Introduction: Du manifeste de Watson au renouveau de la conscience

Abstract

The present paper stands as an introduction to the contribution to this special issue of AC. It emphasises the genuiness of the various approaches from authors who do not pertain to the North-American psychological tradition. The author points to the debt of scientific psychology toward Watson and his methodological position, including in recent and current research on topics which Watson suggested one would put aside for later treatment, when would provide us with adequate tools to deal with at that time inaccessible phenomena, such as mental images. The fruitfulness of Watson's approach is paradoxically illustrated by the progress of the study of consciousness, the revival of which would probably not have taken place, were it not for the invitation made years ago by Watson to put consciousness into parentheses and altogether introspection into the waste basket.