Towards Understanding the History of Psychology through Philosophical Thought

Psychology as a formal discipline has a long history, dating back to the Ancient Greeks. The discipline has a fond relationship with philosophy, and was in fact curved out from mainstream philosophical thoughts that had been expressed by ancient philosophers thousands of years ago.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Towards Understanding the History of Psychology through Philosophical Thought specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Many civilizations throughout the course of history have offered speculative ideas about the nature of thought, soul, and spirit, a focal point that is mainly perceived as the precursor to the field and discipline of psychology (Baldwin, 2009). In Ancient Egypt, for example, the Edwin Smith Papyrus holds ancient description of the human brain, including some speculations about its core functions (Mandler, 2007). It is the purpose of this paper to critically evaluate the historical developments o f psychology According to Baldwin (2009), â€Å"†¦a history of psychology is nothing more or less than a history of different ways in which man have looked upon the mind† (p. 1). Thales, Plato, Pythagoras, and Aristotle are ancient Greek philosophers whose philosophical thoughts and orientations greatly assisted and influenced the development of modern psychology (Benjamin, 2006). In the book De Amina, Aristotle vividly wrote philosophical concepts about the psyche and what it really means for the body and spirit to be alive. In the same book, the philosopher discusses critical issues of perception, behavior, intellect, aspiration, and imagination. These issues, though discussed philosophically, came to form the basis of 19th century psychology. According to Mandler (2007), Aristotle and Plato were indeed the founding fathers of empiricism and psychodynamics respectively. The two concepts continue to influence the field of psychology to date. Scholars, however, have note d that the early development of psychology as a discipline was not well documented as was the case with other disciplines such as philosophy and the sciences (Baldwin, 2009). According to Klemm (2008), â€Å"†¦scattered reflections on psychological questions indeed abound throughout the entire history of science but the continuity of psychological investigation has often being interrupted, while a really fruitful development of psychology belongs to very recent times† (p. 1) .Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This scenario led to the overwhelmingly popular assertion by contemporary psychologist Herman Ebbinghaus that psychology has a very long past that is unfortunately enshrined in a brief history. Some contemporary western philosophers such as Rene Descartes, John Locke, and John Stuart Mill were also instrumental in the formation of psychology as a distinct field of stu dy. Descartes lived during the renaissance era, and can pass as a primary contributor to the formation of psychology mainly due to his works on rationalism, nativism, dualism and mechanistic interactionism (Mandler, 2007). As a philosopher, he argued that truth could only be found from careful use of reason, thereby rebuffing the evidence of the senses. Consequently, the way to know the truth, according to the philosopher, was through the human capability to reason. One implication of his Cartesian rationalism was that the capacity of humans to reason is characteristically inborn, not mentioning the fact that specific types of knowledge do not actually rely on the experience of the senses; rather, such knowledge result from an individual’s native or inborn capacity to reason (Mandler, 2007). Descartes was also instrumental in differentiating between inborn ideas and derived ideas. As already mentioned, innate ideas are derived through the employment of individual reasoning ca pacity while derived ideas are attributed to our experiences in the universe (Mandler, 2007). According to the author, the philosopher’s â€Å"†¦innate versus derived ideas foreshadows one of psychology’s recurring issues, the relationship between nature and nurture† (p. 27). Also, the philosopher can be called a dualist since he advocated for a definite separation between the mind and the body, arguing that the body have the properties of extension and movement while the mind didn’t. He believed the body functioned like a complicated machine and that the mind was capable of influencing the body. His insinuations, though in philosophical science, provided fodder for the development of modern psychological thought in the 19th century. John Locke was a rationalist philosopher who contributed considerable knowledge on human understanding. He trashed the notion of the existence of inborn ideas in humans, and did not completely advocate for nurture influe nces on the nature-nurture issue (Benjamin, 2006). One of Locke’s major contribution in psychological thought is the assertion that human, though endowed with inborn faculties such as the capacity to think, do not entirely derive ideas from reason as notions could originate from many other sources that only requires basic mental faculties.