ch 3: Subject matter, methods and the making of a new science

Question 1

2 Major Challenges for Psych in the lat 19th century:

Answer 1

• Define its subject matter

- Develop a method to study its subject matter

Question 2

Kant's Challenge
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)

Answer 2

• questioned the possibility of natural science of mind

- helped emergence of Psych as others attempted to refute him

Question 3

2 Domains of Reality for Kant

Answer 3

1. Noumenal world: objects in a pure sate, this would exists independent of human exeprience
2. Phenomenal world: internal experience of the noumenal world mediated through our mental and sensory apparatus
   * Humans never directly experience the pure reality of things**

Question 4

Kant’s view on Time & space

Answer 4

• time & space are not reality, we see things in space but we don’t see space
• time doesn’t exist
• our minds add the concept of time to the date we are perceiving
• it’s innately equipped to add time frame; in “reality” it’s just a series of images…no before or after
• we have no way of understanding how things would exist without space
• space & time are the framework within which the mind is constrained to construct its experience of reality

Question 5

Kant’s Noumenal World

Answer 5

• mind is active and uses rules to transfrom the noumenal world into phenomenal world
• world is not organized the way we perceive it, rather the mind structures it this way

Question 6

Kant’s view on psychology of mind

Answer 6

• Psychology of mind should remain historical, descriptive & philosophical
• Mental phenomenon do not have physical existence & cannot be observed and manipulated, time but no space
• Cant be changed into mathematical equations
• Natural science is experimental and mathematical and psychology could never measure up to it