In this article, our goal is to investigate the foundation and the basis of existential and phenomenological thought of Psychology by William James, regarding the notion of consciousness, method and clinical practice. For both, we analyze some works of James and divide their proposals into three distinct periods: pragmatism, functionalism and empiricism. By means of the elaboration in each of these moments, we try to clarify the points of encounter and the points the confrontation with the existential and phenomenological thought. We conclude that the meeting point concerns the attempt of not objectification of consciousness. Regarding the mismatch, we believe that while James still takes consciousness as object of psychology and that phenomenology and existential perspectives deviate from the idea of object, since they do not consider the consciousness versus the world. Another mismatch is presented in the sharp disagreement between James and the existential and phenomenological thought regarding method and practice as well as the goals of the clinic.
James (William); Existential phenomenology; Psychology y Philosophy; Consciousness
