Philosophy, University of Birmingham
Thesis title:
This research explores depression by moving beyond clinical and biochemical models, integrating phenomenological insights with process-relational metaphysics. While traditional phenomenological approaches describe depression as a shift in how individuals experience the world, they often lack a deeper ontological explanation. This project addresses that gap by employing Alfred North Whitehead’s process metaphysics, which posits reality as a series of interconnected temporal processes, rather than static substances or objects.
The research inherently questions materialist conceptions of nature. In doing so, I aim to demonstrate that unconscious processes may share a common structure with broader natural phenomena. These ideas are inspired by Whitehead’s conception of prehension, and Einstein’s theory of relativity more generally.
I am to provide a metaphysical grounding for phenomenological insights by prioritising the ontological reality of relations over objects. This metaphysical grounding aims to move beyond descriptive phenomenology, offering a robust explanation for how and why certain states, such as depression, manifest and persist. By recognising the ontological primacy of relations and their mediation through primordial subjectivity, this research challenges the notion of depression as an internalised condition, reframing it as a dynamic, evolving process rooted in the broader fabric of reality.
Privacy | Cookies | EDI Policy | VPP