Blame or discovery? Walter Benjamin's Jetztzeit, Purdue Pharma LP and 'our values and our historical understanding of psychiatrists'.

Abstract

This commentary explores issues of professional identity, fairness and discovery in the history of psychiatry in the light of Walter Benjamin's (1892-1940) philosophy of history, especially his concept of Jetztzeit (now-time) and the profession's relationship with the founder and owners of Purdue Pharma LP.