On the philosophical aspects of mental deviations: historical review

Abstract

Background. Ancient philosophers (Aristotle, Plato, and Democritus) considered questions of the soul in their reflections, and they also elevated the problems of mental deviations to the level of philosophical reflection. Since then, various aspects of the problem of mental deviations have been analyzed from time to time in philosophical studies. It was addressed by both classics of German philosophy (I. Kant and G.W.F. Hegel) and representatives of postclassical philosophy (F. Nietzsche, J. Deleuze, M. Foucault). Materials and methods. The dialectical method and the principle of universal connection and development were the main ones in the study, allowing us to re-veal various aspects of the problem under study. To analyze the relationship between human mental deviations and sociality, a socio-anthropological method was used, and the mutual influence of culture and society was examined using sociocultural methodology. Results. This study revealed that the problem of mental deviations was initially viewed from a pedagogical stand-point, as a shortcoming of upbringing. In later periods, the authors focused on critiquing approaches to correction and society's attitudes toward individuals with disabilities. A study of the works of contemporary philosophers reveals that mental deviations in modern society have ac-quired new and interesting nuances that require systematization. The analysis of the philosophical aspects of human mental deviations was conducted based on a general philosophical dialectical methodology, supplemented by an examination of the connection between human mental deviations and sociality using a socio-anthropological method, and the mutual influence of culture and society using a socio-cultural methodology. Conclusions. The conducted work allowed us to conclude that it is necessary to intensify the trend of rethinking not only the causes of mental disorders but also the understanding of mental deviation itself. It is necessary to rethink postmodern ideas that criticize corrective work in relation to people with mental anomalies and increasingly refuse to recognize them as abnormal in accordance with modern realities.