Posted by Daveman on March 31, 2002, at 1:43:48
In reply to I am Peter Breggin's Biographer, posted by trouble on March 27, 2002, at 0:02:41
So, I understand the vitrol he inspires on the board, but I don't like seeing him dehumanized, just really don't feel he warrants it.
Trouble:
I think the vitriol he inspires is because his position, if adopted, would do grave harm to many on this Board. It is, alas, the graveyard of all "true believers", to believe even that which is demonstably false.
You speak of Ayn Rand. I've been exposed to the other extreme, Karl Marx. Once I considered myself a Marxist, until I realized what a total failure Marxism has been in actual practice- denying people the fruits of their labor is the road to ruin. Libertarianism has the same problem, it sounds good until you realize that no civilized society can exist without some boundaries on our excesses. We are not all just independent actors, we are interdependent on each other.
So what has that to do with Breggin and this Board? Well, claiming that all psychological medications are "from the devil" is purely an ideological position not borne out by millions of instances, mine included. God knows how long I would have been incapacitated had I not ignored the Breggin philosophy and put myself in the hands of caring doctors who knew what to prescribe for me. But, of course, the reverse ideology- drugs alone are the answer, they have no side effects, no changes in lifestyle or self-examination are needed- is also harmful. The correct view- what I've reffered to in earlier posts as the "synthesis" view- is to accept that some of us need medications, that they can be very helpful when properly prescribed, but they are not "cure-alls" with no side effects.
Sorry for the ramble, I'm here by myself on a Saturday night and got in a philosophical mood:-)
Dave
poster:Daveman
thread:99751
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020327/msgs/101060.html