Provides an overview of Wittgenstein's philosophy and its relevance to the practice of contemporary psychology Demonstrates the importance of Wittgenstein's philosophy through interpretations and applications of his work in psychology Explores the resistance of some psychologists to recognizing the importance of Wittgenstein's work as a means of conceptual clarity and greater reflexivity in the discipline

Autorentext

Gavin Brent Sullivan is a Reader in Social and Political Psychology at the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, Coventry University, UK. He has been awarded Endeavour, Gerda Henkel and Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowships as well as funding from the British Council, NERC and ESRC in the UK.

Klappentext

This book highlights the importance of Ludwig Wittgenstein's writings on psychology and psychological phenomena for the historical development of contemporary psychology. It presents an insightful assessment of the philosopher's work, particularly his later writings, which draws on key interpretations that have informed our understanding of metapsychological and psychological issues.

Wittgenstein's Philosophy in Psychology engages with both critics and followers of the philosopher's work to demonstrate its enduring relevance to psychology today. Sullivan presents a novel examination of Wittgenstein's later writings by providing historical detail about the uptake, understanding and use of Wittgenstein's remarks and method in psychology and related areas of social science, examining persistent sources of conceptual confusion and showing how to apply his insights in investigations of collectives, social life, emotions, subjectivity, and development. In doing so, he reveals the value for psychologists in adopting a philosophical method of conceptual investigation to work through and become more re exive about prominent theories, methods, therapies and practices in their respective, multiple elds and thereby create a resource for future theoretical, empirical and applied psychologists. This work will be of particular relevance to students and academics engaged in the history of psychology and to practitioners interested in understanding the continued importance of Wittgenstein's work within the practices of psychology.

Inhalt

Chapter 1. The Relevance of Wittgenstein's Philosophy to Psychology Chapter 2. A Wittgensteinian Stance on Psychological Methods, Objectivity, Ontology and Explanations Chapter 3. Wittgenstein's Influence and Impact in Areas of Psychology Chapter 4. Concluding Remarks: Wittgensteinian Philosophy and the Future of Psychology