Ethics in Adlerian Theory

MARKOVÁ, Dagmar: Ethics in Adlerian Theory. Nitra: Garmond, 2012.

The aim of the scientific monograph is to bring closer the concept of individual psychology in its ethical implications, since Alfred Adler's theory is also referred to as applied ethics. Excerpt from the introduction

... The monograph focuses on scientific analyses of one of the central theories—Adlerian theory, and in the European context—also known as individual psychology according to its founder Alfred Adler. We connect theoretical concepts of the individual-psychological approach within a philosophical and psychological scientific paradigm, which allow our analyses to focus on the area of ethics. Precisely this focus of the monograph follows the need for scientific development of a field that has so far been suspicious, as is also emphasized by the fact that the philosophical (or ethical) basic research of individual psychology has hardly begun.

Adlerian theory, despite its undisputed scientific contribution in psychology and also in philosophy and ethics, was on the fringe of interest in scientific circles, and in some cases this theory was not reflected in all its complexity. In general, its scientific and practical contribution was underestimated. The relevance and inspiring nature of this approach is underscored by the fact that today one can observe a certain scientific revival of it, which has partially been reflected in Slovak (and Czech) conditions as well.

However, the development of Adlerian theory in Slovakia is still suspect compared to other psychological directions. ...

In philosophical and ethical approaches, psychological concepts are often thematized, for example, those of Sigmund Freud, Viktor Frankl, Erich Fromm, etc., but again only marginally Alfred Adler, even though Adler gave not only psychological and educational lectures but also philosophical ones. It is precisely in the Adlerian approach that psychology became scientific knowledge of the human person as such.

Alfred Adler is regarded as a humanistic thinker, his concept of individual psychology is described as applied ethics, and his theoretical perspective offers many ethical implications. ....

Adler also emphasized individual choice, and his concept of the human being is based on the thesis that people are proactive, self-determining, and creative. At the same time, the core of his ethics is the so-called "sense of belonging." Adler emphasized that people are socially embedded—we are a total person who functions in a social context. A basic human need is to "belong to the human community" and to find one's place in it, have significance, and feel one's own value. Adler pointed to the right to understand oneself and others as equal.

From the above, it is clear that Alfred Adler in his works does not reflect only psychological approaches, but also philosophical (Nietzsche's, Kant's, and others) and many others, and his theory is permeated with ethical implications. Adler was not only a physician, psychologist, and scientist, but also an ethicist.

Despite this, a publication focused specifically on ethical aspects within Adlerian theory is not found at all in our Slovak context.

It is this monograph that focuses on analyses of Adlerian theory from this specific—ethical—perspective. In the presented monograph, we reflect those aspects of Adlerian theory that are relevant from the ethical standpoint, and we do this through the reflective lens of descriptive ethics. In this way, aspects are thematized that have not been analyzed at scientific level in an integrated form in Slovakia. This focus brings new prompts for ethical theory and research in the monograph.

In the monograph, we do not focus on psychologically significant theses of Adlerian theory (such as family and sibling constellations, apperception, psychotherapy and counseling, etc.), but on those that are relevant from an ethical perspective. For this reason, the reader needs some scientific orientation in the theoretical concept of Adlerian theory, since this monograph does work with some scientific theses and concepts of Adlerian psychology, but specifically thematizes their ethical or philosophical contexts.

In the publication we rely not only on original works of Alfred Adler that were not translated from German or English into Slovak (or Czech), but also on his followers and disciple women and men, non-individual-psychological approaches, etc. Among concrete authors, we rely on works by e.g., Ansbacher and Ansbacherová, who are regarded as the so-called systematizers of Adler's theory. We also rely on works by, for example, Dreikurs, Dreikursová-Fergusonová, Rattner, Danziger, and other authors who describe, interpret, and develop Adlerian theory at a scientific level. In the monograph, therefore, a contribution is made to the synthesis of research directions that results from the overlap of ethics and psychology.

Dagmar Marková (FF UKF)

CONTENTS

1 INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOLOGY AS AN ETHICAL CONCEPT

2 THE SENSE OF BELONGING AS THE CORE OF ADLERIAN ETHICS 2.1 Ethical orientation of the human being and mental health

3 THE CONCEPT OF THE HUMAN BEING AS A GOAL-ORIENTED TOTALITY 3.1 Philosophy of life style 3.2 Where is the human being going? The question of goals and meaning 3.2.1 Teleological principle 3.2.2 Conscience and feelings of guilt in Adler's teleological understanding 3.2.3 Cultural utilitarianism 3.2.4 Human goals in the ethical contexts of the need "to belong to the community" 3.2.5 Meaning and tasks of life

4 EQUALITY AS A FUNDAMENTAL ETHICAL REQUIREMENT 4.1 Striving for power as a basic axiological thesis? 4.2 Influence of inferiority feelings in the context of false goals 4.3 Gender equality as an ethical starting point of Adlerian theory

5 ETHICAL, PHILOSOPHICAL, AND OTHER INFLUENCES AND CONTEXTS OF ADLERIAN THEORY 5.1 Darwinism and the concept of individual psychology 5.2 Alfred Adler's individual psychology and Sigmund Freud's psychoanalysis 5.3 Alfred Adler as a Socratic man 5.4 Moral duties in the work of Immanuel Kant and Adler's theory 5.5 The "will to power" in Friedrich Nietzsche and Alfred Adler's concept 5.6 The influence of Marxism on Alfred Adler's theory 5.7 Religion and secular ethics of Alfred Adler

6 ALFRED ADLER AS AN ETHICAL MODEL AND INSPIRATION

Title: Ethics in Adlerian Theory Author: Dagmar Marková (FF UKF)

Number of pages: 128 pages ISBN: 978-80-89148-77-6 Publication year: 2012 Publisher: Garmond, Nitra