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Shaun Gallagher and his approach the Phenomenology

Kevin Winston
Image of Shaun Gallagher

Shaun Gallagher is a philosopher who studies cognition and phenomenology, or the philosophy of the human experience (Shaun Gallagher, n.d.). He is particularly involved with the topic of mental disorders in the field of neurophilosophy, studying the way that these disorders affect our sense of self (Shaun Gallagher, n.d.). Gallagher's work demonstrates this well with his work in phenomenology.


Gallagher is a philosopher who employed lived experiences to study the ways in which people experience mental disorders. Gallagher believes that the way in which people experience their mental conditions can provide a deep insight into their identity (Gallagher, 2015). He distinguishes between "sense of ownership," or a feeling of an experience belonging to one's self, and "sense of agency," or the feeling of being able to control one's own actions (Gallagher, 2015). Gallagher explores how these senses can break down in disorders like schizophrenia.


This has important implications for our lives as humans. For one, it demonstrates that the way we respond to our experiences shapes our identity. Additionally, it suggests that mental conditions we may experience influence this identity and that our senses of ownership and agency can be changed. Overall, Gallagher offers an interesting perspective about the experiences of our lives.


References:


Gallagher, S. (2015). Relations Between Agency and Ownership in the Case of Schizophrenic Thought Insertion and Delusions of Control. Review of Philosophy and Psychology, 6(4), 865–879. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13164-014-0222-3


Shaun Gallagher. (n.d.). Retrieved December 17, 2024, from https://www.memphis.edu/philosophy/people/bios/shaun-gallagher.php

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