Psychology and metaphysics from maine de Biran to Bergson

Pascal Engel

pp. 235-246

in: Sara Heinämaa, Martina Reuter (eds), Psychology and philosophy, Berlin, Springer, 2009

Abstract

The chapter examines the complex relationship between psychology and philosophy as it was conceived by the French "spiritualist" tradition of the nineteenth century. Philosophers like Maine de Biran, Lachelier, and Bergson in particular hoped to move from a psychological (mostly introspective) analysis of the human mind to metaphysical theses about the self, being and time. The views of Maine de Biran on trying and willed movement and those of Bergson on "durée" in particular are examined. It is suggested that the price paid by this speculative method in psychology is a complete divorce from actual psychological research, and an illusion of understanding.

Cited authors

Bergson Henri

de Biran Maine