Franz Brentano’s Multifaceted View of Induction in Empirical and Genetic Psychology
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Andreea Eșanu
Abstract
A topic only marginally addressed in Brentano scholarship is his view (or views) of induction as the proper method of establishing, deriving and verifying psychological laws. Here, I confine my discussion to Psychology from an Empirical Standpoint and Brentano’s genetic psychology (discussed in the first part of his Descriptive Psychology). In both of these accounts, Brentano’s view of induction is empiricist: the laws of empirical/genetic psychology, i. e., of a “very comprehensive universality,” are empirical generalizations derived from and verified only by experience. But genetic psychology is perhaps the most interesting case: its intended reliance on probabilities and statistical verification resembles a science on the right path to progress, with fair control of its uncertainties. Nevertheless, by contrast with more mature mathematized sciences (like classical mechanics), genetic psychology is still a long way behind, due mainly to its insufficient mathematization-a difficulty which, according to Brentano, precludes its deductive closure.
Abstract
A topic only marginally addressed in Brentano scholarship is his view (or views) of induction as the proper method of establishing, deriving and verifying psychological laws. Here, I confine my discussion to Psychology from an Empirical Standpoint and Brentano’s genetic psychology (discussed in the first part of his Descriptive Psychology). In both of these accounts, Brentano’s view of induction is empiricist: the laws of empirical/genetic psychology, i. e., of a “very comprehensive universality,” are empirical generalizations derived from and verified only by experience. But genetic psychology is perhaps the most interesting case: its intended reliance on probabilities and statistical verification resembles a science on the right path to progress, with fair control of its uncertainties. Nevertheless, by contrast with more mature mathematized sciences (like classical mechanics), genetic psychology is still a long way behind, due mainly to its insufficient mathematization-a difficulty which, according to Brentano, precludes its deductive closure.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Table of Contents V
- List of Abbreviations IX
- Introduction 1
- Comte, Mill, and Brentano on the Intellectual Status of Philosophy and Its Relationship to History 9
- Comte on Psychology: The Criticism of “Inner Observation” and the Constitution of the “Systematic View of the Soul” 31
- Franz Brentano and Auguste Comte: The Theory of Stages and the Psychology 45
- Comte and Brentano: Elements for a Theory of Decline 139
- Can We Have Scientific Knowledge About God? Brentano on Comte’s Metaphysical Skepticism 165
- Intentionality and the Classification of Phenomena and Sciences in Comte’s Cours de Philosophie Positive and in Brentano’s Empirical Psychology 185
- Brentano’s View about Natural Science and Methodological Phenomenalism. A Comparison with John Stuart Mill’s Approach 223
- The Reception of Positivism in Whewell, Mill and Brentano 245
- Franz Brentano’s Multifaceted View of Induction in Empirical and Genetic Psychology 265
- Hume’s “Bundle of Perceptions” and the “Problem of the I” in Brentano’s Psychology from an Empirical Standpoint 279
- Brentano’s Mathematical Foundation of Science 309
- Franz Brentano on the Errors of Mach’s Positivism: Psychology, Metaphysics, Logic 331
- On the Brentanian Legacy in Twardowski’s Views on Psychology 351
- Descriptive and Intentional Contents. Considerations on Husserl’s Logical Investigations from Brentano’s Empirical Point of View 371
- Brentano’s Four Phases and the Rise of Scientific Philosophy in the Light of His Relation to His Students 401
- Brentano in Exile: The Brentano Institute at Oxford 415
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Appendix: The Idea of Philosophy as Science in Brentano
- Habilitation Theses 1866 433
- Auguste Comte and Positive Philosophy 1869 437
- Introduction to the Concept of the History of Philosophy 457
- On the Law of Historical Development 475
- Philosophy of the History of Philosophy 485
- On the Reasons for a Loss of Confidence in the Area of Philosophy 489
- On Schelling’s Philosophy 501
- On the Future of Philosophy 523
- My Parting Wishes for Austria 1894 571
- Index 591
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Table of Contents V
- List of Abbreviations IX
- Introduction 1
- Comte, Mill, and Brentano on the Intellectual Status of Philosophy and Its Relationship to History 9
- Comte on Psychology: The Criticism of “Inner Observation” and the Constitution of the “Systematic View of the Soul” 31
- Franz Brentano and Auguste Comte: The Theory of Stages and the Psychology 45
- Comte and Brentano: Elements for a Theory of Decline 139
- Can We Have Scientific Knowledge About God? Brentano on Comte’s Metaphysical Skepticism 165
- Intentionality and the Classification of Phenomena and Sciences in Comte’s Cours de Philosophie Positive and in Brentano’s Empirical Psychology 185
- Brentano’s View about Natural Science and Methodological Phenomenalism. A Comparison with John Stuart Mill’s Approach 223
- The Reception of Positivism in Whewell, Mill and Brentano 245
- Franz Brentano’s Multifaceted View of Induction in Empirical and Genetic Psychology 265
- Hume’s “Bundle of Perceptions” and the “Problem of the I” in Brentano’s Psychology from an Empirical Standpoint 279
- Brentano’s Mathematical Foundation of Science 309
- Franz Brentano on the Errors of Mach’s Positivism: Psychology, Metaphysics, Logic 331
- On the Brentanian Legacy in Twardowski’s Views on Psychology 351
- Descriptive and Intentional Contents. Considerations on Husserl’s Logical Investigations from Brentano’s Empirical Point of View 371
- Brentano’s Four Phases and the Rise of Scientific Philosophy in the Light of His Relation to His Students 401
- Brentano in Exile: The Brentano Institute at Oxford 415
-
Appendix: The Idea of Philosophy as Science in Brentano
- Habilitation Theses 1866 433
- Auguste Comte and Positive Philosophy 1869 437
- Introduction to the Concept of the History of Philosophy 457
- On the Law of Historical Development 475
- Philosophy of the History of Philosophy 485
- On the Reasons for a Loss of Confidence in the Area of Philosophy 489
- On Schelling’s Philosophy 501
- On the Future of Philosophy 523
- My Parting Wishes for Austria 1894 571
- Index 591