The Emergence of Psychology and the Rise of Phenomenology
Historical-Institutional Relations and Epistemological Tensions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62506/phs.v7i1.348Keywords:
History of Psychology, Phenomenology, Epistemology of Psychology, Philosophy of Psychology, Institutionalization of Scientific DisciplinesAbstract
This article examines the historical, epistemological, and institutional relations between the emergence of Psychology as an autonomous scientific discipline and the rise of Phenomenology, particularly in the early work of Edmund Husserl. The analysis begins with the nineteenth-century German educational reforms and the progressive institutionalization of Psychology within universities, highlighting the tensions generated by its separation from Philosophy. The study explores academic and theoretical disputes surrounding psychologism, scientific legitimacy, and institutional conflicts — including the Marburg Chair controversy — revealing both proximity and antagonism between philosophers and psychologists. It argues that Phenomenology did not emerge in isolation but developed through a critical dialogue with experimental Psychology and broader transformations in the German academic system. The conclusions indicate that both fields were historically co-constituted through shared institutional environments and epistemological challenges. The article also acknowledges limitations related to its historical-documentary scope and proposes future comparative research extending the analysis to other national contexts and to contemporary developments in the relationship between Psychology and Phenomenology.
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