A moderate eclecticism: ontological and epistemological issues.

Publisher: Springer Science + Business Media Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 101319534 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1936-3567 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 19324502 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Integr Psychol Behav Sci Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: New York : Springer Science + Business Media

Philosophy, Medical* ; Psychological Theory* ; Psychology* ; Psychotherapy*; Mental Disorders/*classification; Humans ; Knowledge ; Mental Disorders/therapy ; Psychoanalytic Theory ; Terminology as Topic

The principle of eclecticism is discussed with the point of departure in a definition of psychology and its subject areas. It is argued that eclecticism constitutes one of the key developmental conditions for science. The argument begins with an analysis of the distinction between real and recognized object and concludes that a scientific object always has an infinite number of aspects and that this fact is not reducible to a question of complexity. Next a differentiation between theoretical levels based on ontological arguments are introduced and it is concluded that it is necessary to accept positive eclectic processes in theories, and that development of theories is due to an eclectic relationship with other theories. A series of examples are given for different versions of the eclectic development of psychological disciplines and concepts, namely phenomenology, psychoanalysis, stress, and cognition.

Integr Psychol Behav Sci. 2008 Sep;42(3):266-90. (PMID: 18795385)

Date Created: 20110623 Date Completed: 20120530 Latest Revision: 20211020

20231215

10.1007/s12124-011-9175-6

21695392