The aims of this pre-test post-test quasi experimental design were to examine the impact on healt... more The aims of this pre-test post-test quasi experimental design were to examine the impact on health and well-being and mindfulness scores of an 8 day mindfulness based intervention (MBI) on a group of incarcerated young offenders. The relationship between mental health symptoms and substance dependence is also explored. The Health and Well-Being Tracker and The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaires were used as tools in measuring the differences of both the pre-test and post-test conditions. Mental health symptoms and substance dependence were assessed via the DSM-IV-TR and used to measure potential changes in participant scores before and after the MBI. The paper predicted an increase in general health and well-being and higher mindfulness scores on completion of the MBI and a positive correlation between mental health symptoms and substance dependence. A total of twelve (N=12) participants between the ages of 18 to 21 (M=19.33, SD=1.00) were selected of which nine (N=9) completed the group. Results indicated a statistically significant positive correlation between mental health symptoms and substance dependence. Although health and well-being scores showed numerical differences in the predicted direction, neither health and well-being or mindfulness scores increased significantly. The limitations of the research are examined in detail.
According to Bargh, as behaviourism—and its explanatory reliance on environmental stimuli—lost th... more According to Bargh, as behaviourism—and its explanatory reliance on environmental stimuli—lost their prominent position within psychology, the “causal vacuum” (2011, p.629) left by its demise resulted in an increased appeal to conscious, agent-centred explanations of behaviour, goal pursuits, judgement and perception. Developments in cognitive psychology over the past two decades however, have gradually filled the vacuum left by the fall of behaviourism with an increasing lack of reliance on the explanatory role of conscious reflection. Bargh (1997, p.6) advances the concept of automaticity to explain how most of our behaviour results from stimulus bound automatic cognitive processes.
The following essay will be devoted to making three claims. Firstly, although it is acknowledged ... more The following essay will be devoted to making three claims. Firstly, although it is acknowledged that there is plenty of evolutionary and empirical evidence to strongly suggest that humans benefit from affiliating with others in important ways, to hold the strong claim that it is a basic or fundamental desire is still unsupported. Secondly, I hold that the rapid growth of 12 Step fellowships (see Yalom on group therapy) can be largely accounted for by its ability to fulfil people’s desire to affiliate. Finally, although the need to belong may be fulfilled by joining groups and forming long lasting and supportive relationships, there may be times in which an addict or an alcoholic may not feel like they belong no matter how much they affiliate. It is at this point that I appeal to some of the writings on CBT, Viktor Frankl and Stoic Philosophy to suggest that we have our ability as human beings to choose how we react to circumstances can override such supposedly fundamental desires.
The emergence and successful application of positive psychology over recent decades to the study ... more The emergence and successful application of positive psychology over recent decades to the study of
human well-being and flourishing offers the interesting possibility that its scientific method could be
applied to the treatment of addictive disorders. Although research on the beneficial effects of
positive psychology interventions is limited relative to other fields within psychology such as mental
illness, it is even scarcer within the study of addiction. Nevertheless, much of the general research
carried out by positive psychologists offers indirect evidence that its application to the treatment of
addiction may not only be justified but necessary. Moreover, some of the positive psychology
research that has focused on the treatment of addiction seems promising.
The symmetry thesis, as well as the arguments that lead to its justification as a central tenet o... more The symmetry thesis, as well as the arguments that lead to its justification as a central tenet of Bloor’s strong programme, will be evaluated in light of Laudan’s criticisms and Bloor’s response. According to the strong programme, considering the social nature of knowledge, the principle of impartiality should guarantee that the truth status of scientific beliefs should not get in the way of their being explained sociologically
The publication in 1960 of Thomas Szasz’s The Myth of Mental Illnes, subtitled Foundations of a T... more The publication in 1960 of Thomas Szasz’s The Myth of Mental Illnes, subtitled Foundations of a Theory of Personal Conduct was received with hostility by members of the psychiatric establishment . One of his central claims is that psychiatrists such as Sigmund Freud and Emile Kraepelin, unable to find any genuine organic disturbances, played an “epistemological trick” on us by transferring the naturalistic concept of disease from “abnormal bodily structure” to “abnormal personal behaviour” (1979, p.12). What Szasz calls “problems in living” (ibid, p.45) have been misdiagnosed as diseases of the mind. I propose that an endorsement of Szasz’s position is inconsistent with the most standard bioethical principles of medical practice. Secondly, by means of an analogy with racial categories, I argue that the ontological status of mental illness should not change our medical attitude to the mentally ill. Lastly, I advance a virtual case study that would leave the most ardent critic of psychiatry with no solid grounds for denying a person mental health treatment
In what follows, I argue that commentators such as Gerald A. Cohen (1970), Karl Popper (1962) and... more In what follows, I argue that commentators such as Gerald A. Cohen (1970), Karl Popper (1962) and Bertrand Russell (1920), have misinterpreted Marx‟s conception of history in two important ways. Firstly, the „Vulgar‟ interpretation-- although so influential it could just as well be called `pop-Marxism‟-- is no more than a caricature and as such should be easy to dispense with. The second reading is more influential within Marxist academic and analytical philosophy and will be my main concern for the first part of this essay. It sees material forces of production and social relations as `entirely separate‟ (Cohen 1970, p. 29) and has often been called technologic determinism. I challenge such a reading by a critique of a though experiment developed by Popper in which I hope to show that a clear understanding of historical materialism demands that both elements of the base should be considered in relation to each other
In what follows, I argue that commentators such as Gerald A. Cohen (1970), Karl Popper (1962) and... more In what follows, I argue that commentators such as Gerald A. Cohen (1970), Karl Popper (1962) and Bertrand Russell (1920), have misinterpreted Marx‟s conception of history in two important ways. Firstly, the „Vulgar‟ interpretation-- although so influential it could just as well be called `pop-Marxism‟-- is no more than a caricature and as such should be easy to dispense with. The second reading is more influential within Marxist academic and analytical philosophy and will be my main concern for the first part of this essay. It sees material forces of production and social relations as `entirely separate‟ (Cohen 1970, p. 29) and has often been called technologic determinism. I challenge such a reading by a critique of a though experiment developed by Popper in which I hope to show that a clear understanding of historical materialism demands that both elements of the base should be considered in relation to each other.
