The quality of the mind

Erscheinungsjahr 2012
ISBN: 978-90-420-3485-3
Verlag: Brill | Rodopi

Buch, Englisch, Band 13, 404 Seiten, Format (B × H): 155 mm x 235 mm, Gewicht: 778 g

Reihe: Contemporary Psychoanalytic Studies

Society and contemporary culture unquestionably assign much importance to the search for quality. So can this kind of research include the mind? In his analysis, Luigi Longhin examines the causes of mental illness and psychic-mental suffering, the notions of individuality, social violence, and utopia; and he suggests a collaboration between the neurosciences and psychoanalysis, within a correct epistemological approach. The relationship between epistemology and psychoanalysis is examined. The objectivistic and relativistic shift in contemporary epistemology, and the problem of the responsibility of the techno-scientific system are emphasized. Why such a privileged connection with philosophy? The contribution of philosophy is primarily epistemological. However, both epistemology and psychoanalysis run a risk; whilst epistemology runs the risk of being a knowledge which does not know, psychoanalysts run the risk of pursuing scientific knowledge without knowing its foundations. Hence there is a need for collaboration between the two forms of knowledge: the philosophical-epistemological and the scientific-psychoanalytic. Psychoanalysis works in two directions: on the one hand, it tries to eliminate the negative components of the mind, on the other hand, it tries to develop the trusting and creative parts of the self.

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Philosophische Psychologie
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Moderne Philosophische Disziplinen Philosophie des Geistes, Neurophilosophie
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Erkenntnistheorie
• Sozialwissenschaften Psychologie Psychologie / Allgemeines & Theorie Psychologische Theorie, Psychoanalyse Philosophische Psychologie, Logotherapie, Existenzanalyse

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface
Introduction
In search of the quality of the mind
The twentieth century: A century of terror, war, and hate
The mind also becomes sick: how? when? why? The problem of “normality-anormality”
Psychic-mental suffering
Which epistemology for psychoanalysis?
The objectivist and relativist shift in epistemology: Objectivity and reliability in psychoanalysis
The three features of psychoanalysis and the psychoanalytic “laboratory”
Symbolism and dreams in psychoanalysis
Kant: investigator of the mind and the first epistemologist
Charles Taylor: a philosopher who interacts with psychoanalysis in the search for authenticity
Aesthetic quality and creativity in psychoanalysis: music as a special pathway of the mind
Ideology and utopia: negative qualities of the mind
Psychoanalysis and social and political conflicts
Psychoanalysis and philosophy
The positive qualities of the mind: happiness and creativity
About the Author
Bibliography
Index

Über Autor(innen)

Professor Luigi Longhin is a psychotherapist with a psychoanalytic background. He has taught philosophy and history, and has given lecture courses on The Epistemology of Human Sciences and Child Developmental Psychology. He is the author of Psicoanalisi e Potere (Psychoanalysis and Power) with F. Mazzei, 1991; Alle Origini del Pensiero Psicoanalitico (At the Origins of Psychoanalytic Thought), 1992; Insegnare Oggi (Teaching Today), with G. Magnoni, 1994; Temi e Problemi (Themes and Problems), 1998, and Sentieri della Mente (Pathways of the Mind) (2001) both co-authored with Mauro Mancia; Il Coniglio di Alice (Alice’s Rabbit) with P. Fancini, 2002; Il Benessere Mentale (Mental Well-being), 2010.