title: Franz Brentano and the beginning of experimental psychology: implications for the study of psychological phenomena today.
abstract: The manifestation of psychology as an academic discipline more than a 100 years ago was accompanied by a paradigm shift in our understanding of psychological phenomena-with both its light and shadow sides. On the one hand, this development allowed for a rigorous and experimentation-based approach to psychological phenomena; on the other, it led to an alienation from the experiential-or qualia-facets as the topics under inquiry were researched increasingly through third-person (e.g., behavioral or physiological) measures. At the turning point of this development stood an eminent but little known European scholar, Franz Brentano, who called for a synthesis of both third-person and first-person research methods in the study of psychological phenomena. On the occasion of his death, a hundred years ago on March 17, 1917 we wish to illustrate the historical background, introduce the reader to Brentano's approach and work and discuss its relevance for experimental psychology today.
authors.affiliation: Persephilos Studienstätte, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Witten/Herdecke, 58452, Witten, Germany.
authors.forename: Benedikt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hackert
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Witten/Herdecke, 58452, Witten, Germany. Ulrich.Weger@uni-wh.de.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Weger
mesh_terms: D036262:Empirical Research; D005060:Europe; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D011584:Psychology / Q000266:history; D011589:Psychology, Experimental / Q000266:history*