Sam Fellowes
@samfellowes.bsky.social
Philosophy of psychiatry, history of autism, psychiatric diagnoses, EBE research, self-diagnosis. samfellowes.com https://www.youtube.com/@sfhps
Embodying Divergence: New Directions in Autism and Neurodiversity Research conference: #autism #phenomenology
Eventværk
event.au.dk
Given that self-diagnosis is stereotypically associated with social media*, it will be interesting to see if self-diagnosis rates decrease after the UK under-16s ban on social media comes into affect. *see below
If an academic job asked for "Research plan – description of current and future research plans", any ideas of what 'current' consists of (just stuff not yet published but in preperation, stuff published in the last two years, etc.)
Anyone up for subtyping autism on these grounds: hyper-empathy autism and alexithymia autism? Some autistic people would not fall into either camp, but I would put myself in the latter subtype. #autism
How might this relate to #neurodiversity? "The vibes are young male vibes,"... there's a strong neurological factor – young men's attitude to sports, money, and prediction markets is down to... "an underdeveloped pre-frontal cortex and a high appetite for risk". www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Why young men are drawn to prediction markets
Prediction markets are a fast-growing, multi-billion-dollar industry, and appeal disproportionately to young men
bbc.co.uk
New podcast episode about my undercover escapade at the Swedish Congress of Psychiatry.
Infiltrating the Swedish Congress of Psychiatry
YouTube video by Philosophy of Psychiatric Diagnoses
youtube.com
My new article, I look at 20 empirical studies on the double empathy problem and argue that none show whether the double empathy problem is applicable to cognitive empathy and affective empathy. #autism #empathy
Cognitive Empathy, Affective Empathy and Empirical Research on the Double Empathy Problem: A Critical Methodology Review - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Purpose The double empathy problem posits that autistic people and non-autistic people both lack empathy with the other side rather than the lack of empathy solely residing in one side. There have bee...
link.springer.com
New paper looking at the philosophical assumptions of HiTOP, written by the HiTOP crew. If you are not aware, HiTOP might be the most interesting thing happening in psychiatry currently. Also, I wrote a response article to it. muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/articl...
Project MUSE -- Verification required!
muse.jhu.edu
No connection to my own academic interests but reposting due to bigging up animals.
Dr Heather Browning (Veit)@zoophilosophy.bsky.social · 4mo agoMy new paper 'Mapping profiles of animal affect' is now out in Biology and Philosophy. In it, I explore why understanding species-specific “affect profiles” matters for animal welfare research, and sketch some possible ways we might begin to map them. Available open access: doi.org/10.1007/s105...
It is my birthday today. So I am taking a day off from the (alas non-academic) day job to do my favourite thing: go to the library and read philosophy of science articles on scientific models!
Has anyone ever written about adopting an identity as requiring some type of epistemic commitment, that most people will not adopt an identity unless they genuinely believe there is a significant level of fit between themselves and the identity. Any philosophy, psychology, sociology etc. on this?
Given the apocalyptic language in the news and the highly remote but non-negligible possibility that the end of the world is nigh, I would just like to reiterate my support of The Enlightenment. Largely failed in its aims but I cannot think of a better alternative. Science, truth, reason, etc.
There is a massively polarised debate in relation to over/under-diagnosis in psychiatry. Over/under-diagnosis are both harmful. Also, both could occur simultaneously: loads of people might get diagnoses they should not, whilst simultaneously loads of other people might not get diagnoses who should.
Not read it yet but looks super interesting: considering Reichenbach's principle of coordination and his interest in experimental psychology in light of modern notions of construct validity in psychology.
The experimental psychology behind coordination - History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences
History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences - In the philosophy of science, the problem of coordination concerns the difficulty of linking abstract theoretical concepts with their empirical...
link.springer.com
Giving the keynote on Defending Psychiatric Diagnoses at the Swedish Congress of Psychiatry. You know the drill by now, psychiatric diagnoses as not reflecting real people but that is alight because they are idealised and abstract models, and modelling is great in science. #psychiatry #philsci
At the Swedish Congress of Psychiatry. I am surrounded by hundreds of psychiatrists. Do they know there is a philosopher in their midst? What might they think of such a strange creature?
