Change and continuity: the jamesian formulation of thought as a stream / Mudança e continuidade: a formulação jamesiana do pensamento como um fluxo

Abstract

This article discusses the project for psychology presented by William James at the end of the nineteenth century. The exposition is concentrated on James' debate with other psychological theories, notably associationism, and points out his criticism to them. The differences between Jamesian psychology and associationism are shown through the opposition of the concept of thought as a stream and associationist comprehension of mental state as a compound of independent elements. The product of this analysis is the criticism of associationism based on the intrinsic unity of each thought and the indication of the methodological and theoretical implications of this new conception.

Keywords

• William James
• thought
• stream
• associationism