The philosophy of science is concerned with understanding the foundations, methods, and explanatory structures of science, and it collaborates with scientific research to enhance its quality. Research in this field at the department primarily focuses on psychology and cognitive sciences. Philosophy works with these disciplines to shed light on open questions related to both theory and methodology.
On the theoretical front, research in this area primarily centers on the theory of emotions, perception of bodily states, and categorization. Concerning methodological issues, the focus is mainly on critical thinking and epistemological analysis of questionnaires and tests used in psychology to measure specific constructs.
Research conducted in the field of psychological humanities addresses the need to reconnect psychology with the humanities, particularly philosophy and literature. These fields are essential for countering the fragmentation and oversimplification that often result from empirical research and for re-emphasizing the complexity of psychological experience. They not only provide material for the study of the mind but also offer accurate descriptions of psychological processes. Their role is not purely descriptive or interpretive; it is also socio-cultural and ethical. On one hand, they contribute to defining an approach to the study of the mind centered on the individual and their socio-cultural context. On the other, the perspective promoted by the humanities leads us to understand that normalcy is an illusion, and each person represents a unique embodiment of the human condition.
This research area employs a wide range of methodologies, from the analysis of articles (both theoretical and empirical) produced by various disciplines on these topics to the use of quantitative and qualitative methods, as well as text and context analysis, often in a comparative and interdisciplinary context.
Faculty members:
Labs & Projects
- Laboratory of Psychological Humanities and Philosophy of Psychology Laboratory - PsyHuman Lab
- Summer School in Psychological Humanities and Cognitive Science (PsyHuman) - 2021 edition
- Psychological Humanities and Narrative Medicine (PsyHuman) - 2022 edition
- The Psychological Humanities (PsyHuman): Multidisciplinary Approaches to Well-being and Inclusion - 2023 edition