96. Understanding ‘Delusional’ Beliefs: How Compassion and Curiosity can Help a Polarized Society with Lisa Bortolotti

In everyday life, we might label irrational, illogical, or absurd beliefs as ‘delusional’, and dismiss the person who expresses them on these grounds. This tendency is common when it comes to conspiracy beliefs or beliefs held by individuals labeled with psychosis, where such views are frequently pathologized. But can beliefs themselves really be pathological? What if they can also be meaningful, informative, and important? We all hold some beliefs that, to others, might appear “delusional.” Communicating more effectively with those whose beliefs differ radically from our own is a crucial skill to develop.

Dr. Lisa Bortolotti, philosopher and author of “Why Delusions Matter” advocates for a more compassionate approach—one that respects the agency of those with unconventional beliefs. Especially in a world of increasing political divide and a loss of trust in our broader systems, media, and government, it’s crucial to be able to find some common ground and develop the capacity to listen well.

In this episode we discuss:

• The roles of curiosity and compassion when engaging with those who hold fundamentally different beliefs
• Why delusions in clinical and everyday contexts share significant similarities
• How conspiracy thinking often stems from a legitimate loss of trust and can serve adaptive purposes
• The potential value and meaning embedded in delusional beliefs
• Why epistemic justice is essential

Lisa Bortolotti is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Birmingham, working in the philosophy of psychology and interested in belief, agency, self-knowledge, and mental health. Her latest book is Why Delusions Matter (Bloomsbury, 2023) and she is the editor in chief of *Philosophical Psychology* (a Taylor and Francis journal). Lisa is the founder of the Imperfect Cognitions blog, and of The Philosophy Garden, a virtual philosophy museum gathering resources to bring philosophy to everyone. Currently, Lisa is co-investigator in project EPIC, a six-year project funded by a Wellcome Discovery Award, investigating epistemic injustice in healthcare.

Links

1. Launch of project EPIC: What interests me about epistemic injustice. (Project EPIC, 2024). Brief video.
2. Delusions and Philosophy (Awais Aftab's Mixed Bag Psychiatry at the Margins series, 2023). Online article.
3. How to give young people agency in mental health. (McPin Foundation, 2021). Podcast.
4. Why Delusions Matter by Lisa Bortolotti

Resources:

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