Beginning of Psychology
The Beginning of Psychology
What is Psychology? Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior. Psychology predates back to the 19th century and includes roots into early philosophy. In the history of Psychology one can identify philosophers that historically relate to the beginning of psychology and identify major philosophers that historically relate to the beginning of psychology as a formal discipline. One can also identify how the development of the science of psychology changed during the 19th century. Philosophers such as John Locke, David Hume, and the man who was known as “The Father of Modern Psychology” (Goodwin 2008) Rene Descartes are just a few philosophers who historically relate to the beginnings of psychology as a formal discipline.
Rene Descartes
Born in 1596, Rene Descartes was a French mathematician anatomist and philosopher. Descartes believed in duality, that the mind and body were two separate and distinct entities. His life overlapped with many advances and changes to history and belief systems in science, philosophy, and the arts. In his summary, Goodwin (2008) explains,
Descartes was a rationalist, believing that the way to true knowledge was through the systematic use of his reasoning abilities. Because he believed that some truths were universal and could be arrived at through reason and without the necessity of sensory experience, he was also a nativist. In addition, he was a dualist and an interactionist, believing that mind and body were distinct essences, but that they had direct influence on each other (p. 59).
Before Descartes died he published his last of many books called: The Passions of the Soul. This book established him as a psychologist and a physiologist (Goodwin, 2008). This book emphasized on human emotions and continued on with a discussion about mind and body distinctions. He Clarified the body is a machine and responds to curtain motions, such as fear, that trigger reflexes. Descartes also
What is Psychology? Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior. Psychology predates back to the 19th century and includes roots into early philosophy. In the history of Psychology one can identify philosophers that historically relate to the beginning of psychology and identify major philosophers that historically relate to the beginning of psychology as a formal discipline. One can also identify how the development of the science of psychology changed during the 19th century. Philosophers such as John Locke, David Hume, and the man who was known as “The Father of Modern Psychology” (Goodwin 2008) Rene Descartes are just a few philosophers who historically relate to the beginnings of psychology as a formal discipline.
Rene Descartes
Born in 1596, Rene Descartes was a French mathematician anatomist and philosopher. Descartes believed in duality, that the mind and body were two separate and distinct entities. His life overlapped with many advances and changes to history and belief systems in science, philosophy, and the arts. In his summary, Goodwin (2008) explains,
Descartes was a rationalist, believing that the way to true knowledge was through the systematic use of his reasoning abilities. Because he believed that some truths were universal and could be arrived at through reason and without the necessity of sensory experience, he was also a nativist. In addition, he was a dualist and an interactionist, believing that mind and body were distinct essences, but that they had direct influence on each other (p. 59).
Before Descartes died he published his last of many books called: The Passions of the Soul. This book established him as a psychologist and a physiologist (Goodwin, 2008). This book emphasized on human emotions and continued on with a discussion about mind and body distinctions. He Clarified the body is a machine and responds to curtain motions, such as fear, that trigger reflexes. Descartes also
References: Goodwin, C. J. (2008). A history of modern psychology (3rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Jon Wiley & Sons. Hunt, M. (1993). The story of psychology. New York, NY: Random House. Ritchie, A. D. (1967). George Berkeley a reappraisal. New York, NY: Barnes & Noble.