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The Principles of Psychology

work by James

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The Principles of Psychology is a seminal work by William James, published in 1890. It is credited with helping to establish psychology as a formal discipline and introducing the concept of the "stream of consciousness". James, a leader in both psychology and philosophy, founded the school of functionalism and advanced the philosophical movement of pragmatism.123

The book explored mental science from a biological perspective, viewing thinking and knowledge as tools for survival. James's work was groundbreaking, influencing subsequent developments in psychology and philosophy. He also coined the term "stream of consciousness" to describe the flow of thoughts and impressions in the human mind, a concept later adopted by literary figures like James Joyce and Virginia Woolf.31

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