Freud’s Theory of Dreams

A Philosophico-Scientific Perspective

Michael T. Michael

• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Year: 2015
• eBook ISBN: 9781442230453
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: Experimental Psychology
• Index: Psychology

Freud's Theory of Dreams: A Philosophico-Scientific Perspective evaluates Freud's theory of dreams in light of the many philosophical and scientific criticisms that have been brought against it. Michael T. Michael addresses the validity of Freud's method of dream interpretation, the scientific nature of the theory, and how Freud's ideas bear up to modern research on dreams, engaging on the way with critics such as Ludwig Wittgenstein, Clark Glymour, Karl Popper, Adolf Grünbaum, and J. Allan Hobson. Michael reaches beyond the traditional "for" and "against" polarity to offer a more balanced perspective on Freud's theory. He argues that reports of the demise of Freud's theory have been greatly exaggerated, and instead the theory is a live hypothesis fully deserving of continued scientific exploration.

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• The Reasonableness of Freud’s Theory
• Meaning
• Wishes
• The Validity of Freud’s Method
• Jigsaw Pieces
• Interconnections
• The Scientificity of Freud’s Theory
• False Negatives
• False Positives
• In the Crucible of Science
• Brainwaves
• Mind-Blocks
• Conclusion
• Bibliography
• Index
• About the Author