Preface 1. Conjunctions 2. A Familiar Scene 3. Culture 4. Nature 5. Consequences 6. The Good Will 7. Phronesis 8. Limits of Reason 9. Agency 10. Beyond Unity 11. Negative Capability 12. Poiesis
Biography
Dr Calum Neill lives and works in Edinburgh, where he has taught and untaught psychology for some years. He is currently a lecturer in Critical Psychology and Discourse Analysis at Edinburgh Napier University.
'This remarkable book takes us through different versions of what it might mean to join the question of ‘ethics’ with the assumptions and practices of "psychology". Beginning with some famous studies of ethical behaviour, it rapidly moves into an unconventional and compelling exploration of how the ethical and the psychological might refute and infect each other. Ethics and Psychology is surprising, accessible, challenging and vivid and should be read by anyone interested in how psychology functions in the culture of our times.' Stephen Frosh, Birbeck College, London
'Calum Neill observes psychology closely, via philosophy and its puzzling of the emergence of the self. His argument for ethics shimmers, tightrope across the dark. Edges that claimed to hold psychology and ethics – and keep both apart from poetry – are reenergized as loci of uncertainty. This is a book that will elicit bleats from the technocrats and yips of joy from readers who, like poets, embrace subjectivity as emergence, a move not a statistic, always and productively creative.' Erin Mouré, Poet and Translator of Poetry, Montreal, Canada
'Psychology has a troubling relationship with "the good" and Calum Neill brings us into this identity conflict in a manner that is both upsetting and inspiring. The interdisciplinary dimension of his text draws the reader along and leaves her without a hiding place from the troubled state of this field.' David M. Goodman, Associate Dean of academic affairs and student services, Boston College, USA
'With rigour and clarity, Calum Neill offers a maverick perspective on what is, or should be, psychology’s most crucial issue: ethics. From Mill to Nietzsche, Kant to Keats, Neill reminds us that language remains our place of most potential; only through language – its excess, its poiesis – can we confront our subjecthood and write the human psyche.' Oana Avasilichioaei, Poet and Translator, Montreal, Canada.
'I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It is written exceptionally well, compelling from the start, and no less so by the accessible, everyday examples the author uses to clarify and amplify rather complicated and dense philosophical concepts and arguments. Yet, for all the ease of comprehension and reading, the author never sacrifices academic and scholarly integrity, and never "dumbs it down", maintaining a rigorous, critical and challenging analysis throughout. This book comes highly recommended.' Leswin Laubscher, Duquesne University, USA
