Is it philosophical to try and define the fine lines between philosophy, psychology and anthropology?

Question

.. or is it?

Answer 1

This philosophical question is a mixture of three famous schools -- the Cynics, the Stoics and the Epicureans -- and can be summed up, all three of them, in the famous phrase, "You can't trust any bugger further than you can throw him, and there's nothing you can do about it, so let's have a drink."...

Answer 2

Hi Alien Pyxie,

Yes, it is! Philosophers like to get in on every show going. Most philosophers take seriously the old cliche that philosophy includes everything. The best background for the appearance of philosophy in anthropology is probably:
Cassirer, Ernst, 1874-1945
An Essay On Man An Introduction To A Philosophy Of Human Culture
Publisher: New Haven, Yale University Press, 1951.
237 pages, first published, 1944. 'Ernst Cassirer, the great exponent of the philosophy of symbolic forms...brings his principles to the study of man himself in an examination of such topics as Myth and Religion, Language, Art, History, Science, and the symbolic nature of man's cultural achievement.' It is one of the best introductions to the philosophy of anthropology.

The overlaps between philosophy and psychology are usually related to the study of consciousness. One of the best researchers in this area is David Chalmers. He has a great page of research links:

http://consc.net/chalmers/

The philosophy of psychology can cover questions such as:

*Is there really such a thing as mental illness?
*Can we ever know if a computer understands something?
*Is psychology fundamentally the same as physics and biology, or fundamentally different?
*Are animal minds like human minds—and if so, can we ever know this?

For one of the best essays which addresse this last question, take a look at Nagel's fascinating essay, "What's It Like to Be a Bat":

http://members.aol.com/NeoNoetics/Nagel_Bat.html

[This essay is really about the philosophy of first hand, subjective experience. It is NOT about nature or wild life.]

I'm afraid that if I go on any longer, I'll have you cross-eyed with boredom, but maybe this is a start. I love this stuff. Good luck!

Answer 3

It's called Psychosocioanthropology. It leaves out the philosophy bit though. It's meant to be a blend between anthropology, sociology & psychology.

xxB

Answer 4

Isn't any attempt to define knowledge ultimately epistomology?

Answer 5

I,m confused

Answer 6

It's semantics.

Answer 7

I don't know, you have my sincere apology

Answer 8

Why would anyone want to do that?!