Phil 426, Philosophy of Psychology.
Hatfield, Tues-Thurs 10:30am-12noon.
Office hours: Tues, 12-1pm, Thurs, 4:30-5:30pm, 425 Logan Hall

An examination of major trends of thought in experimental psychology in relation to philosophy and the philosophy of science. Questions to be asked include: What is the subject matter and object of explanation of natural scientific psychology? By what methods is this subject matter to be studied? What is the relation between psychology and physiology? How is scientific psychology related to traditional philosophical investigations of the mental? The course covers the classical systems and schools of psychology, starting in earnest with Wundt, Brentano, William James, and Freud, and proceeding to behaviorism, Gestalt psychology, and cognitive science. The latter part of the course considers contemporary problems drawn from psychological theories of perception, attention, and memory.

Format is lecture discussion. Students should do the reading prior to the class for which it is required. There will be two papers (7-8 and 10-12 pages), due in class on Oct. 19 and Dec. 2. There will be a comprehensive final examination, essay format.

Reading Guides
Reading Guide I (Weeks 1-3)
Reading Guide II (Weeks 4-7)
Reading Guide III (Weeks 8-10)
Reading Guide IV (Weeks 11-15)

Weekly Schedule
Week 1 (Sept. 9): Introduction, Psychology before Wundt.
Week 2: Helmholtz, Weber, Wundt (Wundt's Introduction to Psychology).
Week 3: Brentano, Psychology from an Empirical Standpoint (selections).
Week 4: James, Principles of Psychology (selections).
Week 5: Freud, Interpretation of Dreams (selections).
Week 6: Watson, Behaviorism (selections).
Week 7: Koehler, Gestalt Psychology (selections).
Week 8: Tolman, Skinner, and learning theory.
Week 9: Bruner, Neisser, and cognitive psychology.
Week 10: Fodor and the language of thought: Modularity of Mind.
Week 11: Connectionism and psychological theory.
Week 12-13: Attention.
Week 13-14: Memory and cognitive neuropsychology.

Books may be purchased at the Penn Book Center (on 34th Street near Samson). Readings will be available on reserve in Rosengarten.

Last revised 10 Sept 1999.
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