Věc dobra a zla v psychoterapii (Matter of Good and Evil in Psychotherapy)

Abstract

Author considers the phenomena of good, evil and virtue in the context of psychical illness and psychotherapy. He starts with Greek philosophers: stoics, Aristhotheles, Platón, who good, evil and illness related to virtue and these considered as condition of (psychical) good health. Good health is also, according to them the expression of virtues. Author adverts to the fact that psychical illness brings evil not only for patient but also brings foul habits into behaviour of patients toward others. At the same time he points out that psychotherapy does not take patient responsible because their bad behaviour and illness itself doesn’t makes them responsible. But at the same time he makes us aware that evil was committed. Psychotherapy liberates patients from the illness and consequently sets patients free from foul habits. He is also aware that it does not expiate patients automatically from guilt. It is not at last its task. Guilt is expiated in the process of regret, forgiveness and penance, as was recognized and laboured by Christian Europe. This act became the task of the patient during his or her recovery leading to free from illness. There is the question how and if ever psychotherapy should consider and also solve these problems. Technology of claiming and spreading of evil by misusing power were studied by Zimbardo and experimentally by Milgram. Artistic then described by Orwell in his fiction “1984”. At the end of the article the author returns to the founders of psychotherapy and adverts to good in their works and institualization of good into west civilization. He writes about the task of psychotherapy, its limitations and refers to good in the process of restoration of health and virtue. At the same time he warns against moralizing which psychotherapy was able to avoid and at the same time searches the possibility how not to miss the good and virtues. Because as Nusbaum says: “They are extremely frangible”. He also remains us debts psychotherapy has toward cultural and spiritual traditions of Christianity from which he grows and also its good draws.