PS390 Chapter Notes - Chapter 12: Auguste Comte, Scientific Method, Behaviorism
Document Summary
Comte rejected possibility of psychology as a natural science. Lange argued one could study appearances and events w rigorous natural-science concepts and methods (incl animal research) and could formulate natural laws based on those appearances. Willy regarded it as afflicted by fundamental metaphysical and methodological problems in its claims to be a legitimate natural science. Stage theory of the ideal development of human thought: In positive state of human development (unfolding since bacon"s era) humans studied the positive sciences: they employed scientific method to investigate natural objects and observed empirical facts. Comte argued psych should be excluded from the positive sciences. Believed philosophical psych represented last phase of theology (the least form of development) Suggested mental phenomena should be studied w/i the disciplines of anatomy, physiology and his own programme of positive philosophy; and he repudiated introspection. Comte"s perspective was realized in watson"s and moreso skinner"s behaviourism.
