From the soul to the psychology

Author: (American) Reed, translated by Li Li
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2001-07-01
Features: This book is a history of psychology that challenges tradition and authority. It subtly criticizes the gradual narrowing and scientification of psychology's research subjects over two centuries—from the soul to the mind—and presents a fresh perspective that modern philosophy separated from psychology, rather than the other way around. A bold, novel, and controversial history of psychology, it is more about implicitly critiquing the gradual narrowing of psychology's research subjects over two centuries—from the "soul" to the "mind"—and how its current "scientific" status has reduced its rich potential. The book mentions many figures from outside traditional psychology history, such as Shelley and his wife, Lewis, and Stevenson, whose contributions to psychology reveal the fascinating era of the 19th century when science was gaining appeal and the discipline remained relatively unified. The interplay between philosophy, religion, literature, physiology, and even social, cultural, and psychological trends not only showcases the author's vast knowledge system and research perspective but also reflects his unique insights into the history of psychology as a discipline. Contrary to conventional wisdom, he argues that modern philosophy separated from psychology in the 19th century. This groundbreaking yet self-consistent view is no wonder praised by the American Library Journal as "Reed will change the way we think about the past 250 years."