Traditionally the aim of science has been to discover the truth about the world. The aim of psychiatric theory has, if anything, been even more ambitious, in so far as it has not only tried to discover the truth about mental illness, but also to use this knowledge to treat mental disorders, and so to make the world a better place.

Unfortunately, despite these noble objectives, when one looks back through history, the results have been disappointing. Considering scientific theories in general, the pessimistic induction is well known: when we look back at the history of science we see a long succession of rejected theories. The best scientists have been wrong over and over again. Given that current scientists are no cleverer than their predecessors, the odds are that our current best theories will also turn out to be wrong. Turning specifically to psychiatry, the evidence of history tells a yet grimmer tale. When we look back at psychiatric theory we see a long succession of theories that have not only been false, but have also been biased against the least powerful members of society.1 What has gone wrong? That is, how has psychiatric theory tended to be wrong and biased against the least powerful? And, how might we make things better?

In this chapter, I shall consider the extent to which various types of valueladenness might account for the poor track record of past psychiatric theory.