Epistemology and History of Psychology

Code:

LP100

Acronym:

EHP

Instance: 2003/2004 - A

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Psychology
Institution Responsible:	Faculty of Psychology and Education Science

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
LPSI	155	Plano oficial a partir de 2001/02	1	4	9	-

Objectives

This subject goal is to introduce students in the great epistemological traditions, in order to apply them to the psychological sciences and behaviour. This aims to develop a critical spirit and to enable guidance and choices epistemologically founded in the diversity of the great systems of Psychology.

Program

1) The importance of epistemology in the history of psychology - Introduction

2) Historical approach to psychology
2.1) Description of psychological knowledge’s evolution: the link to philosophy and natural sciences and the autonomy phase. Knowledge organization criteria by contents and theoretical systems with reference to the main works and authors.
2.2) Criticism of psychological knowledge: relativation of historical knowledge based on critical reflection about its formation, classical historiography and its criticism.

3) An epistemological approach to psychology
3.1) Historical and epistemological science analysis methods and conditions for its application to psychology; epistemology in the formation of the scientific mind
3.2) The acquisition of historical and epistemological analysis models: Anglo-American and French epistemology through the theory of scientific revolutions (Kuhn), dialectical rationalism (Bachelard) and its application to social sciences (Althusser), biology and medicine (Canguilhem), critical rationalism (Popper), positivism (Comte) and archaeology-genealogy of knowledge (Foucault).

4) Historical and epistemological approach to psychology
Critical analysis of different epistemologies and proposal of an integrative model (theory of the "auto-poietic" subject) which allows the application of historical and epistemological analysis models to psychology, history and psychology epistemology.

Main Bibliography

BACHELARD, G. (1980). La formation de l'esprit scientifique. Paris: Ed. J. Vrin.
BRENNAN, J. (1994). History and Systems of Psychology. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
FOUCAULT, M. (1987). A arqueologia do saber. Rio de Janeiro: Ed. Forense Universitária.
KUHN, T. (1983). La structure des revolutions scientifiques. Paris: Ed. Flammarion.
POPPER, K. (1978). La logique de la découverte scientifique. Paris: Ed. Peyot.

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical and pratical classes.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Eligibility for exams

The final classification is the sum of the grade of the two practical works and the grade of the final exam.
To the approval in this subject students have to attend 2/3 of the practical lesson, to deliver the two practical works and to obtain the minimum classification of 10 values