Re: Unsolved Problems in Psychology

Posted by Eric Charles on May 17, 2012; 2:33am
URL: http://friam.383.s1.nabble.com/Unsolved-Problems-in-Psychology-tp7555188p7563039.html

That sounds like a fun game.

Putting my predictor's hat on, I think that you will need three classes of judgment: 1) That problem is solved. 2) That problem is not solved. 3) That question is ill-formed, and hence is not a potentially-solvable problem in its present form.

Eric

P.S. Since it is relevant to this list, a recent blog post on whether we should make computer programming a more central part of the college curriculum: http://fixingpsychology.blogspot.com/2012/05/is-computer-programing-important-part.html

On Wed, May 16, 2012 09:37 PM, "Nicholas Thompson" <[hidden email]> wrote:

Omigosh!  The month-long exile is over!  And I only broke it once.  
I can actually live a whole month without mouthing off in an annoying way on
FRIAM. 

Trouble is, now I can't remember what I think about anything.  My basic
position is that progress in psychology has been stymied by the allure of
circular reasoning.   "My mind is whatever causes me to do stuff.  Why do I
do stuff?  It's my mind, of course, silly."   Such a theory is not subject
to falsification, or even qualification.  

Here's a game we could play for a while, and see where we get:  You state a
problem in psychology, and I will try to tell you whether it has been solved
or not.  

Nick 

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf
Of Jochen Fromm
Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2012 4:25 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [FRIAM] Unsolved Problems in Psychology

It is the task of science to replace magical explanations by scientific
ones, isn't it? Chemistry has replaced alchemy, astronomy has replaced
astrology, neuropsychology has replaced phrenology, etc
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mysticpolitics/6333162973/

I must admit I was hoping we could lure Nick back to the list from his
self-chosen exile by asking some provocative questions. What would Nick say,
are there any unsolved problems in psychology?
Is there still any phlogiston theory in it which is waiting to be replaced?

-J.


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============================================================
FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org

Eric Charles

Professional Student and
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Penn State University
Altoona, PA 16601

============================================================
FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org