Fagioli's human birth theory and the possibility to cure mental illness

Abstract

This paper deals with Fagioli's human birth theory and its implications on mental health. The first relevance of his theory lies in the discovery and formulation that human life and psychic activity begin at birth, with the reaction of the biological matter to light, an inanimate reality which is absent in the foetal condition. The dynamics that this theory demonstrates is common to all human beings as it represents the physiology of birth, in which body and mind arise together. Since his first book 'Death Instinct and Knowledge' (1972), Fagioli stated that mental illness is not a condition men are destined to, but rather a pathology that can be treated and cured through psychotherapy. Mental illness is a disease affecting the irrational, non-conscious dimension, determined by a deficiency of affection in early human relationships. This psychotherapeutic approach could provide new perspectives and possibilities for healthcare services and prevention policies.