Abstract
M.Litt. et Phil. (Clinical Psychology)
People are deeply influenced by what they believe. Their basic epistemology is embodied in everything they create, material or otherwise. Thus, for example, every person's epistemology is reflected in his behaviour. Psychology is more and more aware of this aspect and there are studies and literature investigating the presuppositions of individuals as possible sources of pathology. There are further studies investigating the prejudices of psychological theories in an effort to expose their suppositions. The possibility of these theories contributing to the creation of pathology is investigated. Furthermore there are studies that describe the general intellectual spirit of an epoch. This time-spirit can influence people living in the same era to the extent that they can look, think, feel and act in a similar way. This study tries to identify the present general time-spirit that would contribute the most to the creation of a certain epistemology in the broad life-attitude of the man on street. The spirit of the Reasonable and Scientific Enlightenment is identified as the most prevalent force and
influence in the life of western man. The specific presuppositions of this school of thought are described. It is then indicated to what extent these prejudices generate
certain pathological effects. Furthermore it is seen how these suppositions facilitate a particular cognitive style, namely exclusive dualistic conceptualisation, and how it can
create anxiety. An attempt is made to identify the so-called new and Post-Modernistic time-spirit that is developing in other disciplines and which is opposing the spirit of the
Enlightenment. This study suggests that the prejudices of the ecosystemic and interactional models in Psychology can be reconciled with the presuppositions of Post-Modernism. The possibility that the epistemology of Post-Modernism can
have a healing effect on the .symptomatic behaviour facilitated by the spirit of the Enlightenment, is put forward.