Axiological Psychopathology and the Intentional Arc of Personality

In this work, with the concept of intentional arc of personality (IAP), I propose to use a concept of intentionality in psychopathology that includes the axiological and emotional dimensions. When both the axiological and emotional dimensions are kept in mind, intentionality is no longer simply a neutral directing to the object, but “pierces” the experience in a certain direction, and confers upon a person’s existence a specific motivational drive to “turn” (vertere) to the world. Whereas the epistemological intentionality of Brentano and Husserl enables one to perceive the world, that of the IAP allows one to position oneself concretely in the world. The IAP is the “organ” that allows a person to position herself in the world, that is, to have a world in which to live.