Jonathan Yong Lee (Jon Lee)

Bio

Dr. Jon Lee, MD, PhD is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Depression Clinic of Stanford University where he founded the "Am I Good? Examining life through the lenses of Philosophical Skepticism, Moral Philosophy, and Existentialism" philosophical psychotherapy group.

Jon Lee's research focuses on the causes and consequences of, as well as solutions to, rising skepticism and distrust in sources of expert information (e.g., science, health). He has a special interest in exploring skepticism and persuasion at the intersection of health and politics, which includes studying phenomena such as the politicization of science and health, political polarization, filter bubbles/echo chambers, the emerging post-truth world, and information warfare. It also includes seeking heteorgeneity in the findings across particular demographics at high socioeconomic and health risk. He draws on theories and methods from his uniquely interdisciplinary set of educational, research, and professional experiences, including those from experimental and behavioral economics, political science, psychology, philosophy, and machine learning. He is currently using machine learning-based text analytics to explore how trust/distrust in sources of expert information is discussed on traditional and social media -- followed by the use of online randomized controlled survey experiments to test the causal effects of particular persuasion strategies on perceptions of trust/distrust, as well as other important behavioral outcomes of interest.

Jon Lee uses a clinical approach that consists of the use of both psychopharmacological and individual/group psychotherapeutic interventions to address depression, dissatisfaction, and unhappiness. Referred to by some as philosophical psychiatry, philosophical therapy, philosophical counseling, or philosophical psychology, Jon Lee's approach to psychotherapy/counseling begins with the building of one's worldview / lens from a first principles perspective by asking the fundamental questions posed by philosophers and scientists spanning philosophical / intellectual traditions across time, including:

existentialism / existential philosophy

philosophical empiricism

philosophical skepticism, absurdism, pessimism, nihilism

logical empiricism / logical positivism

moral / ethical philosophy, skepticism, relativism

rational skepticism / scientific skepticism

political liberalism

Questions include 'how do we know what we know?', 'what is the meaning of life?', 'what is the purpose of life?', 'does God exist?', 'what matters?', 'what is value?', 'what is good?', 'do we have moral obligations?', 'what are our moral obligations?', 'do we have rights?', 'what are rights?', 'do we have free will?', etc.

Jon Lee's approach draws heavily from the philosophical works of Epicurus, Baruch Spinoza, David Hume, Friedrich Nietzsche, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Arthur Schopenhauer, Albert Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre, John Rawles, etc.

Clinical Focus

• Psychiatry

Academic Appointments

• Clinical Assistant Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Professional Education

• PhD, Stanford University, Health Policy - Health Economics (2024)
• MA, Stanford University, Political Science (2024)
• PhD Minor, Stanford University, Economics (2024)
• Board Certification: American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Psychiatry (2018)
• Residency: Stanford University Adult Psychiatry Residency (2018) CA
• MBA, University of Chicago - Booth School of Business, IL (2014)
• Medical Education: Pritzker School of Medicine University of Chicago Registrar (2014) IL