Psychology & Philosophy - Differing Approaches in the Quest for Human Understanding
In the 1966 book The Practice of Psychotherapy, renowned individualist psychologist Carl Jung identifies a fundamental connection between philosophy and psychology. He states, “I can hardly draw a veil over the fact that we psychotherapists ought really to be philosophers.” (Jung, 1966).
Jung goes on to argue that an individual’s cognition and behavior (psychology) are deeply connected to their understanding of the world, their interpretation of the meaning of life, and their system of values (philosophy). Both psychology and philosophy center on contemplative topics including the nature of human beings, how they think and act, and how they acquire knowledge and wisdom.
The question arises: How are the two fields of study differentiated? While there is certainly topical overlap between psychology and philosophy. They differ in significant ways including the scope of research, method of study, and real-world application.
Scope of Research
To begin, psychology and philosophy differ in their scope of exploration. To demonstrate, notice the etymology of the two words. The word psychology is drawn from two Greek words: “psyche”, meaning soul, and logos which refers to the study of something. Psychology, then, is the study of the human “soul”, that is, human thinking and behavior.
On the other hand, the word philosophy derives from two Greek words: “philo” meaning wisdom, and “sophia” meaning love (Exploring Your Mind, 2019). Thus, philosophy referred to the love of wisdom in all its many dimensions, not only those associated with humans. Beyond human thinking and behavior, philosophy addresses ethics, values, politics, and metaphysical principles such as being, knowing, and the nature of time and space. So, while philosophy does address matters related to the human mind, it considers a broader scope of topics than just psychology and human behavior.
Methods of Study
The second area where psychology and philosophy differ is in their differing methods of study. Psychology is a scientific field and therefore leverages qualitative and quantitative data gathered by way of experimentation. Psychologists design research studies based on the framework provided by the scientific method; proposing a hypothesis, identifying dependent and independent variables, measuring outcomes, and drawing conclusions based on the findings. Also, psychology is linked to statistics. Data based on human behavior are recorded, calculated, and communicated with probabilistic predictions of the most likely outcomes. At times, psychological research extends into the field of biology as scientists consider brain chemistry (neurotransmitters) and genetics as factors in explaining and predicting human behavior.
On the other hand, philosophical research is performed without scientific experimentation. Philosophical exploration is abstract, including methods such as thought experiments, reflection, and analysis of logical arguments. While psychology observes how humans think and behave, philosophical thought often focuses on how humans should think and behave; posing moral theories about right and wrong.
Real-World Application
Finally, psychology and philosophy differ in their real-world and career applications. As mentioned earlier, philosophy considers the values and morals of humanity as a whole. Therefore, philosophy is well-suited for politics and public relations. Philosophy’s subfield of ethics facilitates the creation of public policy and law.
Some who study philosophy academically become journalists. Journalists do well to address current events from a philosophically informed perspective, considering the accumulation of human wisdom as they address hot topics that are on the minds of their readers (Brandon University, 2021).
On the other hand, psychology often focuses on individual humans and their psychological well-being. For example, clinical psychology is applied in a therapeutic setting to provide relief to individuals suffering from the common ailments of depression and anxiety. Research psychology seeks to expand human knowledge about how homo sapiens think and act in various environments and circumstances. Social and organizational psychology finds application in marketing campaigns and business development (DiFonzo, 2021).
Exploring the Human Condition
Both psychologists and philosophers theorize about the human condition, human cognition, and how humans behave. Both are interested in knowledge and morals, constructs that occur in the human mind. However, as we have seen above, philosophy and psychology differ in distinct ways including their scope, method of study, and career and real-world application.
While maintaining their lanes of expertise, these two domains often come together to provide theories and evidence that contribute to the ongoing exploration of the mysteries of human existence. As Jung suggests, those who focus their education and career on either of these two domains will find themselves inextricably connected to the other.
References:
Brandon University (2021) Careers in Philosophy. Brandon University. https://www.brandonu.ca/philosophy/careers-in-philosophy/
DiFonzo, N. (2021) Careers in Social Psychology. LearnPsychology. https://www.learnpsychology.org/social-psychology/
Jung, C. (1966). Collected Works of C.G. Jung, Volume 16: Practice of Psychotherapy (ADLER G. & HULL R., Eds.). PRINCETON, N.J.: Princeton University Press. Retrieved August 2, 2021, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt5hhr69
What is the Relationship Between Philosophy and Psychology (2019) Exploring Your Mind. https://exploringyourmind.com/what-relationship-between-philosophy-and-psychology/
