Mental health promotion through philosophical practice

Philosophical Practice (PP) is a movement that arose during the 1980s in which philosophers (or those with related expertise) began to consult clients in private practices to discuss the application of philosophical concepts and principles (e.g., conceptual analysis, argumentation, questioning, and problematization, etc.) in everyday life. Following the model of Socrates, philosophical practitioners aim not to restrict themselves to contemplation, but rather engage with the ‘world’, going to public places such as cafes, libraries, classrooms, prisons, hospitals, and companies, to have philosophical discussions with people about their daily lives. To a certain extent, PP has developed into a new profession in contemporary society and a new paradigm for philosophical research, which can be demonstrated by the emergence of prominent philosophical practitioners and professional PP institutions, influential PP theories and methods, as well as related resources, such as journals, books, academic associations, conferences, and globally admitted PP education and certification programs.  

The development and uptake of PP, which is sometimes known as philosophical consultancy, or philosophical counselling or clinical philosophy, has been driven by multiple factors. On the one hand, philosophical practitioners are dissatisfied with traditional psychological counselling and therapy, especially what they perceive to be its over-medicalization; on the other hand, they criticise armchair philosophy for being too detached from the ancient idea of ‘philosophy as a way of life’ (PWL). Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increased preoccupation with personal wellbeing and mental health. The most widely used strategies for managing mental health issues are psychological or psychiatric, while PP could be considered a complementary or alternative approach. In this context, PP is regarded by many as an antidote to various cognitive, mental or behavioural issues in a time of personal or social crisis. Philosophical practitioners typically engage with problems relating to wellbeing, identity, and ethics in a non-medical manner. PP generally avoids the use of terms such as ‘problem’, ‘illness’, ‘disease’, or ‘disorder’. Instead, its goals relate to concepts such as ‘happiness’, ‘tranquillity’, ‘mental stability’ and ‘the good life’, not as general ideas applied to individual situations, but as situationally defined concepts emerging from a critical dialogue. In this way, PP can be seen to contribute to individual growth, collective stability, and a ‘de-medicalization’ of society.

Thus, this collection is dedicated to exploring the role of PP in promoting mental health. Authors are invited to submit theoretical or empirical research (quantitative, qualitative, case studies), or review papers investigating the development and application of PP or comparing PP with other helping professions. Intercultural or cross-tradition work is especially invited. Research is welcomed from a diverse range of disciplinary vantage points, including philosophy, religious studies, psychology, psychiatry, sociology, and pedagogy. Papers with a purely clinical or neuroscience focus cannot be considered.

Research is invited that addresses the following themes, including those related to:

• The aims, principles and limitations of philosophical practice (PP)
• The role of PP in dealing with mental health issues, including case studies
• Methods and approaches used in PP (e.g., Socratic method, PEACE process, logic-based therapy, worldview interpretation, thought analysis, etc.);
• The application of Eastern and Western practical wisdom in PP (e.g., Aristotelian eudaemonism and phronesis, Stoic dichotomy of control, Confucian norms of social harmony and the common welfare, Daoist principle of ‘wu-wei’, and the noble eightfold path of Buddhism, etc.)
• The relationship and interactions between consultants and clients in PP
• Evaluation of outcomes and validity of PP
• De-medicalization and related themes
• The relationship between PP and psychological counseling, psychotherapy, and clinical practice
• The relationship between PP and other wellbeing-enhancing activities (e.g., prayer, meditation, Yoga, Tai Chi, expressive writing, etc.)
• PP as a research focus in the ‘Philosophy as a Way of Life’ (PWL) efforts
• The role of PP in a hyperconnected and posthuman society

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3.