How are Psychology and Philosophy similar?

The seven main similarities between these two disciplines.

If in a previous article we reviewed some differences between psychology and philosophy, in this one we will see the points in which both disciplines are deeply related.

I propose seven things in common between the twoalthough it is quite possible that there are more.

Similarities between psychology and philosophy

So let's begin: what are the similarities between the two disciplines?

1. They share their roots

Psychology has its origins in a millenary tradition of philosophers and thinkers. In fact, the word "psychology" means study of the soulsomething that at the time was dealt with by the philosophers of ancient Greece. Aristotle, for example, devotes an entire treatise to his concept of psychology, the Peri Psyche.

Thus, psychology was a branch of philosophy for centuries.The concept of "soul", which was an idea linked to mysticism, was redefined and transformed into theoretical constructs accessible from scientific methodology.

2. They share a certain speculative character

Philosophy could not be understood without speculationTheoretical constructs that are not empirically contrasted through science, that is, the creation of theoretical constructs that allow the solution of contradictions. For example, Descartes proposed a theory according to which the body and the soul are part of two different planes of existence to explain why sensations can mislead us.

Similarly, much of the history of recent psychology includes the creation of new theories about the way we think and feel that, in the absence of much evidence in their favor, have either been discarded or serve to formulate hypotheses and seek empirical support for them.

3. They share thematic areas of study

Both disciplines address topics such as perceptions and sensations, memory and intelligence, the nature of the conscious mind, will, and relationships with others.They use different languages and methodologies in their research, although they do so in different ways.

4. They share the problem of the mind-body relationship.

Historically, it has been the philosophers who have been in charge of proposing theories and synthetic explanations about the distinction between body and soul and, in fact, this is the origin of the conflict between the monism and dualism that characterized thinkers such as Avicenna or Descartes. Psychology has inherited this debate and has entered into it using new methodologies.

5. Philosophy lends psychology categories with which to work.

Traditionally, psychology has worked on the basis of notions and concepts inherited from philosophy. For example, the philosophical tradition of the Enlightenment initially led psychologists to think of the human being (or, rather, man) as a rational animal. rational animal with great voluntary control over the occurrence of feelings and moods, although this is a way of conceiving our species that psychoanalysts and, later, neuroscientists have struggled with.

Similarly, the category of what is "will" has been tainted with a certain mysticism, as if the human brain receives orders from a control center that we do not quite know where it is. This is the fruit of a dualistic philosophical tradition.

6. Philosophy is also nourished by psychology.

Since some of the objects of study of psychology and philosophy are so similar, philosophy is also capable of "translating" psychology, philosophy is also capable of "translating" psychological discoveries into its field of study. and pass them on to its field of study. A relationship of interdependence is thus established between philosophy and psychology. The philosophical side of embodied cognition, for example, always has a foot in the latest research on the feedback process between the brain and the rest of the body. Similarly, the philosophy of mind is constantly being updated by the discoveries of psychologists and neuroscientists.

7. Both can have therapeutic purposes

Many great philosophers believed that the ultimate goal of philosophy is to do good to the human being. to do good to the human beingeither by bringing him closer to the truth and making intellectual emancipation possible, or by helping him to achieve the thoughts and states of mind necessary to face life in the best possible way. The Stoics and the thinkers of the Epicurean school are classic examples of this type of philosophers.

As far as psychology is concerned, its therapeutic application is well known. In fact, there is a stereotype that the sole purpose of psychologists is to offer therapy. Although this is not the case, it is clear that knowing the logic that governs the emergence of thoughts and affective states is a great advantage when it comes to tackling certain mental and emotional problems.