The Meaning and Relevance of Minkowski’s ‘Loss of Vital Contact with Reality’

Abstract

Eugene Minkowski is among the most prominent figures in phenomenological psychopathology. His notion of the ‘loss of vital contact with reality’ remains a key concept in the phenomenological description of schizophrenia. However, the precise meaning and relevance of this concept is unclear. Consequently, its use in psychopathological research is questionable. The purpose of this article is to investigate the meaning of the concept, and to evaluate its relevance in the contemporary research on intersubjectivity. The results of this thematic interpretation show that the notion can be deconstructed into three building blocks: ‘reality,’ ‘contact with reality,’ and ‘vital contact.’ Their respective philosophical and psychopathological meanings are discussed in detail. This interpretation allows us to challenge specific ideas on social cognition, and it sheds a new light on the phenomenological description of schizophrenia as a self-disorder. Despite the inherent limitations, Minkowski’s notion provides tools for investigating the form and specificity of intersubjectivity disturbances in schizophrenia. This article offers the first step in this process.