Abstract
Questionnaires exploring the attitudes of psychiatrists to philosophy were distributed at two meetings of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Out of a possible 240, 126 questionnaires were returned (53%). The results showed a surprisingly high level of interest in and support for philosophy. Over 50% of respondents indicated that they considered conceptual analysis, ethics, jurisprudence, the philosophy of science and the philosophy of mind to be practically important in psychiatry. Similarly, 89% believed that ethics, and 72% that other areas of philosophy, should be included in the MRCPsych syllabus. The significance of the study is reviewed briefly.
Highlights
Over 50% of respondents indicated that they considered conceptual analysis, ethics, jurispru dence, the philosophy of science and the philosophy of mind to be practically important in psychiatry
How special are the interests represented by a special interest group? The title itself suggests a clique, perhaps a pressure group
Psychiatrists to believe that these subjects should be examined as well as taught. The results of these questionnaire surveys sug gest that there is a considerable level of interest in and support for philosophy within the College, extending well beyond the members of the Special Interest Group: a third of respondents had studied philosophy at some stage; over half believed that the philos ophy of science, the philosophy of mind, concep tual analysis and jurisprudence are practically relevant disciplines, and two thirds indicated that these areas of philosophy should be in cluded in the MRCPsych
Summary
89% believed that ethics, and 72% that other areas of philosophy, should be included in the MRCPsych syllabus. How special are the interests represented by a special interest group? The title itself suggests a clique, perhaps a pressure group. A recent survey by letter of MRCPsych course organisers showed that only three out of a possible total of 21 included ethics in their teaching, and only one included other philosophical subjects. The purpose of the two surveys reported here was to provide information about the possible extent of support for and interest in philosophy within the College. The questionnaires covered three main areas: previous experience of philosophy, views on the practical importance of a range of specific philosophical disciplines, and attitudes to the teaching of ethics and other areas of philosophy in the MRCPsych. The delegates were asked not to identify themselves unless they wished to
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