As a response to the growing regional interest in the intersection between philosophy and psychiatry, the Latin American Network for Philosophy and Psychiatry has been established with the purpose of providing a collaborative forum for institutions, academics, researchers, and practitioners dedicated to facilitating, promoting, disseminating, and advancing knowledge in this field across Latin America.

The establishment of the Network is supported directly by the International Network for Philosophy & Psychiatry (link) and the Collaborating Centre for Values-Based Practice in Health and Social Care at St Catherine’s College, University of Oxford, United Kingdom (link). Both institutions share the interest of strengthening and internationally disseminating initiatives—educational, academic, public, outreach, and socially responsible—that explore the relationship between philosophy and psychiatry in Latin America. This support offers a unique opportunity to connect the work being developed within the continent both internally and with the global community.

The network engages in educational, research, and outreach initiatives at the interface of philosophy and psychiatry in Latin America, and fosters a pluralistic approach that encourages collaboration among members from different countries.

To this end, the Network supports initiatives that: (i) are based on the recognition of individual and cultural differences and on respect for diversity; (ii) contribute to the advancement of the field through rigorous and empirically informed philosophical work with clinical implications; (iii) promote collaborative learning through the exchange of ideas, experiences, knowledge, and skills across diverse traditions of thought and practice in the region; and (iv) foster cooperation with national, local, and thematic organizations with aligned objectives.

The vision of the Latin American Network for Philosophy and Psychiatry (RLFP) is to consolidate an international forum for research and the dissemination of knowledge at the intersection of these fields. The aim is to build an active and dynamic collaborative network that promotes the exchange and development of ideas, thereby facilitating the advancement of joint projects in the area. The Network seeks not only to strengthen researchers and educators within academic institutions, but also to engage the professional community with our field of study, ensuring that work in this area can inform clinical practice and related disciplines. Our Network represents a unique opportunity to bring together efforts and knowledge around a field of study that is in constant evolution.

Adopting a pluralistic and interdisciplinary approach to studies at the interface between psychiatry and philosophy, the Network pursues the following specific objectives: 

1. To facilitate interaction and knowledge exchange among academic institutions and experts in the fields of philosophy of psychiatry, clinical psychiatry, phenomenological psychopathology, theoretical psychology, and other disciplines concerned with the conceptual analysis of psychopathological phenomena and practices related to research and clinical activity.
2. To promote the generation of knowledge grounded in Latin America (through diverse outputs) that addresses both conceptual and applied issues at the intersection of philosophy and psychiatry.
3. To disseminate knowledge produced in Latin America in areas situated at the intersection of philosophy and psychiatry, through its diffusion and by facilitating access to such outputs via, among others, digital platforms, academic events, and outreach initiatives beyond academia.
4. To foster associations among Latin American researchers and professionals interested in the connection between philosophy and psychiatry, both with local networks and with networks in other regions of the world.

This initiative seeks to advance collaboration in the development and dissemination of knowledge in the field of philosophy and psychiatry, establishing itself as a space for exchange and cooperation that supports the growth of Latin American research and generates impact both in academia and in the practical application of knowledge across related fields

Director:

Pablo López-Silva

Universidad de Valparaíso, Chile

Executive Secretariat:

Pablo Álvarez-Fernández	Universidad de Valparaíso, Chile
Fer Zambra	Universidad de Valparaíso, Chile

Content editors:

Victoria Mack Silva	Universidad del Desarrollo, Chile
Tamara Ojeda	SONEPSYN, Chile
Susana Ramírez-Viscaya	UNAM, México

First Colloquium on Philosophy of Psychiatry (in Spanish)

Second Colloquium on Philosophy of Psychiatry (in Spanish)

The network is currently organized by a group of professionals from various Latin American countries. Professionals from at least five Latin American countries have already accepted the invitation to join the network.

The local website is currently under construction.

Information about the network's first workshop has already been distributed locally. It is the 1st Colloquium on Philosophy and Psychiatry.

For more information, please visit the dedicated section on the PhilEvents calendar: FIRST COLLOQUIUM ON PHILOSOPHY OF PSYCHIATRY.