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Topic: | Re:To the teachers of History and Systems |
Posted by: | Leslie Smith |
Date/Time: | 2009/6/12 8:19:41 |
I have no idea why some folks do, and others don't, go to your presentations. But trained to be scientists in an empirical discipline directed on the future, most psychologists are committed - in their practices, whether or not in their reflective accounts of them - to some combination of: - history is bunk [Henry Ford] - don't look back [Bob Dylan] That is why the history of psychology has scant appeal. Ironically, much 20th century psychology is well described by Ford, and that is why it is salutary to side with Dylan in this regard. Really, though, one fundamental reason behind this scant appeal is a commitment to avoid the fallacy of psychologism, i.e. the fallacy whereby factual questions are explained away in completely non-factual terms; for example, in terms of normativity. Avoiding psychologism is sound enough. But there is more than one way to do so. Most psychologists - actually and philosophers too - seem not to have grasped this. Psychologists' practices directed on scientific experimentation provide one way to avoid psychologism. Since history is not amenable to experimentation, that is why these psychologists have minimal to zero interest in it. What seems not to have been suspected is the huge cost that this exacts. Actually, psychologism is one example of a principle that cuts across psychology, and other disciplines too. There are many others. |
Topic(Point at the topics to see relevant reminders) | Date Posted | Posted By |
To the teachers of History and Systems | 2009/6/12 8:18:55 | Jeremy T. Burman |
Re:To the teachers of History and Systems | 2009/6/12 8:19:41 | Leslie Smith |
Re:To the teachers of History and Systems | 2009/6/12 8:20:26 | Airong |