PSYCHOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY Ms. Watters Marlboro High School

EARLY HISTORY Myths and legends were used to explain human behavior Myths and legends were used to explain human behavior Examples: Examples: Madness was the result of demonic possession Madness was the result of demonic possession The Gods caused a person to behave abnormally The Gods caused a person to behave abnormally Hera caused Hercules to murder his family Hera caused Hercules to murder his family

ORIGINS OF PSYCHOLOGY Psychology begins as philosophy which attempts to explain and understand human behavior by using logic and reason Psychology begins as philosophy which attempts to explain and understand human behavior by using logic and reason Knowledge comes from logic, reasoning, and arguing rather then scientific proof Knowledge comes from logic, reasoning, and arguing rather then scientific proof “Psyche” means soul or conscious mind (a life substance) “Psyche” means soul or conscious mind (a life substance)

THE GREEK PHILOSOPHERS… Asked questions like: Asked questions like: Do we have souls? Do we have souls? How are the mind and body connected? How are the mind and body connected? Does the mind rule the emotions? Does the mind rule the emotions?

The Goal of Philosophy To discover the TRUE causes of human behavior… To discover the TRUE causes of human behavior… Which really means… Which really means… To understand those unseen processes of mind which take place in response to external events and stimuli. To understand those unseen processes of mind which take place in response to external events and stimuli.

The Philosophers Believed That.. Human beings could examine, comprehend, and eventually even guide or control their own thought processes, emotions, and resulting behaviors. Human beings could examine, comprehend, and eventually even guide or control their own thought processes, emotions, and resulting behaviors.

Thales of Miletus BCE BCE Asked questions about human cognition Asked questions about human cognition Believed that the soul is the cause of motion (behavior)…not the Gods Believed that the soul is the cause of motion (behavior)…not the Gods Developed the first two steps of the Scientific Method Developed the first two steps of the Scientific Method Observation Observation Hypothesis Hypothesis

Alcmaeon Approximately 520 BCE Approximately 520 BCE Proposed that sense organs send perceptions to the brain and that we interpret and derive ideas from them Proposed that sense organs send perceptions to the brain and that we interpret and derive ideas from them He believed that these perceptions traveled along “air channels.” He believed that these perceptions traveled along “air channels.”

Protagoras BCE BCE Believed that since perception is the only source of knowledge, then there is no absolute truth Believed that since perception is the only source of knowledge, then there is no absolute truth Raises the issue of the subjectivity of perceptions Raises the issue of the subjectivity of perceptions

Democritus BCE BCE He was from Thrace He was from Thrace All matter is composed of invisible particles linked in different combinations All matter is composed of invisible particles linked in different combinations His explanation of perception… His explanation of perception… Every object gives off or imprints on the atoms of the air images of itself, which travel through the air, reaches the eye of the beholder, and interacts Every object gives off or imprints on the atoms of the air images of itself, which travel through the air, reaches the eye of the beholder, and interacts All knowledge comes from the interaction of these transmitted images with the mind All knowledge comes from the interaction of these transmitted images with the mind

Hippocrates BCE BCE “Father of Medicine” “Father of Medicine” All diseases have natural causes All diseases have natural causes Physical AND mental illnesses have a biochemical basis Physical AND mental illnesses have a biochemical basis Good Health = Balance of Humors Good Health = Balance of Humors Humors are phlegm, blood, yellow bile, black bile Humors are phlegm, blood, yellow bile, black bile

Socrates BCE BCE Claimed to be the “midwife of thought” Claimed to be the “midwife of thought” One who helps others give birth to their ideas One who helps others give birth to their ideas Main interest: Ethics Main interest: Ethics Helping others live a virtuous life Helping others live a virtuous life Focus on critical thought Focus on critical thought Goal being to examine one’s own belief systems Goal being to examine one’s own belief systems

Socrates continued… Method: dialectic (Socratic method) Method: dialectic (Socratic method) Always asking why? Always asking why? We learn through reason We learn through reason Use questions to gain truth because knowledge is within us and can be recovered through correct reasoning Use questions to gain truth because knowledge is within us and can be recovered through correct reasoning Beginnings of dualism (mind vs. matter) Beginnings of dualism (mind vs. matter)

