Ludwig Binswanger
Encyclopedia
Ludwig Binswanger was a Swiss psychiatrist
and pioneer in the field of existential psychology. His grandfather (also named Ludwig Binswanger) was founder of the "Bellevue Sanatorium" in Kreuzlingen
, and his uncle Otto Binswanger
was a professor of psychiatry
at the University of Jena.
In 1907 Binswanger received his medical degree from the University of Zurich
and as a young man worked and studied with some of the greatest psychologists of the era, such as Carl Jung
, Eugen Bleuler
and Sigmund Freud
. Although he had fundamental differences with Freud regarding psychiatric theory, Binswanger and Freud remained friends until the latter's death in 1939.
From 1911 to 1956, Binswanger was medical director of the santatorium in Kreuzlingen. He was influenced by existential philosophy
and the works of Martin Heidegger
, Edmund Husserl
, and Martin Buber
. Binswanger is considered the first physician to combine psychotherapy
with existential ideas, a concept he expounds in his 1942 book; Grundformen und Erkenntnis menschlichen Daseins (Basic Forms and the Realization of Human "Being-in-the-World"). In this work he explains existential analysis as an empirical science that involves an anthropological approach to the individual essential character of being human. In his study of existentialism, his most famous subject was Ellen West
, a deeply troubled patient. Binswanger ascribed "schizophrenia" to her, and her case is included in his book "Schizophrenie". But few contemporary psychiatrists would accept this diagnosis. "Anorexia nervosa" is also misplaced. She felt an extreme urge for weight loss. But since she was extraordinarily fat this was hardly a pathological aim.
Binswanger's Dream and Existence was translated from German into French by Michel Foucault
, who added a substantial essay-introduction.
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
and pioneer in the field of existential psychology. His grandfather (also named Ludwig Binswanger) was founder of the "Bellevue Sanatorium" in Kreuzlingen
Kreuzlingen
Kreuzlingen is a municipality in the district of Kreuzlingen in the canton of Thurgau in north-eastern Switzerland. It is the seat of the district and is the second largest city of the canton, after Frauenfeld, with a population of over 18,000...
, and his uncle Otto Binswanger
Otto Binswanger
Otto Ludwig Binswanger was a Swiss psychiatrist and neurologist who came from a famous family of physicians; his father was founder of the Kreuzlingen Sanatorium, and he was uncle to Ludwig Binswanger who was a major figure in the existential psychology movement...
was a professor of psychiatry
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
at the University of Jena.
In 1907 Binswanger received his medical degree from the University of Zurich
University of Zurich
The University of Zurich , located in the city of Zurich, is the largest university in Switzerland, with over 25,000 students. It was founded in 1833 from the existing colleges of theology, law, medicine and a new faculty of philosophy....
and as a young man worked and studied with some of the greatest psychologists of the era, such as Carl Jung
Carl Jung
Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist and the founder of Analytical Psychology. Jung is considered the first modern psychiatrist to view the human psyche as "by nature religious" and make it the focus of exploration. Jung is one of the best known researchers in the field of dream analysis and...
, Eugen Bleuler
Eugen Bleuler
Paul Eugen Bleuler was a Swiss psychiatrist most notable for his contributions to the understanding of mental illness and for coining the term "schizophrenia."-Biography:...
and Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud , born Sigismund Schlomo Freud , was an Austrian neurologist who founded the discipline of psychoanalysis...
. Although he had fundamental differences with Freud regarding psychiatric theory, Binswanger and Freud remained friends until the latter's death in 1939.
From 1911 to 1956, Binswanger was medical director of the santatorium in Kreuzlingen. He was influenced by existential philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and the works of Martin Heidegger
Martin Heidegger
Martin Heidegger was a German philosopher known for his existential and phenomenological explorations of the "question of Being."...
, Edmund Husserl
Edmund Husserl
Edmund Gustav Albrecht Husserl was a philosopher and mathematician and the founder of the 20th century philosophical school of phenomenology. He broke with the positivist orientation of the science and philosophy of his day, yet he elaborated critiques of historicism and of psychologism in logic...
, and Martin Buber
Martin Buber
Martin Buber was an Austrian-born Jewish philosopher best known for his philosophy of dialogue, a form of religious existentialism centered on the distinction between the I-Thou relationship and the I-It relationship....
. Binswanger is considered the first physician to combine psychotherapy
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a general term referring to any form of therapeutic interaction or treatment contracted between a trained professional and a client or patient; family, couple or group...
with existential ideas, a concept he expounds in his 1942 book; Grundformen und Erkenntnis menschlichen Daseins (Basic Forms and the Realization of Human "Being-in-the-World"). In this work he explains existential analysis as an empirical science that involves an anthropological approach to the individual essential character of being human. In his study of existentialism, his most famous subject was Ellen West
Ellen West
Ellen West was an anorexia nervosa patient who became one of the most famous examples of existential analysis. Her troubled life ended in suicide by a lethal dose of poison at age 33....
, a deeply troubled patient. Binswanger ascribed "schizophrenia" to her, and her case is included in his book "Schizophrenie". But few contemporary psychiatrists would accept this diagnosis. "Anorexia nervosa" is also misplaced. She felt an extreme urge for weight loss. But since she was extraordinarily fat this was hardly a pathological aim.
Binswanger's Dream and Existence was translated from German into French by Michel Foucault
Michel Foucault
Michel Foucault , born Paul-Michel Foucault , was a French philosopher, social theorist and historian of ideas...
, who added a substantial essay-introduction.
Selected written works
- 1922 : Einführung in die Probleme der allgemeinen Psychologie (Introduction to the Problems of General Psychology), Berlin
- 1928 : Wandlungen in der Auffassung und Deutung des Traumes (Transformations in the View and Interpretation of the Dream), Berlin
- 1930 : Traum und Existenz (Dream and Existence)
- 1933 : Über Ideenflucht (On "Idea Escape"), Zurich
- 1942 : Grundformen und Erkenntnis menschlichen Daseins (Basic Forms and Realization of Human Existence), Zurich (3rd édition, Munich/Bâle, 1962)
- 1946 : Über Sprache und Denken (On Language and Thinking), Bâle
- 1949 : Henrik Ibsen und das Problem der Selbstrealisation in der Kunst (Henrik IbsenHenrik IbsenHenrik Ibsen was a major 19th-century Norwegian playwright, theatre director, and poet. He is often referred to as "the father of prose drama" and is one of the founders of Modernism in the theatre...
and the Problem of Self Realization in Art), Heidelberg - 1956 : Erinnerungen an Sigmund Freud (Memories of Sigmund Freud), Berne
- 1956 : Drei Formen missglückten Daseins: Verstiegenheit, Verschrobenheit, Manieriertheit (Three Forms of Failed Existence), Tübingen
- 1957 : Schizophrenie (Schizophrenia), Pfullingen
- 1957 : Der Mensch in der Psychiatrie (Humans in Psychiatry), Pfullingen
- 1960 : Melancholie und Manie: Phänomenologische Studien (Melancholy and Mania. PhenomenologicalPhenomenology (psychology)Phenomenology is an approach to psychological subject matter that has its roots in the philosophical work of Edmund Husserl. Early phenomenologists such as Husserl, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Maurice Merleau-Ponty conducted their own psychological investigations in the early 20th century...
Studies), Pfullingen