Haley+&+Brad

__**HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY**__ written by Haley and Brad

**GENESIS AND FOREFATHERS **

Enlightenment psychology was primarily built upon the legacy of humanism. Although much of this new "study of the human mind" was a new science, the focus on the individual was largely taken from the pragmatic view that defined humanist thought. The first mention of psychology in western European thought was in a sentence by Steven Blankaart that perhaps typifies the general thought towards it: "Anatomy, which treats of the Body, and Psychology, which treats of the Soul", in this way, psychology came to be treated as an equal to traditional medicine.

**Leibniz (1646-1716) ** One of the first scientists to distinguish between the conscious and unconscious thought. Leibniz believed that the physical world is a continuum. This led to the idea that there is a pre-established harmony in the universe, which implies that there is a supreme being, God. He also believed in a teleological universe in which every element of the world in itself is a miniature universe. Finally, Leibniz believed that all human beings are capable of self awareness, that they can distinguish self from not self. He titled this the "Principle of Sufficient Reason".

**Descartes- (1596-1650) ** Known as the "father of modern psychology", Descartes revolutionized modern thought with his exploration of the mind's isolation from the body. Descartes also described a complex human and animal process that is now commonplace: the reflex. The Cartesian dualism is still troubling, as it raises the question as to how an intangible substance (the mind and by extension the soul) can affect a substantial form of matter (the physical body)

**WESTERN PHILOSOPY **

**﻿Locke (1632-1704) ** Considered to be the first British empiricist and one of the most influential Enlightenment philosophers, Locke had several ideas pertaining to knowledge. First, Locke believed that knowledge and ideas come from experience. In his work "An Essay Concerning Human Understanding", Locke explained that human are blank slates that learn through direct sensory information. Furthermore, Locke believed that innate learning is a fallacy; only senses and perceptions lead to truth, not pre-learned notions. Secondly, Locke believed in reforming religious institutions. He suggested that religious intolerance is unacceptable and that church and state should be separated. Finally, Locke's ideas lead to many modern political ideas. His thoughts on politics were that all people have the right to life, liberty, and property. These ideas and his liberal policies led to many American political documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

﻿**Voltaire (1694-1778)** One of the most prolific writers of the Enlightenment period, Voltaire wrote literally thousands of works stemming from letters to novels to plays. Generally, Voltaire argued against the modern dogmas of Christianity; he believed that religious text is not required to believe in a God, created the theory of Deism and is accepting of other religions that most Christians frowned upon, specifically Judaism. He was also a fierce social reformer of several French institutions, such as intolerance and censorship laws. Voltaire's work later helped lead the American and French Revolutions.

**Hume (1711-1776) ** One of the most important philosophers in Europe, Hume is widely regarded for his philosophies regarding Empiricism. He argued that one's senses pick up perceptions of the world around us but that they never reach the vivacity of the original sentiment. Next, Hume believed that our mind separates into "thoughts and ideas", stemming from experience, and "impressions", stemming from thoughts and ideas. Finally, with these two theories of knowledge, Hume believed that nothing is beyond the power of thought, except for absolute contradictions.

**Kant (1724-1804) ** He was the last major influential philosopher during the Enlightenment. In his novel "The Critique of Pure Reason", Kant explained his views on knowledge. Through the use of specialization, limiting oneself to a relatively small field of inquiry, a lot can be known about a little. Secondly, Kant explained that truth exists in the agreement of the mind with its objects, meaning that no absolute contradiction can exist. Finally, the mind and senses create reality but all knowledge begins with experience; questions are asked, which leads to experiments, which leads to answers.

=﻿ Psychological Implications = =﻿ =
 * Pragmatism**- In many ways preceded by Hobbes, this school of psychology can be said to stem from his work //Leviathan,// in which he valued the use of concrete logic in ruling rather than abstraction. Also supported the idea of an absolute monarch. Also an empiricist, he believed that all the accumulated knowledge of an individual human resulted from sensory input.
 * Music Theory**- Jean-Phillipe Rameau wrote extensively on music theory and what sounded pleasant to the human ear. Dealt with the mind-physical implications of music.
 * Pantheism-** advocated the use of "double-aspectism" to answer Descartes lingering "mind-body" problem. In this, he believed that the mind and body actually existed on the same plane, and the soul existed just as physically as the body. There is one "world of existence", and it is composed of God, a theory known as pantheism.
 * Functionalism-** Berkeley believed that we learn how to coordinate our senses through an innate ritual in infancy, as this is where we gain primary sensory knowledge. We then learn to bring all of this information together to create knowledge.
 * Anti-Philosophy**- Writes //Faust//, in which the intellectual quest for knowledge leads to one scholars eventual downfall.
 * Idealism/Behaviorism-** Hegel wrote of a universe in which at the center there is an absolute spirit that subsequently guides all reality, including human reason. Forerunner of Behaviorism, as there is no free will, although Hegel believed the "absolute spirit" would always make the most reasonable decision for man.
 * Natural Psychology**- Preached by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, in which he believed the natural world and a good education could hold the key to a man of complete rational and reason. Advocated this in //Emile,// treatise on education written about a young boy.

1. In regard to the quote by Voltaire "those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities", how do you think enlightenment philosophers would feel about World War II and the Third Reich? How would they think about any war as a human conflict? 2. How would enlightenment psychologists perceive truth? As an intangible but untouchable concept that we, as humans, know to be true? Or as a fluctuating concept that can change with our view of the world? 3. How would philosophers apply psychology to the events of their own time (French and American Revolution, 30 Years War, Romantic Period)? Would they view them as bold expressions of mans dominance and creativity, or as obtuse, flighty, and overly violent? 4. Because of the focus on the separation of mind and body, would this dualism still apply to the work of Freud on the unconcious urges and dreams? Would this dualism hold up under criticism from those of the "subconcious" and Gestalt school of thought? 5. Is knowledge inborn? Though some of the philosophers believe the mind is a "blank slate" and knowledge is gained through experience, how would they feel about an archetypical Jungian view, or that of Noam Chomsky, who focused on a "language gene"? 6. How does Cartesian Dualism explain an intangible thing (the mind) affecting the actions of a concrete organism (the body)? 7. Is God and the worship of god a social or individual affair? Is God concrete or abstract in the human mind? Consider personal communion with god, Pascal's Wager, Voltaire's criticism of organized religion, and Kant's view on truth.

Sources Cited:

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 * A History of Philosophy, by W.T. Jones**