Posted by Racer on January 30, 2004, at 19:46:26
In reply to Is depression a disease?, posted by 8 Miles on January 30, 2004, at 18:59:27
The Szasz team in that debate never said that personality didn't exist because it couldn't be found in a pathology text. That guy -- the only one on that side of the debate I thought was simply misguided rather than an evil crank, by the way -- was saying that depression could not be a disease state because physical diseases can be discerned during autopsy. The premise of that argument is wrong, but as a logical argument, it is valid.
Of course, you're absolutely correct to say that what shows up in a corpse is the only standard against which to measure a disease. History is full of diseases recognised, described, and treated long before the pathology could be literally seen. Many diseases can be seen on autopsy only through the artifacts of their symptoms, even today.
I'll say again what I said in my other post on this thread: read the *entire* debate transcript and then compare it with the versions on Szasz and Whatshisname's websites. That will show you that this was not an honest debate, both sides got pulled off topic and off balance, and the result was insulting, appalling, and generally Not Useful.
OK, my rant is over. Since I agree with your basic position on this, why did I bother to post anything at all? Here's why: the debate we're currently debating here fell apart when the participants in it allowed their emotional responses to override their reason. Rather than responding to the other sides arguments, they used attacks, Straw Men, and insults to try to sway the engagement to their side. A well reasoned argument, without rancor or attack, can persuade a lot more undecided votes on any issue. Listening to an argument in its entirety before responding is usually a more effective debate tool.
(Sorry, politics is getting to me, and I'm starting to get really hung up on critical reasoning as the only hope this country has. It's starting to color everything I do. You just got caught in the crosshairs this time. Nothing personal. And if you read the entire transcript, the guys saying "no" managed to destroy their own arguments in the end, through their reactionary vitriol. Almost makes you believe in karma, eh?)
poster:Racer
thread:306610
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20040120/msgs/307496.html