Socrates continued… Basically what he did was… Basically what he did was… Walked around teaching people how to think Walked around teaching people how to think Asked questions in a step by step format until you arrived at the “correct” conclusion Asked questions in a step by step format until you arrived at the “correct” conclusion If he disagreed with your position, he would continue asking questions until you proved yourself wrong… If he disagreed with your position, he would continue asking questions until you proved yourself wrong… Young people…very interested Young people…very interested Elders of Athens…really ticked them off Elders of Athens…really ticked them off

The End of Socrates 399 BCE Socrates is charges with “corrupting the youth” 399 BCE Socrates is charges with “corrupting the youth” Tried and condemned for his teachings by a jury of 500 Athenian citizens (men) Tried and condemned for his teachings by a jury of 500 Athenian citizens (men) Defended himself by speaking about truth and goodness Defended himself by speaking about truth and goodness Given the choice of exile or death Given the choice of exile or death Died by drinking hemlock (poison) Died by drinking hemlock (poison) Left NO writings Left NO writings

Plato BCE (Died at about 84) BCE (Died at about 84) Student of Socrates for 8 years Student of Socrates for 8 years Recorded Socrates speeches Recorded Socrates speeches Fled Athens in 399 BCE after the death of Socrates Fled Athens in 399 BCE after the death of Socrates Age 30 at the time of Socrates death Age 30 at the time of Socrates death Traveled in Egypt and Italy for the next 12 years Traveled in Egypt and Italy for the next 12 years

Plato continued… 387 BCE 387 BCE Returns to Athens and founds “The Academy” Returns to Athens and founds “The Academy” Taught for 40 years Taught for 40 years School lasts for another 900 years (until about 529 AD) School lasts for another 900 years (until about 529 AD) Used Socratic Method (dialectic) while strolling in the gardens Used Socratic Method (dialectic) while strolling in the gardens

Plato Continued… Beliefs: Beliefs: True knowledge is arrived at through reasoning (wise men know more than ignorant ones) True knowledge is arrived at through reasoning (wise men know more than ignorant ones) Only the wise and good should rule Only the wise and good should rule Order is more important than liberty Order is more important than liberty Conceptual knowledge is innate, reason discovers it Conceptual knowledge is innate, reason discovers it

Plato’s “The Republic” 1 st text on political science 1 st text on political science Explored different types of government and how to avoid political errors Explored different types of government and how to avoid political errors Most famous “section” of “The Republic” is.. Most famous “section” of “The Republic” is.. The Allegory of the Cave The Allegory of the Cave Thinly veiled reference to the execution of Socrates Thinly veiled reference to the execution of Socrates

Aristotle BCE BCE Plato’s most distinguished student Plato’s most distinguished student Attended the Academy from Attended the Academy from Passed over for director position Passed over for director position Wrote more than 200 books Wrote more than 200 books Wrote 1 st comprehensive account of psychology Wrote 1 st comprehensive account of psychology Founded his own school, The Lyceum Founded his own school, The Lyceum

Aristotle Continued… Believed in using one’s own senses to discover laws that govern the physical world Believed in using one’s own senses to discover laws that govern the physical world Stressed the importance of inductive reasoning Stressed the importance of inductive reasoning Deriving generalizations from cases or examples Deriving generalizations from cases or examples Developed a classification system for plants and animals Developed a classification system for plants and animals

Aristotle continued… Did not believe that the soul is born with knowledge Did not believe that the soul is born with knowledge We use sense perceptions or remembered perceptions to arrive at general truths We use sense perceptions or remembered perceptions to arrive at general truths Added to the Scientific Method Added to the Scientific Method Observation (Thales) Observation (Thales) Hypothesis (Thales) Hypothesis (Thales) Testing (Aristotle) Testing (Aristotle)

Aristotle continued… Developed the concept of syllogism Developed the concept of syllogism A set of 3 related statements A set of 3 related statements The third statement is a conclusion based on the first two statements The third statement is a conclusion based on the first two statements Example Example Athenians are Greeks Athenians are Greeks Socrates is an Athenian Socrates is an Athenian Therefore, Socrates is Greek Therefore, Socrates is Greek

Overall… Psychology is a Greek Word Psychology is a Greek Word Psyche (mind/soul) Psyche (mind/soul) Ology (the study of) Ology (the study of) Mistakes Mistakes Brain is a big gland that is placed near the nose to cool the forces of life that descend from the heavens and enter the body Brain is a big gland that is placed near the nose to cool the forces of life that descend from the heavens and enter the body Personality comes from what you have in your blood Personality comes from what you have in your blood Black Bile – depression/sadness Black Bile – depression/sadness Yellow bile – bitter, angry, hot tempered Yellow bile – bitter, angry, hot tempered White fluid – sluggish and dull White fluid – sluggish and dull Can be changes through bloodletting (leeches or knife) Can be changes through bloodletting (leeches or knife) Astrology influences behavior Astrology influences behavior Position of the planets can predict behavior Position of the planets can predict behavior

