The present paper is part of the dilemma mentioned in the 1956 conference of Canguilhem entitled “What is psychology?” It aims at showing the dilemma’s present relevance as well as its contemporary problematization, which deals with the processes of psychologization and neuroscientificization of current subjecticization processes. What have we been doing with our lives and our practices and how can we act freely before the ever growing threat of robotization and cerebralization of the processes of subjectivization? In order not to be paralyzed by such deadlocks, we suggest possible paths departing from encounters with Kierkegaard and Foucault, philosophers who are inscribed, to use the foucaultian expression, in a route of non-metaphysical experimentation. Such route has been privileged and it can be seen if we focus back on the ancient western philosophy of the spiritual exercises, which has been, however, neglected by the western philosophical tradition. Finally, an experiential philosophy is proposed as a possible alternative in an attempt to recognize and/or avoid the “dangers” mentioned in the beginning. Knowing that it is not possible to eliminate them from the daily psi practices, it is at least feasible to be more aware of them, and this is the final aim of the present paper.
Kierkegaard, Soren Aabye, 1813-1855; Foucault, Michel, 1926-1984; Psychology; Philosophy; Subjectivity; Experimentation