Main description:

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 Grunbaum, 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.

Contents:

Part I: The Reasonableness of Freud's Theory
Chapter 1: Meaning
Chapter 2: Wishes
Part II: The Validity of Freud's Method
Chapter 3: Jigsaw Pieces
Chapter 4: Interconnections
Part III: The Scientificity of Freud's Theory
Chapter 5: False Negatives
Chapter 6: False Positives
Part IV: In the Crucible of Science
Chapter 7: Brainwaves
Chapter 8: Mind-blocks
Conclusion: Finding the Seed of Gold