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Publications by Andrew Molas

Canadian Journal of Practical Philosophy, 2020

I offer a preliminary examination on the importance of narrative for helping to overcome the issu... more I offer a preliminary examination on the importance of narrative for helping to overcome the issue of stigma surrounding mental illness, specifically schizophrenia. I maintain that engaging with first-person accounts of schizophrenia allows caregivers, and the broader general public, to better understand the phenomenological lived experiences of persons living with this mental health challenge and to better understand the experience of dealing with stigma. In doing so, I maintain that both caregivers and the public can begin developing more accepting views of schizophrenia and begin to support those who need it the most.

Journal of the British Society for Phenomenology , 2019

I draw connections between Hegel’s concepts of recognition and morality and demonstrate how they ... more I draw connections between Hegel’s concepts of recognition and morality and demonstrate how they are compatible with an ethic of care. I explore Hegel’s Sittlichkeit and demonstrate the role that intersubjective recognition plays in the development and sustainment of ethical communities. I demonstrate how his emphasis on the community and interpersonal relationships play an important role in his moral theory. I then contrast Hegelian and Kantian views of morality and argue that Hegel’s account places greater emphasis on attending to the needs of others and showing genuine concern for their well-being. By highlighting the intersubjective nature of recognition between self-consciousnesses, and the interconnectedness of agents in an ethical community, I maintain Hegel’s morality is compatible with an ethic of care because it emerges out of intersubjective mutual recognition and its foundation is built upon responding to the needs of particular others and protecting the bonds of the community.

My paper explores Maria Lugones' concept of "world travelling" and how we can use it for the purp... more My paper explores Maria Lugones' concept of "world travelling" and how we can use it for the purposes of engaging with people who have schizophrenia in order to reduce stigma. I argue that travelling to a schizophrenic person's "world" can help us gain a better understanding of her situation and experiences and, as a result, I argue that the interpersonal interaction which world travelling facilitates can reduce the stigmatization associated with this mental illness. I argue that the effects of stigma are similar to Marilyn Frye's notion of "arrogant perception" and arrogantly perceiving persons with mental illnesses prevents us from actively engaging with them and "loving them." After looking at a few objections against the idea of implementing world travelling as a means of engaging persons with schizophrenia, specifically the problem of role taking and the limits of understanding another person’s subjective experiences, I conclude by arguing that world travelling is a useful anti-stigma strategy because it requires us to interact with the other person, and contact is the most effective way of overcoming stigma associated with mental illness

I discuss Young’s “asymmetrical reciprocity” and apply it to an ethics of mental health care. Due... more I discuss Young’s “asymmetrical reciprocity” and apply it to an ethics of mental health care. Due to its emphasis on engaging with others through respectful dialogue in an inclusive manner, asymmetrical reciprocity serves as an appropriate framework for guiding caregivers to interact with their patients and to understand them in a morally responsible and appropriate manner. In Section 1, I define empathy and explain its benefits in the context of mental health care. In Section 2, I discuss two potential problems surrounding empathy: the difficulty of perspective-taking and “compassion fatigue.” In Section 3, I argue that these issues can be resolved if examined through the lens of an ethics of care. Reciprocal relationships between patients and caregivers are an important element in the development of an ethics of care. In Section 4, I introduce two models of reciprocity that can be applied to a health care context: Benhabib’s symmetrical reciprocity and Young’s asymmetrical reciprocity. In Section 5, I demonstrate how asymmetrical reciprocity cultivates empathy and, in Section 6 and Section 7, I show how it overcomes the objections of empathy and improves therapeutic relationships.

