Description
Book SynopsisOntology after Philosophical Psychology addresses the question of William James's continuity of consciousness, with a view to its possible actualizations. In particular, Michela Bella critically delineates James''s discourse. In the wake of Darwin''s theory of evolution at the end of the nineteenth century, James''s reflections emerged in the field of physiological psychology, where he developed for the case for a renewed epistemology and a new metaphysical framework to help us understand the most interesting theories and scientific discoveries about the human mind. Bella's analysis of the theme of continuity makes it possible to appreciate, both historically and theoretically, the importance of James''s gradual transition from making observations of experimental psychology on the continuity of thought to developing an epistemological and ontological argument that continuity is a characteristic of experience and reality. This analysis makes it possible both to clarify James''s position
Trade ReviewHenri Bergson said we were sure to misunderstand William James's thought if we did not read him “integrally.” Michela Bella's book perfectly rises to this challenge by showing that the idea of continuity illuminates his psychology as well as his philosophy. She argues convincingly that continuity is the connecting tread linking his pragmatism, his radical empiricism, his pluralism and his meliorism. She also offers us an extremely enlightening study on the sources of this psychology and ontology of continuity, as well on the side of the United States (Peirce) as of Europe (Mach and Bergson). It is a book to read for anyone seeking to escape rigid dualisms and clear-cut dichotomies. -- Stéphane Madelrieux, Université Jean Moulin - Lyon 3
Michela Bella offers a sophisticated and updated fresco of the thought of William James, illuminating in a clear language the complex continuity of his ontology with the philosophical and psychological methodology. This book is an important and precise contribution to current discussion of the most delicate issues of philosophy of mind, but also a documented invitation to amend the many misunderstandings and fragmentations that have surrounded the work of this great figure of philosopher and psychologist. -- Rosa Maria Calcaterra, Università degli Studi Roma Tre
Ontology after Philosophical Psychology: The Continuity of Consciousness in William James’s Philosophy of Mind provides the first systematic analysis to date of the issue of continuity in William James’s psychology, metaphysics, and epistemology. Through her incisive exegesis of many of James’s writings and by comparing James’s views with those held by Charles S. Peirce, Henri Bergson, and Ernst Mach, Bella demonstrates persuasively that James’s initial psychological analysis of the felt continuity of the stream of thought was “the very source” of the philosophical positions for which he is known: radical empiricism, pragmatism, and pluralism. With this important work, Michela Bella has made herself into a major player in the vigorous transatlantic field of James studies. -- Francesca Bordogna, Notre Dame
Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Psychology of Continuity Chapter 2: The Philosophical and Scientific Context of James’s Elaboration of Continuity Chapter 3: Ontology of Continuity Chapter 4: Epistemology of Continuity
