The Collapse of Judgement: A Structural Account of Depression through the Lens of Resonance

This paper proposes a structural theory of depression rooted in Judgemental Philosophy. Rather than defining depression solely through affective or biochemical terms, we argue that it entails a collapse in the very structure of judgement—specifically the breakdown of resonance. Drawing from the Judgemental Triad, we reinterpret depressive experience as the inability to form, sustain, and receive meaning from one’s own evaluations. Depression is not merely sadness or demotivation; it is a structural disconnection from meaning. We then explore how therapeutic approaches that re-establish resonance loops can serve as philosophical foundations for recovery, moving beyond symptom relief toward structural reconstitution.