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Towards Understanding the History of Psychology through Philosophical Thought specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Locke also entirely rejected the principle that some notions seem to come so early in life, and hence must be inborn. Instead, Locke argued that even before the young children are able to use language successfully, they are already benefiting from the external experiences around them (Baldwin, 2009). His philosophical thoughts contributed immensely to the formation of psychology as a discipline. George Berkeley was yet another em piricist philosopher whose contributions hugely assisted the formation of psychology as a formal discipline. Specifically, Berkeley’s seminal studies on sensory processes have been instrumental in giving the field of psychology a formidable backbone (Baldwin, 2009). The philosopher’s outstanding work on vision was the foremost systematic pointer of how empiricist reasoning could be applied to the broad study of perception. In particular, Berkeley attempted to demonstrate that individual perceptions of distance, geographical locations, and size of objects are decisions that depend completely on experience. Other notable philosophers include David Hume (impressions and ideas), David Hartley (psychophysical parallelism), and John Stuart Mill. The development of the science of psychology has undergone immeasurable changes ever since psychology was finally recognized as a discipline in the 19th century. According to Mandler (2007), religion and philosophy set the firm found ation for the evolution of psychology in the 19th century. Prior to this convergence, various philosophers, including Emanuel Kant, had expressed outright skepticism that the discipline of psychology would never become a true natural science. But this and other assertions were definitely proved wrong by the works of several scholars and psychologists, whose scientific contributions to modern thought gave psychology a solid background. According to Green (2001), â€Å"†¦the origins of the science of psychology are grounded in Wundt’s theory of memory and the recognition of the importance of experimental design, Fechner’s introduction to psychophysics, Ebbinghau’s laboratory for the study of memory, and Gaulton’s introduction to statistics and measurement of mental abilities† (para. 4). It can be safely argued that all the sub-fields of psychology evolved from these fundamental facets of the discipline Reference List Baldwin, J.M. (2009). Histor y of Psychology – a sketch and an interpretation. READ BOOKS. ISBN: 1444683225Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Benjamin, L.T. (2006). A history of psychology in letters, 2nd Ed. Main Street, Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing Green, C.D., Shore, M., Teo, T. (2001). The transformation of psychology: influences of 19th-century philosophy, technology, and natural science. American Journal of Psychiatry. Web. Klemm, O. (2008). The history of psychology. BiblioBazaar, LLC. ISBN: 0554813009 Mandler, G. (2007). A history of modern experimental psychology. Cambridge: The MIT Press This essay on Towards Understanding the History of Psychology through Philosophical Thought was written and submitted by user Madison Baxter to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Word Choice Stationary vs. Stationery - Proofeds Writing Tips

Word Choice Stationary vs. Stationery - Proofeds Writing Tips Word Choice: Stationary vs. Stationery What do you call a pencil that can’t move? Stationary stationery! If you didn’t find that hilarious, we assume it must be because you’re not sure about the difference between â€Å"stationary† and â€Å"stationery† (we refuse to accept that our puns are inherently unfunny). Why arent you laughing? Is this thing on?(Photo: flickr/Benjamin Ragheb) More seriously, the terms â€Å"stationary† and â€Å"stationery† are commonly confused due to looking so similar on paper. However, since they also refer to completely different things, you need to use them correctly if you’re writing for college or work. Stationary (Not Moving) â€Å"Stationary† is an adjective meaning â€Å"immobile† or â€Å"not moving.† If you’ve ever been to a spinning class at a gym, for example, you’ll have ridden a â€Å"stationary bicycle.