This paper is primarily focused on William Lane Craig's article The Absurdity of Life without God... more This paper is primarily focused on William Lane Craig's article The Absurdity of Life without God. The main focus is on challenging Craig on the grounds that 1) his assumption that moral relativism necessarily entails nihilism simply does not follow and 2) that the conditions he advances as necessary for `objective meaning' are in fact both counter-intuitive and too strict. I offer an alternative conception of `objective meaning' that draws on Wittgenstein's Private Language Argument and on MacDowell's well known essay Values as Secondary Qualities.
The aims of this pre-test post-test quasi experimental design were to examine the impact on healt... more The aims of this pre-test post-test quasi experimental design were to examine the impact on health and well-being and mindfulness scores of an 8 day mindfulness based intervention (MBI) on a group of incarcerated young offenders. The relationship between mental health symptoms and substance dependence is also explored. The Health and Well-Being Tracker and The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaires were used as tools in measuring the differences of both the pre-test and post-test conditions. Mental health symptoms and substance dependence were assessed via the DSM-IV-TR and used to measure potential changes in participant scores before and after the MBI. The paper predicted an increase in general health and well-being and higher mindfulness scores on completion of the MBI and a positive correlation between mental health symptoms and substance dependence. A total of twelve (N=12) participants between the ages of 18 to 21 (M=19.33, SD=1.00) were selected of which nine (N=9) completed the group. Results indicated a statistically significant positive correlation between mental health symptoms and substance dependence. Although health and well-being scores showed numerical differences in the predicted direction, neither health and well-being or mindfulness scores increased significantly. The limitations of the research are examined in detail.
According to Bargh, as behaviourism—and its explanatory reliance on environmental stimuli—lost th... more According to Bargh, as behaviourism—and its explanatory reliance on environmental stimuli—lost their prominent position within psychology, the “causal vacuum” (2011, p.629) left by its demise resulted in an increased appeal to conscious, agent-centred explanations of behaviour, goal pursuits, judgement and perception. Developments in cognitive psychology over the past two decades however, have gradually filled the vacuum left by the fall of behaviourism with an increasing lack of reliance on the explanatory role of conscious reflection. Bargh (1997, p.6) advances the concept of automaticity to explain how most of our behaviour results from stimulus bound automatic cognitive processes.
The following essay will be devoted to making three claims. Firstly, although it is acknowledged ... more The following essay will be devoted to making three claims. Firstly, although it is acknowledged that there is plenty of evolutionary and empirical evidence to strongly suggest that humans benefit from affiliating with others in important ways, to hold the strong claim that it is a basic or fundamental desire is still unsupported. Secondly, I hold that the rapid growth of 12 Step fellowships (see Yalom on group therapy) can be largely accounted for by its ability to fulfil people’s desire to affiliate. Finally, although the need to belong may be fulfilled by joining groups and forming long lasting and supportive relationships, there may be times in which an addict or an alcoholic may not feel like they belong no matter how much they affiliate. It is at this point that I appeal to some of the writings on CBT, Viktor Frankl and Stoic Philosophy to suggest that we have our ability as human beings to choose how we react to circumstances can override such supposedly fundamental desires.
The emergence and successful application of positive psychology over recent decades to the study ... more The emergence and successful application of positive psychology over recent decades to the study of
human well-being and flourishing offers the interesting possibility that its scientific method could be
applied to the treatment of addictive disorders. Although research on the beneficial effects of
positive psychology interventions is limited relative to other fields within psychology such as mental
illness, it is even scarcer within the study of addiction. Nevertheless, much of the general research
carried out by positive psychologists offers indirect evidence that its application to the treatment of
addiction may not only be justified but necessary. Moreover, some of the positive psychology
research that has focused on the treatment of addiction seems promising.
