Expanding the Category "Human": Nonhumanism, Posthumanism, and Humanistic Psychology

by Patrick M. Whitehead

Overview

The climate within the discipline of psychology has changed considerably since the middle of the twentieth century. More specifically, what it means to be a human has changed. In Expanding the Category “Human”: Nonhumanism, Posthumanism, and Humanistic Psychology, Patrick M. Whitehead argues that the metaphysical problems that psychologists faced sixty years ago are not the same ones they face today. Humanistic psychologists could once choose to protect the integrity of human beings as well as to engage in open inquiry and accept all human beings, but Whitehead contends that a choice between the two must now be made. This book is recommended for scholars and practitioners of psychology and philosophy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781498559362
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	12/20/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	182
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Patrick M. Whitehead is assistant professor of psychology at Albany State University.

Table of Contents

Preface Introduction Chapter 1: The Cult of Humanism in Psychology Chapter 2: Problem One: Nature’s DivisionsChapter 3: The Importance of Resolving this Division for Humanistic Ecopsychology Chapter 4: Problem Two: Rejecting Non-Subjective forms of Inquiry Chapter 5: Subjectivity as a Nonhuman Attribute: All Nature as Flesh Chapter 6: Problem Three: Rejecting Posthuman Possibilities Chapter 7: Recognizing how Technology has Shaped Human Being: Towards a Post-Humanisitc Psychology Chapter 8: The Radical Edge: Object-Oriented Psychology or, the Psychology of Things References
About the Author

Editorial Reviews

Dr. Whitehead’s contribution with this book is vital and timely in a day and age where the propensity is to establish false dichotomies. Psychology, at large, typically does not display a strong appetite for deep theoretical and critical reflection on its own subject matter, methodologies, or epistemic stances. Any form of critical analysis often ends abruptly, eschewing any substantive attempt at further synthesis. Psychology, in its current form, is a house divided against itself. Nonetheless, these divisions are often arbitrary, myopic, and harmful to the craft. Unifying these theoretical divisions takes, beyond a skilled intellect, a sense of humility and candor from visionary psychologist. I consider myself lucky to observe the progression of Dr. Whitehead’s views on these ideas. Psychologists and students of the discipline will benefit from navigating the progression of these ideas, as well.

Gary Senecal

In this provocative book, Patrick Whitehead argues persuasively for a path beyond traditional dichotomies that have plagued humanistic psychology for decades, one that will potentially establish a successor field, that of post-humanistic psychology.

John L. Roberts