Psychiatry, philosophy and the self

Abstract

Purpose of review: The aim of this article is to investigate psychopathology in order to illuminate the nature of personal identity.

Recent findings: Predominantly, the authors reviewed here defend a more robust version of the narrative self against Dennett's claim that narrative self is ultimately a useful fiction. Authors explore the limit case of dissociative identity disorder in order to explore how apt an embodied, socially interactive and autonomous narrative self is for addressing legal and moral paradoxes intertwined with establishing personal identity.

Summary: Psychiatric practice should embrace therapeutic approaches that restore the unity inherent to the capacity to narrate a life.