Lecture 1.1 Flashcards
What is Whig History?
Whig History is when it is assumed the way things are today is the best possible way they can be.
What does Whig History assume about the present’s status?
Whig History assumes the present’s status is the best possible way things can be.
Why is Wilhelm Wundt not always considered the founder of psychology?
Wilhelm Wundt is not always considered the founder of psychology because that is an obvious but wrong answer.
Under what specific conditions is Wilhelm Wundt credited with founding psychology?
Wilhelm Wundt founded psychology as a specifically scientific academic profession in 1879 if our definition of psychology is that it is the scientific study of the mind and behaviour, and an academic profession.
What statement did Ebbinghaus (1908) make regarding psychology’s history?
Ebbinghaus (1908) stated that “psychology has a long past, yet its real history is short”.
What does Ebbinghaus’s statement imply about psychology’s past and its “real history”?
Ebbinghaus’s statement implies that psychology has a long history and a short past, as some of the metatheoretical (philosophical) questions that psychology tries to answer are incredibly old, and this is distinguished from its “real history”.
Why does the act of defining psychology constitute making a claim?
To define psychology is to make a claim about what psychology is.
What evidence is provided from Ancient Mesopotamia (The Epic of Giglamesh, 11th-16th Century BC) that indicates early consideration of motives and beliefs?
People ascribed motives and beliefs in Ancient Mesopotamia (The Epic of Giglamesh, 11th-16th Century BC).
In the Epic of Gilgamesh, what did Enkidu say about venturing towards the dwelling of Humbaba?
In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Enkidu said, “Why dost thou desire to do this, to advance towards the dwelling of Humbaba?… To enter his forest is to be seized by shaking”.
What was Giglamesh’s statement about overcoming terror?
Giglamesh’s statement about overcoming terror was, “Whoever, my friend, overcomes terror, it is well (for him) with Shamash for the length of his days. Mankind will speak of it at the gates”.
Identify two motives attributed to Giglamesh.
Two motives attributed to Giglamesh are that he wants to be remembered and feels it’s in God’s interest.
How do folk psychology and scientific psychology differ in their respective areas of focus?
Folk psychology and scientific psychology differ in their focus of study; folk psychology focuses on motives and beliefs (reasons), whereas scientific psychology emphasises determinist explanations (causes).
What rationale is given for the potential incompatibility of reasons within a deterministic universe?
The rationale given for the potential incompatibility of reasons within a deterministic universe is that reasons aren’t compatible in a deterministic universe as they focus on things in the future that are motivating actions in the present, connecting actions with goals; however, physics suggests that only things in the past can cause things in the present.
What influence on actions did Beck, a founder of CBT, highlight using the example of sensing impending catastrophe?
Beck, a founder of CBT, established how motives and beliefs clearly influence actions using the example of sensing impending catastrophe.
What did Carr (1961) attempt to define history as?
Carr (1961) attempted to define history as the study of causes where rather than asking ‘why’ the past became the past, one should ask ‘why’ new things or new contexts have risen.
According to Carr (1961), what central question should the study of history address?
According to Carr (1961), the central question the study of history should address is why new things or new contexts have risen, rather than asking why the past became the past.
What two key inquiries does history make about assertions concerning the past?
History questions whether a claim about the past is a fact, and more importantly, what the fact means.
From Ebbinghaus’s viewpoint, what constitutes “real history,” and how is it distinguished from the “past”?
From the perspective of Ebbinghaus, facts are what constitute “real history,” delineating it from “past”.
What fundamental claim does Whig history make about explaining historical events?
Whig history claims that history should be explained with the question of ‘how did we get to the best possible way?’.
What three criticisms are leveled against Whig history?
Three criticisms leveled against Whig history are that it is misguided because it assumes today is the best (it’s not), misleading because it judges the past by the present rather than the standards of the past (knowledge/beliefs/etc), and limiting because we want psychology to always be better than what it is now, continuing its growth.