In Ecological Thinking, Lorraine Code argues that advocacy “often makes knowledge possible” and w... more In Ecological Thinking, Lorraine Code argues that advocacy “often makes knowledge possible” and without it “certain kinds of knowing are impossible.” By acknowledging the value of subjectivity and testimony in knowledge creation, I argue that ecological thinking serves as an appropriate framework for engagement with individuals who are living with mental illnesses. Contrasted with the dominant Anglo-American epistemologies that involve excessive degrees of mastery and control (with the tendency to silence the voices of Others), I argue that ecological thinking facilitates healthy advocacy practices precisely because of its inclusivity and receptivity towards different perspectives in knowledge creation.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0012217316000160

I argue that the right to mental health should be viewed as a universal human right and that the ... more I argue that the right to mental health should be viewed as a universal human right and that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), as an international standard, protects it because it places a positive duty on states to actively promote the mental well-being of its citizens for the purpose of preserving their dignity and allowing them to flourish. I begin by discussing the discrimination that persons with psychiatric disabilities experience, including the systemic barriers and lack of mental health resources which impact the quality of their lives. Because flourishing and dignity are interconnected, protecting the rights of persons with mental illnesses is important because the possession of good mental health provides a firm basis for securing other basic human rights. Consequently, I maintain that the main advantage of a human rights approach for securing the right to mental health is that human rights is the only source of law which is accepted without qualification. I then look at three objections against the CRPD and the idea of the universal right to mental health as a socio-economic entitlement. Finally, I demonstrate how the CRPD can overcome these criticisms and offer suggestions on how states can implement the CRPD into their domestic mental health legislation.

This chapter explores Mill’s understanding of utility and liberty and seeks to gain a better unde... more This chapter explores Mill’s understanding of utility and liberty and seeks to gain a better understanding of how we can apply his moral and political theory to improve our social conditions which will allow us to increase the well-being of persons. I outline Mill’s understanding of utilitarianism as a moral theory and emphasize the importance of maximizing the well-being of the collective. Although it may appear that his emphasis on maximizing the well-being of others contradicts his emphasis of individual liberty, I demonstrate that these concepts are not in conflict with each other since the preservation of individual liberty is necessary for achieving social utility. I argue that it is the duty of the State to educate its citizens and to ensure that they are responsible agents who are concerned with the interests of others. To achieve this aim the State should foster a society of individuality and ‘genius,’ it should provide individuals with freedom to decide which goals to pursue in order to increase their overall utility, and it should provide the resources and opportunities necessary for its citizens to achieve them.

Invited Talks by Andrew Molas

The aim of this paper is to offer a preliminary examination on the importance of narrative for he... more The aim of this paper is to offer a preliminary examination on the importance of narrative for helping to overcome the issue of stigma surrounding mental illness. I begin by discussing what narrative is and why narratives are important for authoring our own stories. I then discuss some potential reasons why the narratives of people with schizophrenia are often dismissed and I maintain that this is due in large part to the damaging effects of stigma. Shifting the negative and harmful impact of stigma surrounding mental illness, and changing the public's perception of mental health challenges in a more positive manner, requires efforts to raise awareness about the realities of living with these diagnoses. To achieve this aim, not only do I draw on patient narrative accounts to underscore the effects of stigma but I also draw on Husserl's phenomenological approach and Toombs' notion of "attentional focus" as means to view mental illness in a different way. By engaging directly with the lived experience of mental illness, and by engaging with the narratives which underscore the damaging impact that stigma has, I maintain that the public can begin developing more accepting views of schizophrenia and begin to support those who need it the most.

Teaching Documents and Teaching Workshops by Andrew Molas

York University’s undergraduate student body is one of the most culturally diverse in Canada and,... more York University’s undergraduate student body is one of the most culturally diverse in Canada and, as TAs, our tutorials often reflect this multiculturalism in a variety of ways. However, although enrollment rates for introductory courses do reflect this diversity, recent studies in higher education have shown that there is a significant drop-off in upper-year seminars in particular programs. Since TAs have a significant impact on the learning experiences of undergraduates, we must ask ourselves: do certain teaching practices contribute to this lack of diversity in higher education? And, if so, which pedagogical practices should we incorporate into our teaching to help remedy this issue? This workshop serves as a preliminary discussion on diversity issue in higher education and explores how inclusive pedagogy can be a potential solution. Inclusive pedagogy is a method of teaching that incorporates “dynamic practices and learning styles, multicultural content, and varied means of assessment, with the goal of promoting student academic success.” Participants will have several opportunities to engage with their peers and discuss the various teaching strategies they have used in their tutorials. Participants will also reflect on their teaching practices and begin brainstorming new ways to make their tutorials as inclusive as possible.

