“Ethics and Psychology” by Calum Neill in the Context of Analysis and Critique[1]

Document Type : Professional

Authors

1 ‎. Ph.D. Student in Psychology, Research Institute for Hawzah and University (Corresponding ‎Author).‎

2 .Assistant Professor, Department of Education, Research Center for Ethics and Spirituality, Islamic ‎Sciences and Culture Academy, Qom, Iran

Abstract

Ethics and Psychology: Beyond Codes of Practice, written by Calum Neill, is one of the contemporary sources that has not yet been translated. Its distinct atmosphere and sharp critical stance toward the absence of ethics within the context of Western psychology—and at times its subtle critique of the gaps within Western ethics itself—along with its powerful prose, relevant examples, and scholarly engagement with the realm of philosophical ethics, all highlight the book’s potential for qualitative critical analysis. Calum Neill, an active figure in the field of critical psychology and a professor at the University of Edinburgh, subtly draws readers into a journey to satisfy a strong sense of curiosity he instills. The diversity of the twelve chapter titles and the way each chapter connects its beginning to the end of the previous one—despite the reader’s initial assumption of a lack of coherence among the titles—is among the book’s notable features. Some readers may feel that Neill raises numerous questions without offering answers. However, this is not the case; his skill lies in presenting a few central, interconnected slogans throughout the book that provide clear and articulate responses to the ambiguities he raises. A statement like, “If we do not believe in God or a higher authority governing the world, then speaking of psychology and ethics becomes meaningless,” exemplifies this. Yet, perhaps the main critique—aside from the sense of exaggeration in some instances—is the lack of sufficient documentation to support his claims.

Keywords

References

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Morality and Psychology
Volume 1, Issue 1 - Serial Number 1
August 2025
Pages 250-277

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