ABSTRACT
William James was an American psychologist, philosopher, and physiologist. In The Principles of Psychology, James attempts to establish psychology as a science; he defines this as "the description and explanation of states of consciousness as such". The Principles of Psychology sets out to bring philosophical ideas about our minds and behavior into the realm of empirical (evidence-based) science. While The Principles of Psychology is a foundational text of the discipline of psychology, its influences are now felt across many different disciplines, including the arts and literature. Principles has been so influential that many consider James "the father of American psychology". And while psychology and its associated fields have made considerable progress over the last century, meaning that students no longer read Principles as a scientific textbook, its impact on the discipline of psychology remains undeniable. The Principles of Psychology has had an undeniably profound impact on the world of ideas.
