What Kind of Science Is Psychoanalysis?
Discussions of the scientific status of psychoanalysis are commonly based on the sharp separation between “facts” and the telling of those facts, between logic and rhetoric. This distinction automatically discards the singular contribution of psychoanalysis to the understanding of human action. It is also inconsistent with current developments in understanding science generally, and human sciences in particular. Historical circumstances, and a confusion between one particular epistemological stance and rigor, have given limited views of science particular prestige in the psychoanalytic community. In this article, we show how psychoanalysis may be usefully viewed as a human science.ABSTRACT FROM AUTHORCopyright of Psychoanalytic Inquiry is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder’s express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for indivi
