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Soul, body and mental health - applying Rabbi Moshe de Maimon's philosophy to the contemporary phenomenon of drug addiction.

Yula Milshteyn
Published in: History of psychiatry (2024)
In modern psychiatry, drug addiction is considered as mainly a mental disorder and a brain disease problem, of complex aetiology. In addition, drug addiction has been characterized as a loss of willpower or akrasia, and even a sin. In this essay, I analyse Maimonides' (Rambam's) treatises More Ha-Nevuchim ( Guide for the Perplexed ) and Shemona Perakim ( The Eight Chapters ). He asserts that the soul is one, but has many different faculties (functions) and is intrinsically linked to the body. I argue that drug addiction is a psychological, social-moral deviance, as well as straying from God's path. Addiction is a disorder of the soul and body. Consequently, healing should include social-moral guidelines as well as physical/bodily health.
Keyphrases
  • mental health
  • healthcare
  • adverse drug
  • public health
  • mental illness
  • drug induced
  • physical activity
  • multiple sclerosis
  • clinical practice
  • white matter
  • sleep quality
  • health information
  • electronic health record