January 1938
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The Psychological Monographs
The Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology has long seemed an enigma to persons not conversant with its peculiar mores. The philosopher's interest in psychology differs from his interest in any other science, in at least two respects. In the first place, the essential terms of philosophic discourse must consist very largely of psychological concepts, since in the final analysis the psychological functions of man supply both the materials and the mechanisms of philosophical speculation. The second aspect of the philosopher's special interest in psychology relates to the nature of psychological 'knowledge.' The present paper will be concerned principally with the considerations which should govern the choice of the terms of discourse essential to a scientific description of psychological phenomena. Science is grossly misunderstood by the individuals who criticize it because of its abstractness and consequent lack of the concrete richness of 'living experience.' Philosophy, too, presents a map account of reality, and in most respects a map far more abstract than those of the sciences, a fact which is not appreciated by all philosophers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)