† Spinner 1: Are we nearly there yet?Spinner 2: Just shut up and pedal. It can also be used to describe something that can move, but isn’t currently: The driver collided with a stationary vehicle, but nobody was hurt. Another use of â€Å"stationary† is to describe an unchanging condition or quantity, such as in: A stationary population can enhance social stability. In either case, â€Å"stationary† refers to something that doesn’t move. Stationery (Office Materials) The noun â€Å"stationery† refers to office supplies, particularly paper and other writing equipment: We’re running low on stationery, so I’ve ordered paper and toner. It can also be used as an adjective when describing something related to stationery, such as a â€Å"stationery set† (a set of writing equipment) or a â€Å"stationery store† (a shop that sells stationery). Technically, the coffee doesnt count as stationery, even if most office workers would stop functioning without it. Stationary or Stationery? Since one of these terms is spelled with â€Å"-ar-† and the other with â€Å"-er-,† the key thing is remembering which is which. Luckily, this is made easier by the fact that â€Å"paper† is spelled with an â€Å"-er† at the end, as well as being an important office supply: Paper is a type of stationery. As such, if you’re describing something that, like paper, can be found in an office, the correct term will typically be â€Å"stationery.† Otherwise, the right word will be â€Å"stationary.† Remember: Stationary = Not moving Stationery = Office supplies

Biography of the Wealthy Painter Peter Paul Rubens

Biography of the Wealthy Painter Peter Paul Rubens Peter Paul Rubens was a Flemish Baroque painter, best known for his extravagant European style of painting. He managed to synthesize a number of factors, from the masters of the Renaissance and the early Baroque. He led a charmed life. He was attractive, well-educated, a born courtier and, by dint of talent, had a virtual lock on the portrait market in northern Europe. He was knighted, feted, grew fabulously wealthy from commissions and died before he outlived his talent. Early Life Rubens was born on June 28, 1577, in Siegen, a German province of Westphalia, where his Protestant-leaning lawyer father had relocated the family during the Counter-Reformation. Noting the boys lively intelligence, his father personally saw that young Peter received a classical education. Rubens mother, who may not have shared an affinity for the Reformation, moved her family back to Antwerp (where she owned a modest property) in 1567 after her husbands untimely death. At the age of 13, at a time when the familys remaining resources went to provide his elder sister with a marriage dowry, Rubens was sent to be a page in the home of the Countess of Lalaing. The polished manners he picked up there served him well in the years ahead, but after some (unhappy) months he got his mother to apprentice him to a painter. By 1598, he had joined the painters guild. His Art From 1600 to 1608, Rubens lived in Italy, at the service of the Duke of Mantua. During this time he carefully studied the works of the Renaissance masters. Upon his return to Antwerp, he became the court painter to the Spanish governors of Flanders and subsequently to Charles I of England (who, in fact, knighted Rubens for diplomatic work) and Marie de Medici, Queen of France. The more well-known works he turned out during the next 30 years included The Elevation of the Cross (1610), The Lion Hunt (1617-18), and Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus (1617). His court portraits were in great demand, as he frequently placed their subjects in juxtaposition with gods and goddesses of mythology to better acknowledge the lofty positions of nobility and royalty. He painted religious and hunting themes, as well as landscapes, but is best known for his oft-unclothed figures who seemed to swirl in movement. He loved portraying girls with meat on their bones, and middle-aged women everywhere thank him to this day. Rubens famously said,  My talent is such that no undertaking, however vast in size...has ever surpassed my courage. Rubens, who had more requests for work than time, grew wealthy, amassed a collection of art and owned a mansion in Antwerp and a country estate. In 1630, he married his second wife (the first had died some years before), a 16-year-old girl. They spent a happy decade together before gout brought on heart failure and ended Rubens life on May 30, 1640, in the Spanish Netherlands (modern Belgium). The Flemish Baroque carried on with his successors, most of whom (particularly Anthony van Dyke) he had trained. Important Works The Massacre of the Innocents, 1611The Hippopotamus Hunt, 1616The Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus, 1617Diana and Callisto, 1628The Judgment of Paris, 1639Self Portrait, 1639

