The significance of Bühler's "axiomatic" and Vygotsky's "general psychology" for theoretical psychology and its persistent monism-pluralism-debate

Wolfgang Maiers

pp. 377-388

in: Michael E. Hyland, William J. Baker, René van Hezewijk, Terwee (eds), Recent trends in theoretical psychology, Berlin, Springer, 1990

Abstract

One of the issues plaguing contemporary theoretical psychology concerns the question whether our discipline should proceed on a pluralistic or monistic epistemic base. Two historical analyses of a crisis in psychology, those of Bühler and Vygotsky, are discussed because they seem to apply as prototypes to this strategic alternative. A comparative review shows that this common suggestion is untenable. Both views, albeit differing in other respects, share the goal of a non-eclectic unification of psychology in non-empiricist terms. The relevance of Vygotsky's "General" and Bühler's "Axiomatic Psychology" to modern attempts at a conceptual and methodological refoundation of psychology is considered.

Cited authors

Bühler Karl

Vygotskij Lev