Overview
This lecture reviews key historical influences on the study of the mind, tracing the development of major philosophical and scientific ideas from ancient Greece to the theory of evolution.
Early Philosophers: Plato and Aristotle
- Plato believed knowledge is innate and placed in the mind by a higher being; this is called nativism.
- Aristotle, Plato’s student, argued that knowledge is gained through experience, known as empiricism.
- Plato focused on abstract thought, while Aristotle prioritized empirical observation.
The Renaissance and Resurgence of Inquiry
- After a historical gap during the Dark Ages, interest in the mind revived during the Renaissance.
- René Descartes, a nativist like Plato, claimed some ideas are innate and arise from consciousness itself.
- Descartes noted that sensory experiences can trigger, but do not cause, innate ideas.
The Scientific Revolution: Newton and Locke
- Isaac Newton contributed to scientific progress through the development of the scientific method, though not directly related to psychology.
- John Locke, inspired by Newton, proposed that knowledge and ideas are built from elemental experiences ("molecules of ideas").
- Locke introduced the concept of "tabula rasa" (blank slate), suggesting we are born without innate knowledge.
Evolutionary Thought: Erasmus and Charles Darwin
- Erasmus Darwin promoted the idea that species could change over time, influencing later theories of evolution.
- Charles Darwin, building on his grandfather's ideas, formulated natural selection to explain how evolution occurs.
- Darwin’s theory of natural selection is based on three assumptions: traits are heritable, there is variation in traits, and differential reproductive success determines which traits persist.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Nativism — The belief that certain ideas or knowledge are innate, present at birth.
- Empiricism — The view that knowledge arises from sensory experiences and observation.
- Tabula Rasa — The idea that the mind is a blank slate at birth, acquiring knowledge through experience.
- Natural Selection — The process where environmental pressures favor certain traits, leading to evolution.
- Heritability — The ability of traits to be passed from parents to offspring.
- Variation — Differences in traits among individuals within a population.
- Differential Reproductive Success — The idea that some traits increase the likelihood of survival and reproduction.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Reflect on how to explain Darwin’s three natural selection assumptions (heritability, variation, differential reproductive success) in simple terms.
- Prepare examples or analogies to clarify these concepts for discussion.