The ontological status of mental disorders raises a classical debate between naturalist and social constructionist perspectives. With conceptual tools borrowed from the philosophy of psychiatry, we claim that, although seemingly opposite, both naturalist and social constructionist arguments incur in a fact/value dichotomy. As an alternative to this classical polarization, we suggest a deflated normativity position capable of integrating factual descriptions and values to psychopathology.
Philosophy of psychiatry; normativity; naturalism; social constructionism