The purpose of this workshop is to gain a better understanding of what “active learning” is and h... more The purpose of this workshop is to gain a better understanding of what “active learning” is and how it can be implemented successfully in Philosophy tutorials. This workshop will explore the differences between active learning and passive learning and demonstrate why active learning is useful for facilitating student discussion and engagement in our classrooms, particularly in 1000-level introductory courses. In addition to offering some suggested active learning strategies to incorporate into the tutorial setting, this workshop will provide numerous opportunities for participants to reflect on their own experiences of active learning and to brainstorm some discipline-specific strategies with their colleagues. Although this workshop is particularly useful for TAs of first-year courses, this workshop encourages all Philosophy PhD students to attend and to share their experiences so everyone can benefit from their collective knowledge.

Papers by Andrew Molas

Penn Bioethics Journal, 2012

Canadian Journal of Practical Philosophy, 2020

Journal of the British Society for Phenomenology , 2019

http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0012217316000160

Penn Bioethics Journal, 2012

Dialogue

I defend Edith Stein's theory of empathy as an alternative to simulation theories of empathy.... more I defend Edith Stein's theory of empathy as an alternative to simulation theories of empathy. Simulation theories of empathy involve using one's own cognitive resources to replicate the mental states of others by imagining being in their situation. I argue that this understanding of empathy is problematic within the context of mental healthcare because it can lead to the co-opting and assimilation of another person's experiences. In response, I maintain that Stein's theory is preferable because it involves appreciating others’ experiences as it is for them, and this alternative account of empathy avoids the assimilation of the experiences of others.

Canadian Journal of Practical Philosophy, 2020

The International Journal of Human Rights

Dialogue, 2016

InEcological Thinking, Lorraine Code argues that advocacy “often makes knowledge possible” and wi... more InEcological Thinking, Lorraine Code argues that advocacy “often makes knowledge possible” and without it “certain kinds of knowing are impossible.” By acknowledging the value of subjectivity and testimony in knowledge creation, I argue that ecological thinking serves as an appropriate framework for engagement with individuals who are living with mental illnesses. Contrasted with the dominant Anglo-American epistemologies that involve excessive degrees of mastery and control (with the tendency to silence the voices of Others), I argue that ecological thinking facilitates healthy advocacy practices precisely because of its inclusivity and receptivity towards different perspectives in knowledge creation.

Journal of the British Society for Phenomenology

ABSTRACT I draw connections between Hegel’s concepts of recognition and morality and demonstrate ... more ABSTRACT I draw connections between Hegel’s concepts of recognition and morality and demonstrate how they are compatible with an ethic of care. I explore Hegel’s Sittlichkeit and demonstrate the role that intersubjective recognition plays in the development and sustainment of ethical communities. I demonstrate how his emphasis on the community and interpersonal relationships play an important role in his moral theory. I then contrast Hegelian and Kantian views of morality and argue that Hegel’s account places greater emphasis on attending to the needs of others and showing genuine concern for their well-being. By highlighting the intersubjective nature of recognition between self-consciousnesses, and the interconnectedness of agents in an ethical community, I maintain Hegel’s morality is compatible with an ethic of care because it emerges out of intersubjective mutual recognition and its foundation is built upon responding to the needs of particular others and protecting the bonds of the community.

I discuss Young’s “asymmetrical reciprocity” and apply it to an ethics of mental health care. Due... more I discuss Young’s “asymmetrical reciprocity” and apply it to an ethics of mental health care. Due to its emphasis on engaging with others through respectful dialogue in an inclusive manner, asymmetrical reciprocity serves as an appropriate framework for guiding caregivers to interact with their patients and to understand them in a morally responsible and appropriate manner. In Section 1, I define empathy and explain its benefits in the context of mental health care. In Section 2, I discuss two potential problems surrounding empathy: the difficulty of perspectivetaking and “compassion fatigue.” In Section 3, I argue that these issues can be resolved if examined through the lens of an ethics of care. Reciprocal relationships between patients and caregivers are an important element in the development of an ethics of care. In Section 4, I introduce two models of reciprocity that can be applied to a health care context: Benhabib’s symmetrical reciprocity and Young’s asymmetrical reciproc...

Perspectives on Happiness