国外心理学史2课件2.ppt

A History of Psychology 1.The Spirit of Mechanism (17th-19th century Zeitgeist) Clocks and mechanical figures Influenced the direction of psychology Mechanism The universe as a great machine Feature of science Observation, experimentation, measurement Nature Philosophy = physics Newton: the universe is a clock, made by God. It is measurable, predictable, and orderly II. The Clock Universe Clock as metaphor for mechanism Determinism and reductionism Automata The calculating engine II. The Clock Universe Clock as metaphor for mechanism Available to all levels of society Behaviors are Regular, predictable, precise Harmony and order of the universe II. The Clock Universe Determinism and reductionism Determinism Every act is determined by past events. If universe = a clock, then we can predict change because we know the order and regularity of a clock Reductionism Like clock could be understood by reducing them to their basic components to know its functioning Explain phenomena on one level (e.g., complex ideas) in terms of phenomena on another level (e.g., simple ideas) II. The Clock Universe Automata People as Machine Automata as models for human beings Bodies were like machines made by God II. The Clock Universe– The calculating engine Charles Babbage Charles Babbage (1791-1871) Enrolled at Cambridge U. Knew about math more than faculty Became a mathematic professor at Cambridge II. The Clock Universe The calculating engine Automata: human physical action Calculator: human mental action Babbage invited 300 people to his home to look at his design Called “The difference engine” However, Government withdrew funding?upset II. The Clock Universe Calculator imitated human mental actions Influence modern computer, human cognitive process, a form of artificial intelligence III. The beginnings of Modern Science Empiricism The pursuit of knowledge through observation and experimentation Rene Descartes (1596-1650) Applied the idea of the clockwork mech