<HOW TO PARTICIPATE>
The discussion takes place on the DefineDelusions Bulletin Board, where posts are automatically organized by topic (or "thread") as stated in the subject line (eg. "Fixity of Delusions" would be grouped with subsequent posts labeled "Re: Fixity of Delusions", etc.) Comments may be relevant to any aspect of the topic or Web site. For example, one might:
- Write about anything at all related to delusions or psychosis. No need to read the content of the site! Start a "thread" or follow-up on an existing one.
- Offer feedback about how the problem of defining delusions has been framed or about any other aspect of content on the site; offer editing suggestions and corrections; comment on the idea of a contest, etc.(See THEORETICAL OVERVIEW, "PLAIN ENGLISH" SUMMARY, PROPERTIES OF DELUSIONS, CONTEST, etc.) We welcome your participation in the development of this Web site.
- Propose a “classical” definition -- necessary and sufficient properties -- of a delusion.
("Necessary" properties are those that would have to be present for a belief to be regarded as a delusion, but that might not be evidence enough to regard a belief as a delusion. "Sufficient" properties are those that by themselves are evidence enough to regard a belief as a delusion. A particular defining property could be necessary, sufficient, or necessary and sufficient.)
- Propose a solution to the problem of defining delusions other than a classical definition. This could be a "prototype" definition of delusion, or a property of psychosis that creates the context in which a belief is diagnosed as a delusion rather than something else, etc.
- Criticize or offer counterexamples (real or hypothetical) for proposed definitions or defining properties.
- Call attention to data which might suggest defining properties or meaningful differences among delusion-like beliefs: for example, differential treatment response or specific neurological lesions for delusions with a specific content, etc.
- Note subjective experiences associated with beliefs that turn out to be delusions (eg. a sense that events have special meaning, etc.).