Catching Up With Aristotle: A Journey in Quest of General Psychology

by Niels Engelsted

Overview

This Brief presents the argument for the need to re-establish the theoretical focus of general psychology in contemporary psychological research. It begins with a detailed account of the current “crisis” of psychology and our modern disconnect from general psychology. Chapters present the works of Aristotle and A.N. Leontiev, using their ideas to outline a long wanted general psychology. The general psychology delineates the four corner posts of the domain of psychology: Sentience, Intentionality, Mind, and Human Consciousness, and explains why they are all necessary but not the same. Besides a historical discussion, which aims to demonstrate how Marxism got it right, and then not, this Brief presents a new radical theory of human evolution, which credits the Adam-and-Eve story with a vital link hitherto missed by Marxism, Darwinism, and paleoanthropology. In addition, it argues why a new understanding is important in the Anthropocene Age.

Catching Up with Aristotle will be of interest to psychologists, undergraduate and graduate students, and researchers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783319510873
Publisher:	Springer International Publishing
Publication date:	01/20/2017
Series:	SpringerBriefs in Psychology
Edition description:	1st ed. 2017
Pages:	157
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Niels Engelsted, retired from teaching in 2012. Prior to his retirement, he served as the head of the Department of Psychology at the University of Copenhagen. Dr. Engelsted received his doctorate from the University of Copenhagen and his postdoctorate from the University of Aarhus. He is the author of many publications, including Evolution, Sleep, and Depression from Copenhagen Academic Press. He has also published articles in many journals, including the Bulletin of Anthropological Psychology, Journal of Anthropological Psychology, Current Science, and Mind, Culture, and Activity.

Table of Contents

Part I: Within Circles of History.- Chapter 1. Introduction.- Chapter 2. The Heritage.- Chapter 3. The Marxist Legacy and General Psychology.- Part II: General Psychology - The Four Corners of the Puzzle.- Chapter 4. Sentience.- Chapter 5. Intentionality.- Chapter 6. Mind.- Chapter 7. The Problem of the Human Being.- Chapter 8. The Marxist Legacy.- Chapter 9. The Overlooked Dimension.- Chapter 10. The Secret of the Human Being.- Chapter 11. The Creative Double Negation and the Non-Non-Cascade.- Chapter 12. Looking Towards the Future.- Chapter 13. General Psychology at Journey's End.- A Tale of Two Cities: Author's Postscript.- Commentary 1.- Commentary 2.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“A classic in Psychology has been born! Among other things this small book will have major consequences for economic theory as it defines and discusses the concept of self-interest and ‘other-interest.’ If you are the slightest interested in psychology, this book is short, clear, and very easy to read.” ( Jesper Döpping, Mahidol University International College, Thailand)

“This book—different from many written in psychology—is a masterful exposure of basic ideas that have lingered on for two millennia. The reader can have the pleasure of thinking together with the author. It is a rare treat of honest intellectual sharing.” ( Jaan Valsiner, Aalborg University, Denmark)