Thomas Szasz: Philosopher of Liberty

Abstract

Thomas Szasz turned 90 on April 15, 2010. This year we saw the 50th anniversary edition of his book that marked his full-scale assault on coercive psychiatry— The Myth of Mental Illness. Szasz’s productivity is astounding—even in the past 4 years, he has added dozens of articles and a handful of major books to his incredible body of work (see http://www.szasz.com). Thomas Szasz has relentlessly and tirelessly challenged psychiatric coercion, and its twin pillars of civil commitment and the insanity defense. In so doing, his ongoing work is one of the world’s leading intellectual voices for liberty and justice. A systematic and regrettable effort to censor Szasz from the mainstream of mental health education today has resulted in many, if not most, young professionals scarcely even knowing of his vitally important work. Thomas Szasz is, to paraphrase the Emerson epigraph at the head of this essay, “a declaration of independence walking.” I am one among many who are better able to stand in defense of people as relational individuals, capable of responsibility and good will, deserving of liberty and self-determination. I offer this short biographical essay in his honor.