PSYC 110 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Tabula Rasa, Empiricism, Contiguity

• School: Emory University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 110
• Professor: Kazama Andrew

Document Summary

Church first had the idea that each human being consisted of 2 distinct entities, the body and the soul (dulaism) Rene descartes first one to challenge this. Descartes version of dualism: focus on the body. Believed that even quite complex behaviors can occur purely thru mechanical means, without involvement of the soul. Humans have thought, conscious deliberation and judgement . Thomas hobbes and the philosophy of materialism. English philosopher-- argued that spirit, or soul, is a meaningless concept and nothing exists but matter and energy (philosophy known as materialism) All human behavior can be understood in terms of physical processes in the body, especially the brain. 19th century physiology increased understanding of the reflexes the concept of localization of function in the brain phrenology. The idea that the mind and behavior are shaped by experience. Empiricism-- idea that human knowledge and thought derive from sensory experience. Experience serves as the chalk that writes on and fills the slate.