Determinants of capital structure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Determinants of capital structure - Essay Example es statement of financial position, cash flow statement as well as statement of income of many existing and extinct companies based all over the world. Initially, a great deal of effort was made to define the independent and dependent variable required for the purpose of regression analysis. The regression analysis that has been done in this particular study is based upon gearing measures. Thus, in order to conduct this analysis, alternative definitions of gearing have been explained in the following paragraphs. Non-equity liabilities to total assets: The book value of this gearing ratio is the ratio between the total debt plus trade credit and equivalent to total assets (equation 1). The market value of this gearing measure can be calculated by adjusting the value of the total assets, deducting the book value of equity and adding the market value of equity (equation 2). The equation can be represented as follows: According to Rajan and Zingales (1995), the gearing measure serves as a proxy for the liquidation value of a company. The authors also argued that the value of this indicator may be significantly inflated, as it may only represent financial transactions, instead of assets. Debt to Total Assets: This gearing measure is the ratio between the total debts to total assets (equation 3). The market value of this multiple is determined by adjusting the asset, by deducting the book value of equity and adding the market value of equity (equation 4) (Phillips, Libby and Libby, 2011; Fridson and Alvarez, 2011). The equation can be represented as follows: Debt to Capital: This gearing measure is the ratio between the total debts to capital. The capital in the denominator represents the total debt plus the equity, which includes the preference shares as well (equation 5) (Rose and Hudgins, 2008). The market value of this gearing measure is calculated by adjusting market value of equity, instead of adjusting the book value of equity (equation 6). The equation can be

Political Islam in Indonesia Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Political Islam in Indonesia - Research Paper Example the confrontational way of establishing Majlis Mujahedeen Indonesia (MMI) in Jakarta in August 2000. The establishment of MMI was basically a move forward assistance between ideologically ?likeminded groups of Indonesia such as front Pembela Islam and Hizb Ut Tahrir. The basic ?reason to take a step toward MMI was to help the people faced earthquake and then it worked to ?save Afghanistan from American attacks (Hilmy 131).? Majlis e Mujahedeen worked to stop American attacks in Afghanistan. This organization ?in coordination with other groups working for Islamic front including PAS and FPI, carried out ?manifestations against America and its associates who attacked Afghanistan in 2001( Krastev & ?McPherson, 2007). For future attacks they started proceeding for more explosive materials. â€Å"In ?the Indonesian mujahedeen group there also exists a group of fundamentalist campaigners that ?basically uses to serve as brainwave for the activities of religious militias and also works for the ?party as a JI recruiting agency. Various Mujahedeen’s and their leaders started finding new ways ?of attacking, and started doing research to use biological weapons for better results (Haseman 43). ? 2.? Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) Jemmah Islamiyah or Al-Jamat ul Islamia was established by Southeast Asian militia. It was ?founded on 1st January, 1993 and mostly called as JI. The Jemaah followed the teachings of ?Islamic Jihad as a fundamental approach to attain its goals (Barton 32). This Jemmah was ?formed for the protection of Muslims in Indonesia from American attacks. Militant groups of ?Indonesia even carried and used arms to protect its right to institute an Islamic state split from ?the new nation. There have been many struggles between Muslims and other religions, the ethnic ?groups during the development of Indonesia; however, not until the rise of Qaeda network and ?its global Islam ideology in the 1990’s, the fall of the Suharto regime in 1998 and the United ?States’ War on terror which began in 2001 (Rashwan 77). Basically campaigners belonging from Al-Qaeda and terrorist groups joined this Jemmah, ?resultantly, JI was pulled on several world terrorists lists .JI, however, may not actually be ?International terrorists organization (Surrette, 2009) but later it started bomb attacks in Indonesia ?in which a huge number of general population was killed. Jemmah Islamiyah serves as vital ?manuscript for understanding Southeast Asia’s most lethal terrorist groups. JI mostly trained ?young people for suicide bombing and target killing of the important dignitaries’ ?as well as vital ?assets of the country?. Another point of contention among the ranks of JI was the increasing ?numbers of Muslim civilians killed as the terrorist campaign of the Hambali-Azhari-Noordin top ?splinter outfit unfolded more and more JI members became uncomfortable with this faction’s ?chosen methods and their unintended consequences (Surre tte 13). ?3.? Laskar Jihad Thalib, an Indonesian who fought with Mujahedeens in Afghanistan, set up a group in 2000, ?named Laskar jihad. He was trained in Pakistan when he went there in 1980 to pursue further ?studies in an Islamic Mawdudi Institute situated in Lahore (Hasan 18). In 1999 clashes broke ?out in Malaku and north Malaku between Christians and Muslims of Indonesia. Thalib created ?this Jamat to control these movements. During this muddled changeover number of Muslim ?paramilitary groups like

