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The Kindness of Psychopaths

Brzović, Zdenka and Jurjako, Marko and Sustar, Predrag (2017) The Kindness of Psychopaths. International Studies in the Philosophy of Science, 31 (2). pp. 189-211. ISSN 0269-8595

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Abstract

Psychopathy attracts considerable interdisciplinary interest. The idea of a group of people with abnormal morality and interpersonal relations raises important philosophical, legal and clinical issues. However, before engaging these issues, we ought to examine whether this category is scientifically grounded. We frame the issue in terms of the question whether ‘psychopathy’ designates a natural kind according to the cluster approaches. We argue that currently there is no sufficient evidence for an affirmative answer to this question. Furthermore, we examine
three ways of dealing with the category of psychopathy. We could eliminate the category, revise it, or subscribe to a more encompassing account of kinds, which could capture psychopathy as it is currently conceptualised. We argue that while a revision of the category of psychopathy is to be expected with empirical and theoretical advancements, we also emphasise its role in clinical and forensic research, which makes it an important pragmatic kind.


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Item Type: Published Article or Volume
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Brzović, Zdenkazdenka@uniri.hr0000-0002-9385-0287
Jurjako, Marko0000-0002-7252-8627
Sustar, Predrag0000-0002-6375-2424
Additional Information: This paper is made open access by a grant from the Croatian Science Foundation (project CEASCRO, grant 8071)
Subjects: General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics
General Issues > Ethical Issues
General Issues > Explanation
General Issues > Models and Idealization
Specific Sciences > Neuroscience
Specific Sciences > Medicine > Psychiatry
Specific Sciences > Psychology
Depositing User: Mr Marko Jurjako
Date Deposited: 20 Dec 2018 04:03
Last Modified: 27 May 2019 07:57
Item ID: 15475
Journal or Publication Title: International Studies in the Philosophy of Science
Publisher: Routledge: Francis and Taylor
Official URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02698...
DOI or Unique Handle: 10.1080/02698595.2018.1424761
Subjects: General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics
General Issues > Ethical Issues
General Issues > Explanation
General Issues > Models and Idealization
Specific Sciences > Neuroscience
Specific Sciences > Medicine > Psychiatry
Specific Sciences > Psychology
Date: 2017
Page Range: pp. 189-211
Volume: 31
Number: 2
ISSN: 0269-8595
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/15475

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