William James and the Fight for Science

Abstract

William James, the foremost psychologist in American history, contributed broadly to the field of psychology across various specializations. Of prime importance are his contributions to the neglected field of the philosophy of science in psychology. The field of psychology, in ignoring its philosophical foundations, has developed a number of problems to which a Jamesian psychology speaks. In particular, professional psychology is in the midst of a renewed debate over measuring the effectiveness of therapy. Although this debate emerged long after James’s death, many problems that surfaced with this controversy are directly relevant to the philosophical and metaphysical foundations central to James’s contributions. Through applying James’s ideas, it is demonstrated that the approaches to evaluating therapy outcomes rooted solely in a narrowly defined science reflect regression, not progress, in the development of the field of psychology. Furthermore, evidence-based practice in psychology, when defined in a broad and inclusive manner, is more in line with what James viewed as a mature academic discipline.