PhilosOPHY OF pSYCHOLOGY

PHIL 383: Philosophy of Psychology
The Generic Catalog Description

A philosophical analysis of significant theoretical positions in psychology, addressing foundational issues that arise, for example, in methodology, perception, motivation, learning, and personality theory. It will approach these issues through the writings of acknowledged authorities, discussing them in relation to such philosophical interests as the nature of knowledge and of science, personal identity, and the prospects of freedom, responsibility, and human communication.

PHIL 383: Philosophy of Psychology

The issue is emotion and the role it plays in our lives. We will consider the nature of emotion with particular attention to anger, fear, joy, love and intimacy. We will explore it by reading and discussing the work of the philosophers and psychologists who have established the way in which we conceive emotional behavior and feeling. And we will review the relevant physiology as it has developed from William James to Paul Edman and Joseph Ledoux.

We will also read from a number of other items available in article form.