PSY 4130 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Ernst Mach, Julien Offray De La Mettrie, Ethology
5 Mar 2016
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Asserts evidence of senses constitutes primary data of all knowledge. Must use evidence and only this evidence in framing valid propositions about real world. Belief knowledge is derived from experience, especially sensory. Belief: primary motive in human behaviour = seeking pleasure and avoidance of pain (hedonistic. Function of govn"t is to satisfy as many human needs as possible, prevent fighting. All human activity, including mental activity, could be reduced to atoms in motion; o o therefore materialist. Mind is series of motions within the person, physical monist. Hobbe"s explanation of psychological phenomena o o o o. Sense organs retain motion caused by certain external objects. Appetite, seeking, maintaining pleasure, aversion, avoidance or termination of pain drove human behaviour. Distinguished between primary qualities which cause sensations corresponding to actual attributes of physical bodies and secondary qualities which cause sensations that have no counterpart in physical world. Type of ideas caused by sensory stimulation, caused by reflection, simple ideas, complex ideas,
