Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Psychology

This textbook connects the big ideas and key thinkers of psychology and philosophy in a clear and cohesive theoretical narrative. Students are led to understand the relations between different schools of thought, and to connect the various thinkers, theories and facts in psychology's history. Focusing on the major ideas that have reoccurred throughout history, such as the mind-body problem and the role of the mind in our experience, Martin Farrell shows how specific thinkers have explored the same ideas, but in different ways, leading to distinct schools of thought. The coherent narrative enables students to see the bigger picture, through which the historical and conceptual roots of psychology can be easily understood.

Martin Farrell is an Honorary Lecturer in the School of Psychological Sciences at the University of Manchester. With over fifteen years' experience of teaching psychology, he has lectured on many aspects of the discipline but his main focus has always been on the interface between psychology and philosophy. He has lectured on the history of psychology for more than ten years, on consciousness for thirteen years, and has taught philosophy of science to postgraduate students for six years. This book is the fruit of this accumulated experience.

'A refreshing text ... the author's narrative is clear, focused, and engaging, and the central ideas and concepts - even the difficult ones - are presented in an accessible and comprehensible fashion.' Edwin E. Gantt, Brigham Young University 'This text provides a deep insight into the history of psychology and, in particular, many of the theoretical and empirical relationships between theorists.' Dannette Marie, University of Aberdeen