The symmetry thesis, as well as the arguments that lead to its justification as a central tenet o... more The symmetry thesis, as well as the arguments that lead to its justification as a central tenet of Bloor’s strong programme, will be evaluated in light of Laudan’s criticisms and Bloor’s response. According to the strong programme, considering the social nature of knowledge, the principle of impartiality should guarantee that the truth status of scientific beliefs should not get in the way of their being explained sociologically
The publication in 1960 of Thomas Szasz’s The Myth of Mental Illnes, subtitled Foundations of a T... more The publication in 1960 of Thomas Szasz’s The Myth of Mental Illnes, subtitled Foundations of a Theory of Personal Conduct was received with hostility by members of the psychiatric establishment . One of his central claims is that psychiatrists such as Sigmund Freud and Emile Kraepelin, unable to find any genuine organic disturbances, played an “epistemological trick” on us by transferring the naturalistic concept of disease from “abnormal bodily structure” to “abnormal personal behaviour” (1979, p.12). What Szasz calls “problems in living” (ibid, p.45) have been misdiagnosed as diseases of the mind. I propose that an endorsement of Szasz’s position is inconsistent with the most standard bioethical principles of medical practice. Secondly, by means of an analogy with racial categories, I argue that the ontological status of mental illness should not change our medical attitude to the mentally ill. Lastly, I advance a virtual case study that would leave the most ardent critic of psychiatry with no solid grounds for denying a person mental health treatment
In what follows, I argue that commentators such as Gerald A. Cohen (1970), Karl Popper (1962) and... more In what follows, I argue that commentators such as Gerald A. Cohen (1970), Karl Popper (1962) and Bertrand Russell (1920), have misinterpreted Marx‟s conception of history in two important ways. Firstly, the „Vulgar‟ interpretation-- although so influential it could just as well be called `pop-Marxism‟-- is no more than a caricature and as such should be easy to dispense with. The second reading is more influential within Marxist academic and analytical philosophy and will be my main concern for the first part of this essay. It sees material forces of production and social relations as `entirely separate‟ (Cohen 1970, p. 29) and has often been called technologic determinism. I challenge such a reading by a critique of a though experiment developed by Popper in which I hope to show that a clear understanding of historical materialism demands that both elements of the base should be considered in relation to each other
In what follows, I argue that commentators such as Gerald A. Cohen (1970), Karl Popper (1962) and... more In what follows, I argue that commentators such as Gerald A. Cohen (1970), Karl Popper (1962) and Bertrand Russell (1920), have misinterpreted Marx‟s conception of history in two important ways. Firstly, the „Vulgar‟ interpretation-- although so influential it could just as well be called `pop-Marxism‟-- is no more than a caricature and as such should be easy to dispense with. The second reading is more influential within Marxist academic and analytical philosophy and will be my main concern for the first part of this essay. It sees material forces of production and social relations as `entirely separate‟ (Cohen 1970, p. 29) and has often been called technologic determinism. I challenge such a reading by a critique of a though experiment developed by Popper in which I hope to show that a clear understanding of historical materialism demands that both elements of the base should be considered in relation to each other.
This paper is primarily focused on William Lane Craig's article The Absurdity of Life without God... more This paper is primarily focused on William Lane Craig's article The Absurdity of Life without God. The main focus is on challenging Craig on the grounds that 1) his assumption that moral relativism necessarily entails nihilism simply does not follow and 2) that the conditions he advances as necessary for `objective meaning' are in fact both counter-intuitive and too strict. I offer an alternative conception of `objective meaning' that draws on Wittgenstein's Private Language Argument and on MacDowell's well known essay Values as Secondary Qualities.
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Papers by Daniel Avital
human well-being and flourishing offers the interesting possibility that its scientific method could be
applied to the treatment of addictive disorders. Although research on the beneficial effects of
positive psychology interventions is limited relative to other fields within psychology such as mental
illness, it is even scarcer within the study of addiction. Nevertheless, much of the general research
carried out by positive psychologists offers indirect evidence that its application to the treatment of
addiction may not only be justified but necessary. Moreover, some of the positive psychology
research that has focused on the treatment of addiction seems promising.
human well-being and flourishing offers the interesting possibility that its scientific method could be
applied to the treatment of addictive disorders. Although research on the beneficial effects of
positive psychology interventions is limited relative to other fields within psychology such as mental
illness, it is even scarcer within the study of addiction. Nevertheless, much of the general research
carried out by positive psychologists offers indirect evidence that its application to the treatment of
addiction may not only be justified but necessary. Moreover, some of the positive psychology
research that has focused on the treatment of addiction seems promising.