Module PY2924-KP04

Duration

1 Semester

Turnus of offer

each summer semester

Credit points

4

Course of studies, specific fields and terms:

• Bachelor Psychology 2013, optional subject, psychology
• Bachelor Psychology 2016, optional subject, psychology
• Bachelor Psychology 2020, optional subject, psychology

Classes and lectures:

• Psychoanalysis - science or pseudoscience (seminar, 2 SWS)

Workload:

• 25 hours in-classroom work
• 75 hours private studies

Contents of teaching:

• With psychoanalysis, Freud established a science in the context of medicine, the natural sciences and the humanities of his time, and in doing so he developed its therapeutic objective separately from its claim to a specific knowledge of the psychic apparatus or dream work. Freud was thus intent on providing evidence for the character of scientificity, justifiable knowledge, and knowledge boundaries. But what constitutes the special status of psychoanalysis as a science, and under what scientific theoretical conditions can its specific scientific character be determined? Freud himself offers numerous possibilities in this regard, but his explanations are by no means conclusive or unambiguous. Regardless of Freud's own reflection, psychoanalysis has been repeatedly subjected to the question of whether it is an empirical science that still has to prove its hypotheses experimentally, a science of the unconscious or even a pseudo-science. These questions have been hotly debated since the 1970s at the latest. In the debates about the status of the scientificity of psychoanalysis, the arguments are based almost exclusively on Freudian teachings. In the debates known as the Freud Wars, not only are Freud's theories being debated, but also the legitimation and raison d'être of psychoanalysis as a science in general. Philosophical considerations, such as those of Paul Ricoeur and Jürgen Habermas, offer alternative reconstructions of psychoanalytical findings, but may not do justice to the Freudian enterprise. And finally, in recent times, effectiveness studies of evidence-based medicine have devoted themselves primarily to the question of whether or not psychoanalysis as a form of therapy is demonstrably helpful. Evidence of scientificity and effectiveness, however, presupposes a scientifically influenced scientism.
• The seminar is not intended to contribute to the rehabilitation of Freudian teaching, but to promote critical self-reflection and to discuss the preconditions and cultural problems of science at all, which are associated with the question of the scientific nature of psychoanalysis. No special previous knowledge regarding the topics to be dealt with is assumed. What is expected, however, is a willingness to engage intensively with the underlying texts, to read them extensively and independently, and to participate actively in the discussions. The assumption of an impulse presentation as well as the writing of reading diaries on the basis of the texts to be discussed in the respective session are part of the examination.

Qualification-goals/Competencies:

• faculty of criticsm; theory understanding
• reflection and discoursive delivery on important texts and arguments; epistemology and theoretical foundation of psychology and psychoanalysis
• Epistemological critique of psychology and psychoanalysis
• Writing smaller texts and the development of scientific questions

Grading through:

• essay (graded)

Responsible for this module:

• Dr. phil. Birgit Stammberger

Teacher:

• Institute for History of Medicine and Science Studies

Language:

• offered only in German

Last Updated:

11.02.2020