RECEPTIONS, READINGS AND INTERPRETATIONS OF GESTALTPSYCHOLOGIE

On reflection, we may become disorientated when following the image of Gestaltpsychologie in 20th century philosophical, epistemological, psychological and history of science literature. Gestaltpsychologie interpretations are varied, and at times diametrically opposed. We may find innatist, empiristic and idealistic interpretations. According to other readings, the Gestaltist perspective was characterised by determinism, reductionism, cryptorealism and by a debasement of the subject’s role. Moreover, we may come across forced interpretations, accentuated to various degrees, with generic or metaphoric references and – in some cases – even historically incorrect. The aim of this essay is to offer a minimum selection, but sufficiently representative of the most significant transfigurations undergone by the Gestaltpsychologie of Wertheimer, Köhler and Koffka.