This highly original book explores the idea and potential of psychology in the context of ethical theory, and the idea of ethics in the context of psychology. In so doing, it not only interrogates how we come to understand ethics and notions of right behaviour, but also questions the discipline of psychology and how it functions in the 21st century. Neill turns psychology inside out, controversially suggesting that psychology no longer exists as we know it. He proposes a rebirth of psychology based on an intricate and detailed examination of who we really are, and how we come to structure this idea of ourselves. Taking the idea of ethics seriously, Neill allows us to see psychology in a totally new light, addressing key points, such as:
- The inadequacy of psychology to address the question of ethics throughout history.
- Why thinking through the question of ethics necessarily brings us into confrontation with a question of psychology.
- What we actually do when we do psychology and how, via a serious consideration of ethics we might do this differently and better.
Ethics and Psychology presents readers with a new and potentially productive understanding of both ethics and psychology and will appeal to anyone active within and critically engaged with the field.
Preface 1. Conjunctions 2. A Familiar Scene 3. Culture 4. Nature 5. Consequences 6. The Good Will 7. Phronesis 8. Limits of Reason 9. Agency 10. Beyond Unity 11. Negative Capability 12. Poiesis
Biography
Dr Calum Neill lives and works in Edinburgh, where he has taught and untaught psychology for some years. He is currently a lecturer in Critical Psychology and Discourse Analysis at Edinburgh Napier University.
'This remarkable book takes us through different versions of what it might mean to join the question of ‘ethics’ with the assumptions and practices of "psychology". Beginning with some famous studies of ethical behaviour, it rapidly moves into an unconventional and compelling exploration of how the ethical and the psychological might refute and infect each other. Ethics and Psychology is surprising, accessible, challenging and vivid and should be read by anyone interested in how psychology functions in the culture of our times.' Stephen Frosh, Birbeck College, London
'Calum Neill observes psychology closely, via philosophy and its puzzling of the emergence of the self. His argument for ethics shimmers, tightrope across the dark. Edges that claimed to hold psychology and ethics – and keep both apart from poetry – are reenergized as loci of uncertainty. This is a book that will elicit bleats from the technocrats and yips of joy from readers who, like poets, embrace subjectivity as emergence, a move not a statistic, always and productively creative.' Erin Mouré, Poet and Translator of Poetry, Montreal, Canada
'Psychology has a troubling relationship with "the good" and Calum Neill brings us into this identity conflict in a manner that is both upsetting and inspiring. The interdisciplinary dimension of his text draws the reader along and leaves her without a hiding place from the troubled state of this field.' David M. Goodman, Associate Dean of academic affairs and student services, Boston College, USA
'With rigour and clarity, Calum Neill offers a maverick perspective on what is, or should be, psychology’s most crucial issue: ethics. From Mill to Nietzsche, Kant to Keats, Neill reminds us that language remains our place of most potential; only through language – its excess, its poiesis – can we confront our subjecthood and write the human psyche.' Oana Avasilichioaei, Poet and Translator, Montreal, Canada.
'I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It is written exceptionally well, compelling from the start, and no less so by the accessible, everyday examples the author uses to clarify and amplify rather complicated and dense philosophical concepts and arguments. Yet, for all the ease of comprehension and reading, the author never sacrifices academic and scholarly integrity, and never "dumbs it down", maintaining a rigorous, critical and challenging analysis throughout. This book comes highly recommended.' Leswin Laubscher, Duquesne University, USA
