Disease around 1800. Philosophical, medical and psychological concepts of disease in the context of the relation between body and mind.

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Annette Sell
• Subject Area: History of Philosophy
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 510823078

The concept of disease (The translation “disease” for the German term “Krankheit” includes “illness” as well here.) plays an important role in the history of philosophy, medicine and psychology in Europe around 1800. The aim of the project is to research the concept of disease around 1800 and to work out the connection between the three sciences mentioned. The coincidence of scientific progress and the emergence of important philosophical positions makes the period around 1800 a fertile and informative phase for the development of the concept of disease. Focusing on the relation between body and mind, the specifics of the concepts of disease of this time can be identified. Under the main theme of the body-mind-relation a typological classification of diseases is done so that normative, descriptive, naturalistic or ontological concepts of diseases can be determined. Scientists from philosophy, medicine and psychology who have expertise on the relevant authors and theories of the time are recruited for the project in order to develop the concept of disease around 1800 at an international interdisciplinary conference and in an anthology. My own research contribution within this project will elaborate the concepts of disease in Kant and Hegel, investigating their respective characteristics and systematic determinations. How is disease conceived within philosophical theories of subjectivity? Against the background of a connection between body and mind, can a conclusion be drawn with regard to the distinction between subjective experience and the objective attribution of disease? Can the structures of current concepts of disease be recognized in Kant and Hegel? The project I lead is intended to close the research gap of an interdisciplinary scientific investigation into disease around 1800 through a conference, an anthology based on it, my research on Kant and Hegel, as well as an initiative to promote young researcher.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants