Tim Thornton

Tim Thornton is a Professor of Philosophy and Mental Health at the University of Central Lancashire, School of Medicine and Dentistry. His research focuses on conceptual foundations of mental healthcare, integrating philosophy with clinical practice and service user perspectives. He co-leads the Philosophy and Mental Health graduate programme with Gloria Ayob and advises PhD students in related fields. Notable contributions include critiques of explanatory minimalism in psychiatry, explorations of narrative identity in dementia, and analyses of tacit knowledge in clinical judgment.

Research emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration between philosophers, clinicians, and mental health users, addressing topics like delusions, recovery models, and the idiographic approach to personalized care. Key themes include mental disorder definitions, patient autonomy, and the ethical dimensions of psychiatric diagnosis. His work challenges operationalist methodologies and advocates for frameworks that account for subjective experiences in mental healthcare.

Thornton has authored/co-authored over 40 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters since 2008, spanning philosophy of mind, clinical ethics, and the philosophy of psychiatry. He edited John McDowell (2019) and contributed to major texts like Essentials of Mental Health Nursing. His recent work (2024) explores the philosophical underpinnings of mental health nursing and person-centered medicine.