PSYC 2230 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Tabula Rasa, Philosophical Theory, Ancient Greek Philosophy
16 Oct 2017
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Philosophical and physiological theory: philosophical theory is derived from notions about what constitutes human nature and was very much a part of greek philosophy. E. g. , aristotle proposed the soul (mind) is free; free will and choice. The mind at birth is a blank slate. Experience and learning determine in part the mind"s contents such as our knowledge an understanding of the world. Contrary to aristotle"s position is determinism: all action is caused by antecedent variables. Descartes" approach suggests a mechanical view of human nature as in automatic reactions to stimuli and also a cognitive view of the mind"s capacity to think and reason and have choice. Nature - nurture controversy is an outgrowth of aristotle and descartes" competing views: locke introduced two important ideas for psychology, role of sensory experience in determining contents of mind; mind at birth is a blank state, a. And: association of ideas in which sensation is converted into ideas, the basic units of the mind.