This is your friendly reminder that when it comes to debates about autism being over or under diagnosed, there are more options than 1) expand autism or 2) leave people who would likely benefit from a diagnosis without a diagnosis. #autism
Earlier today was the annual Lancaster philosophy of psychiatry work in progress day. I spoke on Self-diagnosis, modelling and the Duhem-Quine thesis.
“The struggle is real” - Karl Jaspers, 1913 #psychiatry
For academic job applications, I typically write some 5,000 word plus epic. This one only wants a covering letter. Are there any advantages to keeping things to say 1,500 words, whilst still hitting all the criteria?
New article by me, HiTOP, Objectivity and Logical Positivism. I use Carnap's notion of a framework to consider how categorical and dimensional approaches relate to objectivity within HiTOP. (This is a commentary on Aftab et al's HiTOP article) #philsci #hps #philpsy #psychiatry
Project MUSE - HiTOP, Objectivity, and Logical Positivism
muse.jhu.edu
Academic CVs for philosophy and medical humanities jobs, should I have a 'Under Review' section and should I have a 'In Preparation' section?
New podcast episode, Over-diagnosis, right-wing narratives, anti-psychiatry and alternatives to autism
Over-diagnosis, right-wing narratives, anti-psychiatry and alternatives to autism
YouTube video by Philosophy of Psychiatric Diagnoses
youtube.com
Finally found time to do some podcasting. The working title for my next episode is "Over-diagnosis, anti-psychiatry, right-wing narratives and alternatives to autism". This could be interesting...
Philosophy of Psychiatry call for papers
Philosophical Psychology@journalphp.bsky.social · 8mo agoCall for papers: Ian Hacking and the Philosophy of Psychiatry. Deadline: 1st February 2026. Guest editors: Şerife Tekin and Jonathan Y. Tsou. Submit your work! think.taylorandfranc... #philsky #philpsy #philsci
Just saw that James Bogen died. Every time I talk about psychiatric diagnoses or psychiatric symptoms as being models, or I try and outline expert-by-experience research or self-diagnosis as involving idealisation and abstraction, I'm probably being influenced by Bogen and/or Woodward.
New philosophy paper on self-diagnosis in psychiatry. It is a bit more optimistic than I am but it is definitely worth reading #self-diagnosis #HPS #psychiatry: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
The Politics of Self-narration: Self-Diagnosis as Digital Counter-Narrative - Topoi
This article explores the epistemic, political, and affective dimensions of self-narration in relation to neurodivergence and self-diagnosis, focusing on how such practices can resist forms of epistemic injustice. Building on Fricker’s framework of testimonial and hermeneutical injustice, we argue that self-narratives - especially when articulated through social media - can serve as tools of epistemic resistance and community building, that challenge dominant medicalized narratives. In the first part we develop a theoretical framework to understand the relation between identity claims and narrative practices, as well as their link to epistemic injustice. We will argue that lived experience of mental conditions and neurodivergence can act as a source of self-narrations that can both be influenced by, and counter, pathologizing dominant narratives. Especially through this kind of resistance, self-narrative practices can build what we call collective counter-narratives that can oppose epistemic injustice in psychiatry. Drawing on this, we explore how digital platforms provide neurodivergent individuals with alternative spaces for recognition and knowledge production. Social media affordances, such as visibility and interactivity, enable community building and identity affirmation, while also introducing vulnerabilities through over-sharing and algorithmic normativity. By analyzing self-diagnosis and online disability performance, we highlight how epistemic agency is negotiated amid technological and socio-cultural asymmetries. Ultimately, we argue that digital platforms can serve as arenas of epistemic resistance, where lived experience is claimed as collective expertise, challenging traditional medical authority, while acknowledging the associated risks and political implications.
link.springer.com