History and Systems of Psychology

Abstract

In this paper the philosophers that historically relate to the beginning of psychology as a discipline will be identified. The major philosophers in the western tradition whom were primarily contributors to the formation of psychology, and the development of the science of psychology during the 19th century will also be discussed.

Wilhelm Wundt, a German doctor and psychologist, was responsible for creating the world's first psychology lab. Wundt established this lab in 1879 at the University of Leipzig in Germany, and by doing so created an academic laboratory that was dedicated to the study of experimental psychology. Wundt officially took psychology from a less disciplined part of philosophy and biology to a scientific discipline (Cherry, Kendra). William Wundt is known to be the father of psychology. He is famous for his findings on introspection, which is the experiments and reporting of the conscious inner thoughts desires and sensations. Introspection relies on thinking, reasoning, and explaining one's own thoughts. A student of Wundt, G. Stanley Hall, stated that the first experimental psychological laboratory was at John Hopkins University. Hall explored the field of Psychology and Education together with Wundt. He was known to organize psychology and education as one. The theory that Hall is known for is his theory of recapitulation. The theory explains that each person goes through changes in both the psychic and somatic senses, which follow the scale of evolution of the mind and body (Grezlik, May 1999). Another early Greek philosopher was Aristotle. If we hold truths to Aristotle beliefs we would understand fundamentally by observations or otherwise known as empirical learning. Aristotle believed in direct experience or experiments, which is when we gain knowledge by using to some degree our traditional five senses of seeing, touching, hearing, smelling, and tasting. Empirical learning is a way of gaining knowledge by means of direct observations or experience, most of the time that is repeated. Psychology evolved out of philosophy and biology, which have both seen discussions of the two subjects that date as far back as the early Greek thinkers such as Aristotle and Socrates. The word "psychology" is derived from the Greek word psyche, meaning soul or mind.

Plato is one of the founding fathers of philosophy and has had a massive impact on the history of western thought (Great Thinkers A-Z, 2004, p. 1 ). Although he is not the first psychologist to be a philosopher he founded one of the earliest known organized schools in the Western Civilization. Plato used logical thinking as how things should be conceived. Plato (speaking through Socrates) divides the human race based upon their innate intelligence, strength, and courage, and those who are not overly intelligent, strong, or brave, were suited to various productive professions such as farming, smithing, building, etc. Those who are intelligent, strong, and especially courageous were suited to defensive and policing professions,