Lean Manufacturing Philosophy and Principles

Lean Manufacturing Philosophy and Principles Research for manufacturing systems: Introduction to report: Prior to the popular adoption of Lean Manufacturing, the demand for variety was not met. Customers wanted variety, including different models and diverse options. Lean manufacturing was invented in order to make it possible to provide continuity in process flow and a variety in product offerings (Womack et al., 1990). Lean techniques were then applied in order to provide the customer what they want, when they need it without any excess costs (Conner, 2004). This report aims to convey the ideas and philosophy of Lean Manufacturing. Moreover, the background of the origins of Lean Manufacturing shall be explored. Furthermore, Muda, Kaizen, the 5Ss, and station organization will be explained. Finally, a practical example that aids to visualize the principles of Lean Manufacturing is going to be given. Ideas and philosophy The definition of lean manufacturing is a systematic approach to identify and eliminating waste (non-value-added activities) through continuous improvement by flowing the product at the pull of the customer in pursuit of perfection. (Kilpatrick, 2003) Furthermore, lean manufacturing is a method that can be defined, refined, and duplicated. It must focus on eliminating waste. Muda, the Japanese term for waste, includes many forms generally overlooked when walking through the plant. The idea of perfection is the waste-free cost of manufacturing a product. Identifying and eliminating waste is a Non-value-added activity, this means that it requires, action, time, or resources, but adds nothing in the eyes of the customer. The purpose of applying Lean manufacturing is to provide the customer with just what they want when they need it, with no excess cost. (Conner, 2004) Moreover, lean manufacturing is a method that depends greatly on flexibility and organization, it is ideal for companies that want new and fresh manufacturing methods. Additionally, lean techniques eliminate large capital outlays for dedicated machinery until automation becomes completely necessary. (Bosh Rexroth Corporation, 2009) Lean manufacturing represents a major change from automation. The less is better approach to manufacturing leads to a vastly simplified, uncluttered environment that is adjusted to the manufacturers demands. Products are manufactured one at a time in response to the customers requirements rather than batch manufactured. The goal is to produce only the quantity required and no more. Although, the lean approach is not the solution for all manufacturing problems, it does offer a flexible solution for assembling more complex products. (Bosh Rexroth Corporation, 2009) Origins of lean manufacturing (Akdeniz, 2015) The Toyota production system not only presently embodies lean manufacturing methodologies, but is ultimately behind the development of the lean business philosophy. Without the Toyota production system, we would not have lean manufacture. At the heart of the Toyota productions systems are two central concepts: Jidoka (intelligent automation) and Just in Time Manufacturing. The origins of Jidoka can be traced back to looms invented by Sakichi Toyoda, the founder of the Toyota group. Traditionally, weaving was extremely labour intensive, manual work, since the weaver constantly had to feed the weft (horizontal yarn) back and forth between the vertical yarns. Sakichi Toyodas mother worked for a loom, and as he used to watch her at work, his mind would ceaselessly churn out new ideas of how to make this a simpler and more efficient process. In 1890 at the age of 24, Sakichi invented an original, easy-to-use wooden hand loom that was almost 50 % more efficient than existing models that existed at the time. A key feature of this loom that led to this increased productivity was the ability of the weaver to use one hand to move the yarn back and forth so that they could feed in the weft simultaneously without interruption. Sakichi continued to experiment with new ideas, created more inventions and in 1924 he and his son Kiichiro developed the Model G, the worlds first high-speed loom that fed in new weft without interruption of work. Later on Kiichiro took control of Toyota and he led Toyota into automotive manufacture. In 1937 Kiichiro Toyoda commenced work on a Toyota vehicle manufacturing plant, and he began to develop his ideas behind Just in Time