Hubris syndrome: Daedalus Project [Psycho-Political]
| Hubris Syndrome "Democratic politicians
as diverse as Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Churchill, Kennedy,
Johnson, Nixon, Pompidou, Mitterrand, Blair, George W. Bush, Chirac,
and Sharon all lied about their health. ... |
... Between 1906 and 2008 seven Presidents are judged to have been mentally ill while in office: Theodore Roosevelt (bipolar disorder), Taft (breathing-related sleep disorder), Wilson (major depressive disorder), Coolidge (major depressive disorder), Hoover (major depressive disorder), Johnson (bipolar disorder), and Nixon (alcohol abuse). Many despots-such as Hitler, Stalin, Saddam Hussein, Pol Pot, Idi Amin, and Robert Mugabe-have been branded by the press and public opinion as suffering mental illnesses. Lord Owen argues neither Hitler nor Stalin were mad in any sense the medical profession recognizes (whereas Mussolini and Mao had depression, possibly bipolar disorder)." |
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'Faith' in leadership? 'Choice'? |
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I remember Lord Owen's book being published, over a decade ago and heard radio interviews at the time (BBC Radio 4, Start the Week?). Not sure why I didn't pick this up as the disciplinary bridges are stark and clear (now!): PSYCHO-POLITICAL and GEO-PSYCHIATRIC. The importance of the issues the Daedalus Project addresses, now within Maudsley Philosophy Group is not just suddenly 'self' evident*, but is of importance for the world's population- impacting upon global safety and security.
Even since Lord Owen's book the rise of AI adds complexity (as ever).
*irony intended.
Text: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3205306-in-sickness-and-in-power
Owen, D. (2009) In Sickness and in Power: Illnesses in Heads of Government during the Last 100 Years, London: Methuen Ltd. ISBN: 978-0-413-77689-1
Plus via twitter:
Thanks!
— Tim Nicholson (@Tim_R_Nicholson) March 6, 2022
This is great talk from David Owen on Hubris syndrome we organised at @The_BNPA meeting a few years backhttps://t.co/73qGD42oQY
orcid.org/0000-0002-0192-8965