Paul Natorp and the emergence of anti-psychologism in the nineteenth century.
This paper examines the anti-psychologism of Paul Natorp, a Marburg School Neo-Kantian. It identifies both Natorp's principle argument against psychologism and the views underlying the argument that give it its force. Natorp's argument depends for its success on his view that certain scientific laws constitute the intersubjective content of knowledge. That view in turn depends on Natorp's conception of subjectivity, so it is only against the background of his conception of subjectivity that his reasons for rejecting psychologism make sense. This interpretation of Natorp suggests that attention paid to late nineteenth century theories of subjectivity and philosophy of psychology could improve our understanding of the emergence of anti-psychologism in that period.
Edgar
Scott
S
Department of Philosophy, University of Pennsylvania, 433 Logan Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. sedgar@sas.upenn.edu
D005858:Germany; D049672:History, 19th Century; D008128:Logic; D010684:Philosophy / Q000266:history*; D011584:Psychology / Q000266:history*