Speaker
Alexandre Sech Jr., Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Brazil
Title
William James and Psychical Research: Towards a Radical Science of Mind
Abstract
Traditional textbooks on the history of psychiatry and psychology fail to recognize William James’s investigations on psychic phenomena as a legitimate effort to understand the human mind. The purpose of this talk is to offer evidence of his views regarding the exploration of those phenomena as well as the radical, yet alternative, solutions that James advanced to overcome theoretical and methodological hindrances. Through an analysis of his writings, it is argued that part of his psychological and philosophical works converge in psychical research revealing the outline of a science of mind capable of encompassing psychic phenomena as part of human experience and, therefore, subject to scientific scrutiny.
Bio
Alexandre Sech Junior has an M.A. in philosophy and is currently working towards his Ph.D. in the Health Sciences Department at the School of Medicine of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora in Brazil. He is associated to various groups in that university including the Research Center in Spirituality and Health, and the Wilhelm Wundt Research Center in History and Philosophy of Psychology. His research interests are the history and theory of psychology, the history and philosophy of science, and specifically the co-emergence of psychical research and psychology in the late nineteenth century. His dissertation explores how James’ philosophy and psychology were influenced by his interest in psychic phenomena.