manufacturing. He wanted to establish a system that produced only what was needed, when it was needed, and in the amount required to meet the demand in order to save time, money, and workspace. As the Toyota Production system (TPS) matured and Toyota began to excel as a corporation, the rest of the world began taking notice. Through implementation of Jidoka and Just in Time manufacture- Toyota was able to become the standard for many companies around the world. In 1984 The TPS was translated into English and General Motors approached Toyota to negotiate a contract that lead to a joint venture. The Toyota-GM plant quickly became the highest ranked in US for quality. The term lean was used to describe the Toyota Production System by a research group led by James Womack, and later on the term was coined as lean manufacture. This was later on shared with the world when a book outlining the researchs findings, The Machine that Changed the World, was released. Nowadays, lean system and methodologies, first developed by Toyota, have been widely adapted and spread to all forms of industry ranging from hospitals, offices, and government administration to retail, the service industry and the military. In each incarnation, lean manufacturing has proved as innovative successful as the last. References: Akdeniz, C. (2015) Lean Manufacturing Explained Can Akdeniz Google Books. Bosh Rexroth Corporation (2009) Lean Manufacturing: Principles, Tools and Methods, (2.5). Available at: http://www13.boschrexroth-us.com/Catalogs/Lean_Manufactuting_Guidebook.pdf (Accessed: 7 March 2017). Conner, G. (2004) Lean Manufacturing: Certification Workshop Participant Guide Gary Conner Google Books. Kilpatrick, J. (2003) Lean Principles. Available at: http://mhc-net.com/whitepapers_presentations/LeanPrinciples.pdf (Accessed: 7 March 2017). Womack, J. P., Jones, D. T., Roos, D. and Sammons Carpenter, D. (1990) Machine that Changed the World James P. Womack, Daniel T. Jones, Daniel Roos, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Google Books. Rawson Associates Scribner. Available at: https://books.google.com.mt/books?id=_n5qRfaNv9ACprintsec=frontcoverdq=the+machine+that+changed+the+worldhl=mtsa=Xredir_esc=y#v=onepageq=the machine that changed the worldf=false (Accessed: 8 March 2017).

Elements of Drama Essay

The Essential elements of drama are present in any play that you see, but the ideas have changed slightly over the years. Aristotle was the first to write about these essential elements, more than two thousand years ago, yet we still discuss his list when talking about what makes the best drama. Aristotle considered six things to be essential to good drama. Plot, Character, Theme, dialogue, music/rhythm and spectacle. In modern theater, this list has changed slightly, although many of the elements remain the same. The list of essential elements in modern theater are: * Character * Plot * Theme * Dialogue * Convention * Genre * Audience Plot: It is the sequence of events or incidents of which the story is composed. It refers to the action; the basic storyline of the play. Characters: They are the figures that acts in a play. a Flat character is known by one or two traits; a Round character is complex and many-sided; a Stock character is a stereotyped character; a Static character remains the same from the beginning of the plot to the end; and a Dynamic (developing) character undergoes permanent change. This change must be 1. within the possibilities of the character; 2. sufficiently motivated; and 3. allowed sufficient time for change. Theme: While plot refers to the action of the play, theme refers to the meaning of the play. Theme is the main idea or lesson to be learned from the play. In some cases, the theme of a play is obvious; other times it is quite subtle. Conflict: It is a clash of actions, ideas, desires or wills. A conflict is a person against person, a person against environment or a person against herself/himself. Spectacle: It refers to the visual elements of a play: sets, costumes and special effects. Spectacle is everything that the audience sees as they watch the play. Genre: Genre refers to the type of play. Some examples of different genres include, comedy,  tragedy, mystery and historical play. Dialogue: This refers to the words written by the playwright and spoken by the characters in the play. The dialogue helps move the action of the play along. Music/Rhythm: While music is often featured in drama, in this case Aristotle was referring to the rhythm of the actors’ voices as they speak. Convention: These are the techniques and methods used by the playwright and director to create the desired stylistic effect. Audience: This is the group of people who watch the play. Many playwrights and actors consider the audience to be the most important element of drama, as all of the effort put in to writing and producing a play is for the enjoyment of the audience.