Research

Representationalism is (roughly) the idea that the phenomenal properties of experiences are explained by their representational properties – that is, what it is like to undergo an experience is explained by what the experience is about. It has been argued that the phenomenon of aspect shift poses a challenge to representationalism.

In this project, I focus on one particular aspect shift and address the following two questions:

(a) Does the aspect shift in question pose a challenge to represesentationalism?

(b) If so, what claim does it challenge? Relatedly, what counts as a satisfactory response from representationalism?

It is very normal for those who are suffering from mental illness (e.g. depression) to blame themselves for the fact that they are suffering from mental illness. For example, those who suffer from situational depression (i.e., depression following a traumatic event in one's life) might blame themselves for their illness, because they believe that had they been mentally stronger, they would be able to overcome the depression. Recognition of one's failure to fulfill one's duty towards others (e.g. being a loving father and a supportive family member) due to one's mental illness can also lead to this type of self-blame.

I hope to explore the following question in this project: under what conditions is it appropriate to blame oneself for one's mental illness? Orthodox theories approach this question by considering three factors: (a) the person being blamed; (b) the blamer; (c) the blaming interaction. The propriety conditions of self-blame in the context of mental illness raise interesting questions to all three factors.