Psychology from An Empirical Standpoint

by Franz Brentano, Tim Crane (Foreword)

Franz Brentano is one of the founding fathers of twentieth century philosophy, celebrated for introducing the concept of intentionality to philosophy as well as making significant contributions to ethics and logic. His work exerted great influence on major philosophers such as Edmund Husserl, but also philosophers travelling in the opposite direction, such Gottlob Frege. He counted Sigmund Freud amongst his students and Freud expressed great admiration for his teacher in several letters.

Psychology from an Empirical Standpoint is Brentano’s most important and brilliant work. It helped to establish psychology as a scientific discipline, but did so in a highly original and distinctive manner by arguing for a form of introspectionism. Brentano argued that consciousness is always unified and that the hallmark of the mind is that one’s thoughts are always directed towards something – his famous theory of ‘intentionality’ – arguments that have deep implications not just for philosophy but psychology, cognitive science and consciousness studies.

With a new foreword by Tim Crane.

Genres: Philosophy, Psychology, Nonfiction, Classics, Psychoanalysis

452 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1874

About the author

Franz Clemens Honoratus Hermann Brentano (/brɛnˈtɑːnoʊ/; German: [bʀɛnˈtaːno]) was a philosopher, psychologist, and priest whose work strongly influenced not only students Edmund Husserl, Sigmund Freud, Tomáš Masaryk, Rudolf Steiner, Alexius Meinong, Carl Stumpf, Anton Marty, Kazimierz Twardowski, and Christian von Ehrenfels, but many others whose work would follow and make use of his original ideas and concepts.

Reviews

[r0b · Rating 4 out of 5]

Difficult but certainly worthwhile...I admit I think my favourite part was Kraus’ very readable introduction!

[Humphrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brentano's work is under studied but significant, and not just for his revival of the importance of intentionality. This work's discussion (and rejection) of unconscious thought (as such), its separation of presentation and judgment, and its merger of will and feeling are also significant. Brentano's prose is lucid, and his clear distinction of his position from his immediate forbears is also useful for the reader attempting to keep 19th century psychology/philosophy in order.

[Sagal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty easy and interesting to read. Brentanos concept of Intentionality is important for Philosophy, especially Phenomenology.

[A. B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am beginning my study of phenomenology from its very first formulations. Brentano's book was clear and lucid, and a rather enjoyable read. This was a very good introduction to the way philosophy of mind should be conceived from a phenomenological perspective instead of a metaphysical one. Note that I did not read the additional essays from the author's Nachlass, but just the first 320 pages of Psychology from an Empirical Standpoint and the Appendix.

[Roisin · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Every idea or presentation which we acquire either through sense perception or imagination is an example of mental phenomena.” (60)