Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: This paper explores the longstanding debate on whether psychoanalysis qualifies as a science. Grounded in the Brazilian context, where recent publications have revived the debate, I examine the demarcation problem in the philosophy of science, highlighting how traditional criteria for defining scientific knowledge may exclude epistemically fruitful practices, such as psychoanalysis. Drawing on the perspectives of scientific pluralism, I argue for a more inclusive understanding of science, where diverse methods and epistemological approaches are recognized as legitimate contributions to addressing complex phenomena such as mental health. Ultimately, the rigid application of demarcation criteria can obscure the value of psychoanalysis, whereas scientific pluralism offers a pathway for integrating it into broader scientific discourse.
Source: Debates em Psiquiatria
Author: Ulysses Paulino de Albuquerque
Institution: Universidade Federal de Pernambuco
Language: English
Subfield: General Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4403685826