Institutional psychiatry is a continuation of the Inquisition. All that has really changed is the vocabulary and the social style. The vocabulary conforms to the intellectual expectations of our age: it is a pseudo-medical jargon that parodies the concepts of science. The social style conforms to the political expectations of our age: it is a pseudo-liberal social movement that parodies the ideals of freedom and rationality.

Summary

This quote suggests that institutional psychiatry resembles the Inquisition in its methods of control and suppression, with only superficial changes in language and presentation. The use of a pseudo-medical jargon masks the absence of true scientific concepts, while the adoption of a pseudo-liberal social movement masks the infringement on individual freedom and rationality. The quote implies that both the vocabulary and social style of institutional psychiatry are deceptive and serve to mask its oppressive nature.

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