Introspection, retrospection, prospection

Introspection can be conceived as a way of observing oneself during one's mental activity and as a method of inquiry in the mental sciences, in order to understand and describe as precisely as possible the diverse mental events that occur within us. Introspection is criticized as well on behalf of the method and its results, as on behalf of the possibility of using such a method. The first objection concerns the 'objective' character of introspection. The other objection has to do with the simultaneity of observing a mental event while it occurs. It still remains that we do from time to time observe ourselves while thinking, while feeling, while acting. As introspection, in its restricted sense, does not seem to be actually possible, because of the problems set by the 'objectivity' of its results and the 'simultaneity' of the observation, I propose to expend the range of introspection by strengthening it backwards, by retrospection, considered as a way of looking or what has just happened in my mental world: and forwards, by prospection, considered as a way of looking at what happens in general in my mental world. Starting from this double point of view, one finds that introspection is not only possible, but is interesting and fruitful.