Psychology Course 2.3 History (2016-2017)
PSYCHOLOGY YEAR 2
HISTORY
History and Methods of Psychology
The specific objectives of this course
Know the history of psychology through philosophers, scientists and psychologists
Their perspectives on the many scientific and psychological issues
The history and perspectives on ontological issues in psychology: What is the mind? What is a mental disorder?
The history of the methods and perspectives in psychology (for example introspection, behaviorism, and clinical psychology)
Philosophical perspectives on scientific practice by Popper and Kuhn
The different ideas on the problem of free will
The different perspectives on psychology’s future and its relationship with neuroscience
Exam components during the course:
Attendance requirement (100% attendance)
Course exam on December 22th (50 multiple-choice questions)
Practical assignments on December 23th
Property of Sarina Verwijmeren
, Psychology Course 2.3 History (2016-2017)
Problem 2.1 Back to Square One
B.R. Hergenhahn: pages 46-50; 50-58; 121-125; 138-143; 146-153
BASICS
Determinism According to a determinist everything that occurs is based on laws Aristotle, Hume
of nature. Everything is predetermined based on what has already
happened. This means that if you gather enough information, you
can predict outcomes based on previous information.
Dualism According to a dualist there is another reality (God, heaven, the Plato, Descartes, Locke
world of ideas…) we cannot see, in addition to the reality we wit-
ness. Body and mind are independent entities.
Empiricism The empiricist is convinced knowledge is based on perception and Aristotle, Locke, Hume
the senses. Hard-core empiricists don’t even think cognitive pro-
cessing is necessary for acquiring knowledge. Other empiricists
think cognitive processing can help in the acquisition of knowledge.
Monism According to a monist there is only one form of existence, either
material or ideal
Reductionism: believes that the body and mind are equal to
each other.
× Materialism: believes everything is matter, even psycho-
logical processes. Therefore, a materialist is also a monist
and reductionist.
Idealism: thinks the truth consists of ideas, and is not a physi-
cal thing. Therefore, an idealist is also a monist.
Nativism According to a nativist true knowledge is innate, present upon Plato, Descartes, Locke
birth. Many nativists are hard-core rationalists.
Rationalism Knowledge happens through reason, according to a rationalist. Ac- Plato, Aristotle, Descartes
cording to real hard-core rationalist’s perception is unnecessary.
According to other rationalist’s knowledge is acquired through rea-
soning about sensory perception/perceptual observation.
IDEAS OF ACIENT BIG PHILOSOPHERS
Plato’s Ideas (427-347 B.C.)
Historical setting: lived in the classical Greek ages, whilst teaching Aristotle his methods (Aristotle was 17, Plato was 60).
His work can be divided into two periods:
× First period: reported the methods and thoughts of his teacher rather than himself. His teacher was Socrates. However,
Socrates died at the end of this period. This took place in Athens, Greece.
× Second period: he was taught by Pythagoreans in Italy. After this he returned to Athens and founded his own school which
taught a combination of both the teachers’ methods.
Dualist ideas: there are two worlds: the world of knowledge (1) and the world of opinion (2). The world of knowledge is based
on the idea that the universe consists of perfects forms/ideas that are only can be acquired through reason. The world of opinion
consists of the external stimuli. This will not lead to acquiring the ultimate knowledge.
The theory of forms or ideas: Pythagoreans taught Plato that numeral relationships are abstract, but nonetheless real for they
can influence the empirical world. Plato based his theory on this idea, but took it a step further: everything in the empirical world
(world of opinion) in a manifestation of a pure idea that exists in the abstract world (world of knowledge). In between the abstract
world and the empirical world, these ideas are not a perfect match. However, he thought that knowledge could only be acquired
with reason since it was already acquired at birth.
Property of Sarina Verwijmeren
PSYCHOLOGY YEAR 2
HISTORY
History and Methods of Psychology
The specific objectives of this course
Know the history of psychology through philosophers, scientists and psychologists
Their perspectives on the many scientific and psychological issues
The history and perspectives on ontological issues in psychology: What is the mind? What is a mental disorder?
The history of the methods and perspectives in psychology (for example introspection, behaviorism, and clinical psychology)
Philosophical perspectives on scientific practice by Popper and Kuhn
The different ideas on the problem of free will
The different perspectives on psychology’s future and its relationship with neuroscience
Exam components during the course:
Attendance requirement (100% attendance)
Course exam on December 22th (50 multiple-choice questions)
Practical assignments on December 23th
Property of Sarina Verwijmeren
, Psychology Course 2.3 History (2016-2017)
Problem 2.1 Back to Square One
B.R. Hergenhahn: pages 46-50; 50-58; 121-125; 138-143; 146-153
BASICS
Determinism According to a determinist everything that occurs is based on laws Aristotle, Hume
of nature. Everything is predetermined based on what has already
happened. This means that if you gather enough information, you
can predict outcomes based on previous information.
Dualism According to a dualist there is another reality (God, heaven, the Plato, Descartes, Locke
world of ideas…) we cannot see, in addition to the reality we wit-
ness. Body and mind are independent entities.
Empiricism The empiricist is convinced knowledge is based on perception and Aristotle, Locke, Hume
the senses. Hard-core empiricists don’t even think cognitive pro-
cessing is necessary for acquiring knowledge. Other empiricists
think cognitive processing can help in the acquisition of knowledge.
Monism According to a monist there is only one form of existence, either
material or ideal
Reductionism: believes that the body and mind are equal to
each other.
× Materialism: believes everything is matter, even psycho-
logical processes. Therefore, a materialist is also a monist
and reductionist.
Idealism: thinks the truth consists of ideas, and is not a physi-
cal thing. Therefore, an idealist is also a monist.
Nativism According to a nativist true knowledge is innate, present upon Plato, Descartes, Locke
birth. Many nativists are hard-core rationalists.
Rationalism Knowledge happens through reason, according to a rationalist. Ac- Plato, Aristotle, Descartes
cording to real hard-core rationalist’s perception is unnecessary.
According to other rationalist’s knowledge is acquired through rea-
soning about sensory perception/perceptual observation.
IDEAS OF ACIENT BIG PHILOSOPHERS
Plato’s Ideas (427-347 B.C.)
Historical setting: lived in the classical Greek ages, whilst teaching Aristotle his methods (Aristotle was 17, Plato was 60).
His work can be divided into two periods:
× First period: reported the methods and thoughts of his teacher rather than himself. His teacher was Socrates. However,
Socrates died at the end of this period. This took place in Athens, Greece.
× Second period: he was taught by Pythagoreans in Italy. After this he returned to Athens and founded his own school which
taught a combination of both the teachers’ methods.
Dualist ideas: there are two worlds: the world of knowledge (1) and the world of opinion (2). The world of knowledge is based
on the idea that the universe consists of perfects forms/ideas that are only can be acquired through reason. The world of opinion
consists of the external stimuli. This will not lead to acquiring the ultimate knowledge.
The theory of forms or ideas: Pythagoreans taught Plato that numeral relationships are abstract, but nonetheless real for they
can influence the empirical world. Plato based his theory on this idea, but took it a step further: everything in the empirical world
(world of opinion) in a manifestation of a pure idea that exists in the abstract world (world of knowledge). In between the abstract
world and the empirical world, these ideas are not a perfect match. However, he thought that knowledge could only be acquired
with reason since it was already acquired at birth.
Property of Sarina Verwijmeren
