Historical Perspectives - Chapter 2 Review

PSY 3361

Descartes Biography

born in France, dad was lawyer that contributed to his education, educated by Jesuit monks; mid -twenties he focused on the mind. Math, and rationalism, believed in NATIVISM

Rationalism

belief that reason/logic is the source of knowledge NOT EXPERIENCE; NATURE OVER NURTURE (like plato!)

A philosophical approach emphasizing reason as the primary source of knowledge, asserting that reality can be understood through intellectual deduction rather than sensory experience.

“Cogito, ergo sum”

"I think, therefore I am." This philosophical statement by Descartes asserts that the act of thinking is proof of one's existence and consciousness.

Descartes Contributions

▪   1. Rationalism

▪   2. Cartesian Dualism (Mind/Body)

▪   3. Cartesian coordinates (x,y)

Dualism

o   belief that body and mind are split

▪   Body + Mind: the mind impacts the body but they exist and function separately; Freud got the idea to study consciousness because of this idea  

The philosophical concept that posits the existence of two distinct entities, typically the mind and body, suggesting they interact but are fundamentally different in nature.

Cartesian Coordinates

Descartes made the connection between algebra and geometry; the X and Y coordinates we use today are what we used to day in psych and STEM fields to analyze data

John Locke Biography

An influential English philosopher and physician, he is known as the father of empiricism and political liberalism.

o      Locke was born in England, lawyer father sponsored his education

▪    Friends with Isaac Newton

BELIEVED IN REALISM

Empiricist Theory

o      Empiricist Theory = NURTURE TRUMPS NATURE; people are born with equal abilities and the environment is most influential in how people develop; Essay Concerning Human Understanding is the beginning of British Empiricism

The philosophical belief that knowledge is primarily derived from sensory experience and evidence, emphasizing observation and experimentation as the basis for understanding the world.

View of acquisition/treatment of fears

Locke researched this greatly by watching children being beaten; he proposed exposure therapy

George Berkely Biography

·       IRISH, wrote about math, 4 essays he wrote contribute to the science of Empericism; UC BERKELY named after him

An Irish philosopher and bishop known for his contributions to empiricism, particularly in mathematics and philosophy. His works include four essays that significantly influenced the development of empirical science.

Empiricism & Perception

o      brought together the two of them and believed that without perception, the world would not exist

Berkely’s Contributions

▪    1. Extended Locke’s ideas of empiricism, focused on perception (this moved philosophy closer to psychology)

▪    2. Depth perception essay = cited 721 times and was used in the 1^st psych lab by Wundt

David Hume Biography

SCOTTISH, father died young, mom encouraged education

David Hume Contributions

o      1. Science of Human Nature = science of psychology; wanted to separate science from religion

o      2. Emotions rule logic = provides direction on Wundt’s development of consciousness

Which philosophers were rationalists?

Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz

Which philosophers were Empiricists?

LOCKE, BERKELY, HUME

Ireland Conditions (Post Renaissance)

▪    17th/18th century poor, peasants, no say in politics; many were farmers, cleaners, mill workers

o      The empiricist that grew up in Ireland had a different experience that made them believe nurture over nature

England Conditions (Post Renaissance)

o      ruled by a KING; wealthy economy, jobs were tailors, grocers, domestic staff, but many were unemployed

o      Activities = painting, art, tea time, animal fights, gambling, music, etc.

o      Climate = dry for many seasons, very cold winters

Florence, Italy Conditions (Renaissance)

15th century; divided into city states and individual freedom was guaranteed; wealthy city with trade jobs

o      Climate = cool/cold winter, hot humid summer

Locke Contributions

• established Empiricist theory on nurture/nature → believed that NURTURE was most important

• Studied acquisition of fears