John Forrester (historian)
Encyclopedia
John Forrester is a historian
of philosophy
, science
and medicine
. He has taught at Cambridge since 1974 and is an expert on the history of psychoanalysis
and the life and work of Sigmund Freud
. Forrester is a professor
and head of the Department of History and Philosophy of Science
at the University of Cambridge
where he is also a lecturer and supervisor in the fields of history and philosophy of science and the history of medicine
. He succeeded to the post following the death of Peter Lipton
in 2007.
Forrester has written and edited a number of books and articles on Freud and spoken widely on the history of psychoanalysis at academic seminars, conferences and broadcasts. He is editor in chief of the academic journal
Psychoanalysis and History
.
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
of philosophy
History of philosophy
The history of philosophy is the study of philosophical ideas and concepts through time. Issues specifically related to history of philosophy might include : How can changes in philosophy be accounted for historically? What drives the development of thought in its historical context? To what...
, science
History of science
The history of science is the study of the historical development of human understandings of the natural world and the domains of the social sciences....
and medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
. He has taught at Cambridge since 1974 and is an expert on the history of psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is a psychological theory developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud. Psychoanalysis has expanded, been criticized and developed in different directions, mostly by some of Freud's former students, such as Alfred Adler and Carl Gustav...
and the life and work of Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud , born Sigismund Schlomo Freud , was an Austrian neurologist who founded the discipline of psychoanalysis...
. Forrester is a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
and head of the Department of History and Philosophy of Science
Department of History and Philosophy of Science, Cambridge
The Department of History and Philosophy of Science , of the University of Cambridge is the largest department of History and Philosophy of Science in the United Kingdom. It received a maximum rating of 4* for the majority of its submissions to the RAE 2008 Research Assessment Exercise...
at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
where he is also a lecturer and supervisor in the fields of history and philosophy of science and the history of medicine
History of medicine
All human societies have medical beliefs that provide explanations for birth, death, and disease. Throughout history, illness has been attributed to witchcraft, demons, astral influence, or the will of the gods...
. He succeeded to the post following the death of Peter Lipton
Peter Lipton
Peter Lipton was the Hans Rausing Professor and Head of the Department of History and Philosophy of Science at Cambridge University, and a fellow of King's College, until his unexpected death in November 2007...
in 2007.
Forrester has written and edited a number of books and articles on Freud and spoken widely on the history of psychoanalysis at academic seminars, conferences and broadcasts. He is editor in chief of the academic journal
Academic journal
An academic journal is a peer-reviewed periodical in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. Academic journals serve as forums for the introduction and presentation for scrutiny of new research, and the critique of existing research...
Psychoanalysis and History
Psychoanalysis and History
Psychoanalysis and History is a peer-reviewed academic journal published biannually in January and July by Edinburgh University Press. It covers the history of psychoanalysis and the application of psychoanalytic ideas to historiography. It aims to provide a bridge "between the academic study of...
.
Further reading
- Forrester, John (1997) Dispatches from the Freud Wars Cambridge: Harvard University PressHarvard University PressHarvard University Press is a publishing house established on January 13, 1913, as a division of Harvard University, and focused on academic publishing. In 2005, it published 220 new titles. It is a member of the Association of American University Presses. Its current director is William P...
, ISBN 9780674539600.