Philosophy today can be seen as a manifestation of the workings of the human mind, while psychology studies the mind itself. Philosophy is therefore a very important aspect in helping the psychologist understand the human mind. Philosophy is indeed responsible for the birth of psychology as a discipline in itself, as mentioned.
While the early philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, are responsible for many of the ideas in both philosophy and psychology today, the 17th century philosopher Rene Descartes is known as the "father of modern philosophy" (Consciousness 9). All these philosophers made a specific point of studying what it means to be human and conscious.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung built upon the work of all the above philosophers in order to develop his theories of the conscious and the subconscious. This can be related to the ancient Greek ideas of the body, mind, soul, and spirit, and how these interrelate to create different levels of consciousness. As the rest of the Consciousness chapter shows, the mind cannot be studied without also considering philosophy. The ancient philosophers were also psychologists. Today, psychologists must also be philosophers. Although these disciplines have separated, they cannot in truth be seen as anything but parts of studying the human mind and what it means to be conscious.
Psychology is indebted to philosophy for its existence and as such, the latter should always form part of investigations into the former. No psychologist can claim that he or she does not also consider philosophy when studying the mind.
4. Do the current paradigms in psychology differ from those dominant in the past?
When examining the origins of psychology as we know it today, one can draw certain parallels and also divisions in the way philosophers thought about the human mind over the centuries. These considerations demonstrate that there are indeed differences between the paradigms dominant in the past and those that are seen as important today. The reasons for this can be numerous and complex. Behind these reasons lies the fact that human society develops and changes throughout its existence over the centuries. As social and philosophical paradigms change, so do the paradigms of psychology.
The Chapter on Philosophical Assumptions of the Cognitive Revolution (2) for example notes that the Ancient Greeks featured certain assumptions and paradigms relating to the human mind of the time. These related mainly to physical objects and their relation to the mind. Aristotle particularly can be seen as promoting the idea of empirical research in order to gain knowledge. In turn, the religious paradigm that was dominant in the society of the 17th century gave rise to the idea that divine power is the root of all knowledge (Philosophical Assumptions 2). It is therefore clear that psychological research and development occurs not only by means of empirical research, but is also widely influenced by the social and psychological beliefs of any given time. The manifestations of these beliefs in psychological paradigms in themselves are also a valuable indication of the very psychological paradigm being studied.
Particularly important to the development and study of psychology today is the fact of technological advancement (Philosophical Assumptions 2). The 20th century, up to the first decade of the new century in which philosophers and psychologists find themselves, is particularly interesting as a result of the cognitive revolution, which the Chapter places between 1950 and 1970. New technology such as processing models and cognitive research methods lends itself perfectly to the study of this revolution and the paradigms arising from it.
Another interesting aspect of the psychological paradigms prevalent today is its influences. Whereas past paradigms were mainly influenced by social or spiritual ideas, today's psychology is influenced by multi-disciplinary aspects and developments in society. The Chapter for example mentions Alan Turing, the "father of modern computer science" (Philosophical Assumptions 3) and the linguist Noam Chomsky (Philosophical Assumptions...
Evolution of Special Education: Pre-1950s to Present Special Education Evolutions Special reduction has made tremendous evolutions since its inception. To effectively understand the current state of special education in public education, it is necessary to consider the full trajectory and how the perspectives on special education have developed over the years. The first special education programs were target at "at risk" children who primarily resided in urban slums and ghettos after a
Therefore, the person who chooses to suspend his interests to comply with those artificial externally-imposed social values for the benefit of others will ultimately always suffer disadvantage because others cannot be counted upon to do so consistently and in a meaningful way, at least not beyond the ability of the state to control and ensure. To Freud, modern civilization provides various tangible benefits to the individual but only at a
Clinical Psychology Dissertation - Dream Content as a Therapeutic Approach: Ego Gratification vs. Repressed Feelings An Abstract of a Dissertation Dream Content as a Therapeutic Approach: Ego Gratification vs. Repressed Feelings This study sets out to determine how dreams can be used in a therapeutic environment to discuss feelings from a dream, and how the therapist should engage the patient to discuss them to reveal the relevance of those feelings, in their present,
Invisible Century: Einstein, Freud and the Search for Hidden Universes," Richard Panek argues that both Einstein and Freud cut across the barriers of science in their time and, through scrupulous observation not only did they produce a revolution in their respective fields of research but, most importantly, they prompted a "revolution in thought" by using as instruments of research not so much mathematical formulas, but more, the tool of
Postmodern Bereavement Theory Bereavement is a universal observable fact as every human being experiences the loss of a loved one at some point in his/her life. However, every individual experiences it in a unique way. It is, without a doubt, an undeniable truth that to be human is to grieve. The passing away of a loved one can be difficult, irresistible and dreadful for any normal individual. When people are
Psychological and Socio-Cultural Theories of Risk Definition of Risk The term "risk" is often defined differently depending on the particular paradigm. For example, risk is economics is typically defined in terms of differences in possible monetary outcomes and individuals/corporations involved in risk -- seeking behavior are typically seeking higher monetary payoffs (Markowitz 1952). When clinical psychologists, sociologists, law enforcement officials, and lay individuals identify "risky behaviors" they are referring to a broader
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now