Epicurus BCE BCE There are two passions, pleasure and pain, which affect every living thing There are two passions, pleasure and pain, which affect every living thing

Pyrrho BCE BCE Perceptions can have errors Perceptions can have errors

Zeno BCE BCE One can achieve tranquility through control of the emotions One can achieve tranquility through control of the emotions Good life = controlled life Good life = controlled life

Galen AD AD Personality is based on Hippocrates theory of the four humors Personality is based on Hippocrates theory of the four humors Bodily health can be affected by the psyche Bodily health can be affected by the psyche

Plotinus AD AD Highest wisdom comes when the soul slips free in a trance and perceives the world beyond Highest wisdom comes when the soul slips free in a trance and perceives the world beyond

Tertullian AD AD Christian philosopher Christian philosopher The mind is the thinking part of the soul The mind is the thinking part of the soul

Saint Augustine AD AD Reconciles reason with the teachings of the Catholic Church Reconciles reason with the teachings of the Catholic Church “Seek not to understand in order to believe, but believe in order to understand” “Seek not to understand in order to believe, but believe in order to understand”

Saint Augustine continued… There is a mind-body connection (one influences the other) There is a mind-body connection (one influences the other) Soul is immortal, leaves body after death Soul is immortal, leaves body after death High levels of understanding by transcending reason through the introspective contemplation of God High levels of understanding by transcending reason through the introspective contemplation of God Introduces the concept of free will…explanation of evil Introduces the concept of free will…explanation of evil

Saint Thomas Aquinas AD AD Reconciler of Christian doctrine and Aristotelianism Reconciler of Christian doctrine and Aristotelianism Divides psyche into Divides psyche into Vegetative (physical functions) Vegetative (physical functions) Rational (memory, reason, intellect) Rational (memory, reason, intellect) Sentient (perception, appetite, locomotion) Sentient (perception, appetite, locomotion) Infants mind is tabula rasa (blank slate) Infants mind is tabula rasa (blank slate)

Descartes AD AD Rationalist philosopher Rationalist philosopher “I think therefore I am” “I think therefore I am” Mechanical-Hydraulic theory of behavior Mechanical-Hydraulic theory of behavior Animal spirits flow from the brain through the nerves and cause muscles to swell and move Animal spirits flow from the brain through the nerves and cause muscles to swell and move Higher mental activities are product of the soul Higher mental activities are product of the soul

Benedict Spinoza AD AD Jewish philosopher Jewish philosopher Condemned by Jewish community Condemned by Jewish community Used pure reasoning to deduce the nature of the world, God, and the mind. Used pure reasoning to deduce the nature of the world, God, and the mind. Everything can be understood through reason Everything can be understood through reason

Thomas Hobbes “All men are naturally the enemy of other men” “All men are naturally the enemy of other men” All mental activities must be motions of atoms in the nervous system, and the brain reacting to the motions of atoms in the external world All mental activities must be motions of atoms in the nervous system, and the brain reacting to the motions of atoms in the external world

John Locke AD AD “Essay Concerning Human Understanding” (1670) “Essay Concerning Human Understanding” (1670) Examined experiences of people of varying ages to find out what events, in what sequence, produce knowledge Examined experiences of people of varying ages to find out what events, in what sequence, produce knowledge Knowledge is NOT innate (tabula rasa) Knowledge is NOT innate (tabula rasa) Two sources of the mind’s ideas Two sources of the mind’s ideas Sensation – information Sensation – information Perception – processing Perception – processing

Berkeley AD AD Sight does not give information alone, repeated experiences create associations Sight does not give information alone, repeated experiences create associations Wrote “An Essay Towards a New Theory of Vision” (1709) Wrote “An Essay Towards a New Theory of Vision” (1709)

Hume AD AD We cannot experience causality directly, and cannot know what it is or even prove that it exists We cannot experience causality directly, and cannot know what it is or even prove that it exists

Kant AD AD Causality is not self-evident but we CAN understand the world around us Causality is not self-evident but we CAN understand the world around us The mind organizes perceptions into knowledge The mind organizes perceptions into knowledge

