This paper presents a possible solution to the problems aroused by the understanding of the delusional phenomenon according to the model of a restricted theory of absolute reference in which the words and, consequently, the judgements, correspond to the things as a logical alphabet. In the pragmatic conception adopted here, language is taken as a game guided by rules in which effective discursive cooperation is more important than the ideal meaning of expressions. In this sense, the theory of acts of speech seems to be the best solution offered by the philosophical pragmatics and it is used as a methodological principle on the analysis of speech excerpts of delusional patients. Delusion shows itself as an original solution to decisive questions in the history of a psychotic person.
Delusion; psychosis; language games; speech acts
