Lesson 12 - Key Philosophers

What philosophical approach did Plato advocate for?

Rationalism, believing that knowledge is innate and comes from reason rather than experience.

What is the tripartite soul according to Plato?

It consists of reason, spirit, and appetite, influencing theories of personality and cognitive psychology.

What did Aristotle emphasize in his philosophical approach?

Empiricism, arguing that knowledge comes from experience and observation.

How did Aristotle's work contribute to psychology?

It laid the foundation for early psychological theories on memory, perception, and learning.

What concept did René Descartes propose?

Dualism, the idea that the mind and body are separate entities that interact.

How did Descartes' ideas influence psychology?

They influenced the study of consciousness and the mind-body problem.

What is John Locke's concept of the mind?

The mind as a 'tabula rasa' (blank slate), arguing that all knowledge comes from experience.

How did Locke's ideas contribute to psychology?

They contributed to behaviorism and the study of learning.

What philosophical beliefs did David Hume hold?

Empiricism and associationism, suggesting that mental life is built from simple sensory impressions linked through experience.

How did Hume's work influence psychology?

It influenced early theories of perception and cognition.

What was Immanuel Kant's argument regarding knowledge?

While experience is necessary for knowledge, the mind has innate structures that shape perception.

How did Kant's ideas contribute to psychology?

They contributed to cognitive psychology.

Who established psychology as a distinct scientific discipline?

Wilhelm Wundt, by founding the first psychology laboratory.

What psychological approach did Wilhelm Wundt promote?

Structuralism, focusing on the introspective study of consciousness.

What did William James develop in psychology?

Functionalism, emphasizing how mental processes help individuals adapt to their environment.

How did James' work influence psychology?

It influenced applied psychology and cognitive science.