Delusions and Beliefs : A Philosophical Inquiry

This book is an interdisciplinary exploration of delusions, examining the philosophical literature on the nature of beliefs, the psychological literature on the belief formation process, and the psychiatric literature on the clinical features of delusions. Its central claim is that delusions are malfunctioning belief and the author answers three fundamental questions about delusions "What is a delusion?"; "What causes it?"; and "What makes it pathological?"

What sort of mental state is a delusion? What causes delusions? Why are delusions pathological? This book examines these questions, which are normally considered separately, in a much-needed exploration of an important and fascinating topic, Kengo Miyazono assesses the philosophical, psychological and psychiatric literature on delusions to argue that delusions are malfunctioning beliefs. Delusions belong to the same category as beliefs but - unlike healthy irrational beliefs - fail to play the function of beliefs.

will be of great interest to students of philosophy of mind and psychology and philosophy of mental disorder, as well as those in related fields such as mental health and psychiatry.