The philosophy of psychotherapy science: Mainstream and alternative views

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to show that determinism, reductionism, and mechanism have dominated people’s lives since the early modern period and, as a consequence, have been representing a monopoly in sciences in general and in psychotherapy science in particular ever since. In addition, it will raise the issue of what other approaches to understanding reality and human beings have unjustly been forgotten— unjustly, because they might contribute to a more comprehensive understanding and examination of human life and with it also of psychotherapy. These include, as we will attempt to demonstrate in the following, intentionality, wholeness, and the analogical thinking, which lay the groundwork for emerging alternative research approaches. Finally, the implications of the above for a pluralistic psychotherapy science will be presented.