James Turner

Vintage-style comic-book cover in a retro 1970s/1980s aesthetic. A green, moss-covered swamp-creature sits in a doctor’s office while a female doctor with dark hair and glasses, wearing a white coat, holds a syringe and a clipboard and speaks to him. A yellow comic-style burst reads: “Can a creature without a past be ill?” The cover also includes the author names James Turner and Fabian Hundertmark and publication information for Mefisto, Vol. 9, No. 2 (2025). The overall tone is pulpy, playful, and philosophical.

New paper out! 🎉
“Swampman goes to the doctor” (with @moody-philosopher.bsky.social) is now out in Mefisto.

Yes, this is an actual paper title.
And yes, the question is: can a creature without a past be physically or mentally ill?

philarchive.org/rec/TURSGT

A “Change My Mind”–style meme photo. Two academics (Fabian Hundertmark and James Turner) sit at a small table outdoors (park setting) with laptops, books, and takeaway coffee cups. A large sign on the front of the table reads: “Malfunctions need history. Otherwise you fail Distinction and Futile Functioning challenge.” Below it: “Fabian Hundertmark & James Turner. Biology & Philosophy (2026). DOI: 10.1007/s10539-026-10010-2.” The photo is framed like a promotional announcement for a new paper.

New paper out! 🎉
“Moving Past Ahistorical Theories of Function and Malfunctioning” (with @moody-philosopher.bsky.social) is now in Biology & Philosophy.

doi.org/10.1007/s105...

Most Depression is Not a Disorder | James Turner | Evolving Psychiatry Podcast #49 YouTube video by Evolving Psychiatry

I had a great time speaking with @realadamhunt.bsky.social on his Evolving Psychiatry Podcast.

youtu.be/4AObqE2-sHY?...

James Turner, What’s Low Mood All About? An Indicative-Imperative Account of Low Mood’s Content - PhilArchive Does low mood have intentional content? If so, what is it? Philosophers have tried to answer both questions by appealing to low mood’s phenomenal character. However, appeals to phenomenology have not ...

Does low mood have representational content? If so, what does it represent? Find out in my new paper, recently accepted in Philosophy of Science. philarchive.org/rec/TURWLM

Happy New Year to you too, Sérgio!

Bad Feelings, Best Explanations: In Defence of the Propitiousness Theory of the Low Mood System - Erkenntnis There are three main accounts of the proper function of the low mood system (LMS): the social risk theory, the disease theory, and the propitiousness theory. Adjudicating between these accounts has pr...

I should probably post something, so here's my paper on the biological function of low mood.

link.springer.com/article/10.1...