Updated: July 24, 2002

Fall 2000

WEEK FOUR ASSIGNMENT

4.1 Read Brennan, Chapters 6, 7, 8

4.2 Group Discussion for week:

Groups A and B will study the French Tradition in the 16th, 17th and 18th century

Groups C and D will study the English Tradition of the same period

Groups E and F will study the German Tradition of the above period

Each group will discuss and then individually submit answers to the following questions in two double spaced typed pages after reading the respective chapters and other resources available for your assigned tradition.

1. Identify a key philosopher of your assigned period and summarize their core contribution to the History and Systems of Psychology.
2. How does your French, English or German tradition answer the question," Is a Science of the mind possible?" Support your position with references from at least three sources.
3. After reading Brennan, Chapter 6,7 and 8, which of these European traditions support your personal life maps? Give examples and document your position. Compare your views with one or two others in your class.
4. What have you learned about yourself while writing this exercise?

Where possible submit your responses to the message board.

Everyone will come prepared to class in week four to discuss the above questions and defend their assigned philosophical tradition.

4.3 Present Service Learning Project (reflective paper two) – what psychological theories are emerging in your relationship with your student?

Lecturette Four Chapter Six, Seven and Eight

Remember, history is not written by losers.
Chapters six, seven and eight, provide a foreshadowing of current psychological theories. With the Scientific Revolution came the undermining of the Renaissance position and the new world reality that was, "scientific, mathematical, and mechanical" (Leahy, p.141). Leahy concludes, "In the process, the older view of the world and its relation to humankind as a pattern of mystically meaningful symbols disappeared."

The foundation of contemporary psychology emerges from the new world view that is built on reason, scientific research and experiments rather than the more spiritual search for truth. Consciousness, a tenet of the new science of psychology now took center stage in the ongoing study of mankind. What is consciousness and can it be scientifically studied? The inner world of human beings as we know it today became an accepted world to study. This chapter attempts to identify key contributions from the French, English and German perspective. Various theorists and their abbreviated positions are detailed in these chapters.

Some key theorists discussed in Brennan include, Etienne Bonnet De Condillac, (the mind can be be derived from a single sense capacity) . For more details about Condillac and his influences click here.

Other prominent theorists include Auguste Comte, John Locke, Renee Descartes, James Mill, and Immanuel Kant. (the mind is an active entity governed by innate laws and structures…it translates sensations into ideas ( Brennan,p..125). What was Kant saying at this point? Take a minute to review some of his writings and integrate them into your weekly discussion assignment. Click here for Kant

Would you spend ten minutes with August Comte? Why?

August Comte, assumed human behavior has strict underlying laws that can be learned if we studied them. He felt if we could understand these laws, we could learn how to avoid moral evils just as medical scientists learn how to cure medical diseases.Take a minute and think about his hypothesis. He suggests human beings have a universal blue print that can be uncovered. He seems to override the domain of the individual. Western society today supports the role of the individual.

He is credited with creating the social sciences. As Brennan states, Comte omitted psychology and "place the study of the individual under physiology, thereby agreeing with the sensory-physiological view of psychology advocated by Condillac and La Mettrie,(p.100). I challenge you to read more about Comte and see if you agree with his view of human nature. See Brennan's summary of Comte's position," ..Comte's application of his own views resulted in an attemted utopia that proved embarrassing to those who tried to take him seriously." What is Brennan talking about?

Where is the beef?

The French reduced psychology, according Brennan, to " a materialism that focused on the mechanics of sensory processes to explain all psychological activity" (p.89). Human beings were viewed as machines with a purpose. The role of religion explaining human nature began to subside.
Leahy identified Descartes and John Locke as the two key theorists of the period who created the basis for the first scientific psychology, the Way of the Ideas (p.145). Decartes ideas about psychology evolved within a Christian worldview altered by the Reformation and the Scientific Revolution. How long will his ideas be accepted? Do you believe in his positions outlined in this historical period? Can you see his impressions in your personal life map?

What is the origin of your consciousness? Some hints!

What is the Cartesian Theatre and what does it have to do with consciousness? Click here for an answer.

Of all the authors presented in the three chapters this week, which one would you most like to meet and what would you ask them? Can you imagine, Kant and Sigmund Freud sitting in a cafeteria talking about human nature? Is Kant a precursor to Freudian theory? Where do all the questions come from and who has the right answers? Please tell me!