Abstracts
Abstract
In the aftermath of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there is a predicted (and emerging) increase in experiences of mental illness. This phenomenon has been described as “the next pandemic”, suggesting that the concepts used to understand and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic are being transferred to conceptualize mental illness. The COVID-19 pandemic was, and continues to be, framed in public media using military metaphors, which can potentially migrate to conceptualizations of mental illness along with pandemic rhetoric. Given that metaphors shape what is considered justifiable action, and how we understand justice, I argue we have a moral responsibility to interrogate who benefits and who is harmed by the language and underlying conceptualizations this rhetoric legitimates. By exploring how military metaphors have been used in the context of COVID-19, I argue that this rhetoric has been used to justify ongoing harm to marginalized groups while further entrenching established systems of power. Given this history, I present what it may look like were military metaphors used to conceptualize a “mental illness pandemic”, what actions this might legitimate and render inconceivable, and who is likely to benefit and be harmed by such rhetorically justified actions.
Keywords:
- metaphors,
- war,
- military,
- COVID-19,
- mental illness,
- justice
Résumé
Dans le sillage de la pandémie actuelle de COVID-19, on assiste à une augmentation prévue (et émergente) des expériences de maladie mentale. Ce phénomène a été décrit comme « la prochaine pandémie », suggérant que les concepts utilisés pour comprendre et répondre à la pandémie de COVID-19 sont transférés pour conceptualiser la maladie mentale. La pandémie de COVID-19 a été, et continue d’être, présentée dans les médias publics à l’aide de métaphores militaires, qui peuvent potentiellement migrer vers des conceptualisations de la maladie mentale avec la rhétorique de la pandémie. Étant donné que les métaphores déterminent ce qui est considéré comme une action justifiable et la manière dont nous comprenons la justice, je soutiens que nous avons la responsabilité morale de nous interroger sur les bénéficiaires et les victimes du langage et des conceptualisations sous-jacentes que cette rhétorique légitime. En explorant la manière dont les métaphores militaires ont été utilisées dans le contexte du COVID-19, je soutiens que cette rhétorique a été utilisée pour justifier les préjudices subis par les groupes marginalisés tout en renforçant les systèmes de pouvoir établis. Compte tenu de cet historique, je présente ce à quoi pourrait ressembler l’utilisation de métaphores militaires pour conceptualiser une « pandémie de maladie mentale », les actions que cela pourrait légitimer et rendre inconcevables, et ce qui est susceptible de bénéficier et d’être lésé par de telles actions justifiées par la rhétorique.
Mots-clés :
- métaphores,
- guerre,
- militaire,
- COVID-19,
- maladie mentale,
- justice
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Appendices
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