PSYC 305 Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Noble Savage, Baruch Spinoza, Existentialism
7 Sep 2018
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Romanticism and extentialism were a response to the elightenment era (chapters 5 and 6) during which many universal truths su(cid:272)h as god"s e(cid:454)iste(cid:374)(cid:272)e (cid:449)e(cid:396)e de(cid:374)ied a(cid:374)d i(cid:374)stead su(cid:271)je(cid:272)ti(cid:448)e i(cid:374)di(cid:448)idual (cid:396)atio(cid:374)al t(cid:396)uths (cid:449)e(cid:396)e a(cid:272)(cid:272)epted. Romanticism was a complex response to many simultaneous and competing social forces and changes that arose at the end of the 18th century. It emphasized the irrational components of human nature: feelings (emotions), intuitions and instincts. Previously (empiricists and sensationalists) people believed that all human emotions are derived from feelings of pleasure and pain. And that emotions get associated to ideas from the past. Spinoza (a rationalist) also believed that most human emotions are derived from pain and that they may get in the way of rational thought. Romantics elevate emotions to being the primary guides for human conduct. Feelings in contrast to reason as the important guiding force in human nature.