Dr. Franz Mesmer AD AD Magnetic fields need to be realigned in the body Magnetic fields need to be realigned in the body Used hypnosis and “drama” Used hypnosis and “drama” Shows the power of suggestion Shows the power of suggestion

Gall AD AD Phrenology Phrenology The study of traits/personality by studying the bumps on the head The study of traits/personality by studying the bumps on the head Looking for hyper development of areas Looking for hyper development of areas

Broca Worked with “Tan” whom he later autopsied Worked with “Tan” whom he later autopsied Discovered left side of the brain was damaged Discovered left side of the brain was damaged Discovered Broca’s Area – syntax area for speech Discovered Broca’s Area – syntax area for speech

Wernicke Worked with patients that could use words, but not in the correct way Worked with patients that could use words, but not in the correct way Discovered Wernicke’s Area (Controls semantics) Discovered Wernicke’s Area (Controls semantics)

Muller AD AD Concept of the nerve impulse Concept of the nerve impulse Perceptions that are sent to the brain are sent as impulses Perceptions that are sent to the brain are sent as impulses

Weber 1795 AD 1795 AD Concept of “just noticeable difference” (jnd) Concept of “just noticeable difference” (jnd) Proved through experimentation Proved through experimentation

Herman Helmholtz AD AD Experimented to see how fast a nerve impulse travels Experimented to see how fast a nerve impulse travels Developed theory of color vision Developed theory of color vision Looked a differentiation between sensation and perception Looked a differentiation between sensation and perception

Donders AD AD The lag between a stimulus and voluntary response is due to nerve transmission and thought processes The lag between a stimulus and voluntary response is due to nerve transmission and thought processes

Fechner Searched for a mathematical relationship between stimuli and sensations Searched for a mathematical relationship between stimuli and sensations

Wilhelm Wundt AD AD “Father of Psychology” “Father of Psychology” Opened the first psychology lab in Leipzig Germany in 1879 Opened the first psychology lab in Leipzig Germany in 1879 Mental processes can be experimentally studied Mental processes can be experimentally studied Used process of introspection Used process of introspection Precise method of “looking within” Precise method of “looking within”

Ebbinghaus Conducted memory experiments using nonsense words Conducted memory experiments using nonsense words Takes previous knowledge out of play Takes previous knowledge out of play

William James AD AD Wrote the 1 st psychology textbook Wrote the 1 st psychology textbook “Principles of Psychology” “Principles of Psychology” Conducted some experiments Conducted some experiments Creator of functionalism Creator of functionalism

Functionalism Influenced by Darwin Influenced by Darwin The minds complex processed had evolved because of their life-preserving functions The minds complex processed had evolved because of their life-preserving functions Consciousness is a function, not a thing Consciousness is a function, not a thing Studied by stream of consciousness analysis Studied by stream of consciousness analysis The will is a conscious process that directs voluntary movement The will is a conscious process that directs voluntary movement

NON-WESTERN PHILOSOPHY Other cultures also have an influence on psychology Other cultures also have an influence on psychology

Lao-Tzu 575 BCE 575 BCE The “Do-nothing” Sage The “Do-nothing” Sage Wrote the Tao te Ching Wrote the Tao te Ching Often speaks in terms of opposites (contradictions) Often speaks in terms of opposites (contradictions) People should follow the Tao through the wu wei… People should follow the Tao through the wu wei… Allow nature to take it’s course and not force actions on yourself or others..balance will eventually be restored Allow nature to take it’s course and not force actions on yourself or others..balance will eventually be restored

Confucius BCE BCE Promoted social order based on humanity (benevolence), custom, and personal moral cultivation. Promoted social order based on humanity (benevolence), custom, and personal moral cultivation. People should follow the chung-yung, or Golden Mean (moderation, normality, and universal moral law) People should follow the chung-yung, or Golden Mean (moderation, normality, and universal moral law) Everyone has a role to fill in society and it is your responsibility to do so no matter what it is. Everyone has a role to fill in society and it is your responsibility to do so no matter what it is.

Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) Change, including death and decay, is universal, natural, and inescapable Change, including death and decay, is universal, natural, and inescapable Human life is suffering Human life is suffering One can escape suffering by not focusing on one’s self, following the Middle Path, and helping others One can escape suffering by not focusing on one’s self, following the Middle Path, and helping others The goal is to achieve nirvana The goal is to achieve nirvana