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; 2020:90.Google Scholar
Glannon, W. Brain, Body, and Mind: Neuroethics with a Human Face. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2011.10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199734092.001.0001CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fuchs, T. Are mental illnesses diseases of the brain? In Choudhury, S, Slaby, J, eds., Critical Neuroscience: A Handbook of the Social and Cultural Contexts of Neuroscience. West Sussex: Wiley Blackwell; 2012:331–344.Google Scholar
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