Bridging Philosophy and Psychology Using the Example of Behaviourism and B.F. Skinner's 'Beyond Freedom and Dignity'

Nonfiction, Entertainment, Drama, Anthologies
Cover of the book Bridging Philosophy and Psychology Using the Example of Behaviourism and B.F. Skinner's 'Beyond Freedom and Dignity' by Christian Kuhn, GRIN Verlag
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Christian Kuhn ISBN: 9783638303897
Publisher: GRIN Verlag Publication: September 1, 2004
Imprint: GRIN Verlag Language: English
Author: Christian Kuhn
ISBN: 9783638303897
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
Publication: September 1, 2004
Imprint: GRIN Verlag
Language: English

Seminar paper from the year 2004 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Other, grade: 1 (A), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg (Institute for Foreign Language Philology), course: The Beautiful and the Sublime, language: English, abstract: It seems impossible to give a precise definition of the term philosophy and the teachings that are connected with it. Generally, philosophers' concerns are questions for the reason and the origin of all being. In a way, these questions unite all of today's arts subjects. As an effect, though, the boundaries between arts often become blurred, all the more since psychology from the early ancient world until the 19th century has merely been regarded as a philosophical field. With the emancipation of psychology as a scientific discipline on its own, teachings were partly in opposition to the traditional way of thinking, if being based on empirical evidence rather than theoretical considerations. Thus, fundamentals of human psyche happen to become a somewhat delicate matter. With this paper I have touched philosophical and psychological problems using the example of B. F. Skinner's 'Beyond Freedom and Dignity', trying to show the relationship and the margins of both fields. The author - Burrhus Frederick Skinner (1904-1990) - is regarded one of the most radical 'scientists' among all psychologists. Skinner counts for a distinguished representative of a psychological theory that strongly tries to separate psychological findings from anything experimentally unobservable - (American) behaviourism. Nevertheless, Skinner's book Beyond Freedom and Dignity of 1971 largely leaves out any details of experimental analysis and therefore approaches the question of 'What is man?' in a rather philosophical manner. The book represents a philosophical view on man from a behaviouristic perspective, providing a technology of behaviour to solve the problems of mankind. An approach that seems absurd but that mirrors the distinguished image of man of one of the most influential psychologists of the 20th century. In fact, psychological authors rarely refer to Skinner's Beyond Freedom and Dignity because it does not directly relate to his psychological experiments. However, this paper principally serves to outline a psychologist's attitude concerning the study of human behaviour in a philosophical context. That is, bridging philosophy and psychology using the example of behaviourism, moreover sketching the parallels between early empiricists and early behaviourists, providing a basic understanding for conceptual scientific ways of thinking. This also offers an unadulterated understanding of Skinner's views, showing that behaviourism is prone to be discussed philosophically.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Seminar paper from the year 2004 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Other, grade: 1 (A), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg (Institute for Foreign Language Philology), course: The Beautiful and the Sublime, language: English, abstract: It seems impossible to give a precise definition of the term philosophy and the teachings that are connected with it. Generally, philosophers' concerns are questions for the reason and the origin of all being. In a way, these questions unite all of today's arts subjects. As an effect, though, the boundaries between arts often become blurred, all the more since psychology from the early ancient world until the 19th century has merely been regarded as a philosophical field. With the emancipation of psychology as a scientific discipline on its own, teachings were partly in opposition to the traditional way of thinking, if being based on empirical evidence rather than theoretical considerations. Thus, fundamentals of human psyche happen to become a somewhat delicate matter. With this paper I have touched philosophical and psychological problems using the example of B. F. Skinner's 'Beyond Freedom and Dignity', trying to show the relationship and the margins of both fields. The author - Burrhus Frederick Skinner (1904-1990) - is regarded one of the most radical 'scientists' among all psychologists. Skinner counts for a distinguished representative of a psychological theory that strongly tries to separate psychological findings from anything experimentally unobservable - (American) behaviourism. Nevertheless, Skinner's book Beyond Freedom and Dignity of 1971 largely leaves out any details of experimental analysis and therefore approaches the question of 'What is man?' in a rather philosophical manner. The book represents a philosophical view on man from a behaviouristic perspective, providing a technology of behaviour to solve the problems of mankind. An approach that seems absurd but that mirrors the distinguished image of man of one of the most influential psychologists of the 20th century. In fact, psychological authors rarely refer to Skinner's Beyond Freedom and Dignity because it does not directly relate to his psychological experiments. However, this paper principally serves to outline a psychologist's attitude concerning the study of human behaviour in a philosophical context. That is, bridging philosophy and psychology using the example of behaviourism, moreover sketching the parallels between early empiricists and early behaviourists, providing a basic understanding for conceptual scientific ways of thinking. This also offers an unadulterated understanding of Skinner's views, showing that behaviourism is prone to be discussed philosophically.

More books from GRIN Verlag

Cover of the book Die Grundpfandrechte Hypothek und Grundschuld by Christian Kuhn
Cover of the book Einführung in die Tabellenkalkulation mit Apache OpenOffice für Controller by Christian Kuhn
Cover of the book Fünf Hypothesen die den Ausbruch von Kriegen beschreiben. Zu Stephen Van Everas - 'Causes of War' by Christian Kuhn
Cover of the book Wirtschaftspolitik in der Europäischen Wirtschafts- und Währungsunion by Christian Kuhn
Cover of the book The prevalence and impact of autobiographical memories through thematic categorical classification: their impact on self-identity and self-expression by Christian Kuhn
Cover of the book 'Affirmative Action'-Programme in den USA nach 1945 by Christian Kuhn
Cover of the book Das Mediensystem Japans by Christian Kuhn
Cover of the book Entry and exit in the post-liberalized German airline market by Christian Kuhn
Cover of the book Walter Benjamins Produktionsbegriff in 'Der Autor als Produzent'. Eine Textdiskussion by Christian Kuhn
Cover of the book Die Krise der staatlichen Sozialsysteme als Chance für die Finanzdienstleistungsindustrie by Christian Kuhn
Cover of the book Warum ist die Darstellung der frühen Staufer problembehaftet und welche Rolle spielen Otto von Freising und Wibald von Stablo bei der Darstellung der frühen Staufer? by Christian Kuhn
Cover of the book Das Konzept des Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) in der IT by Christian Kuhn
Cover of the book Überlegungen zum konkreten Einsatz des Planspiels als Methode im LER-Unterricht by Christian Kuhn
Cover of the book Krafttraining im Kindes- und Jugendalter by Christian Kuhn
Cover of the book Die Ballerina als erbarmungsloses Filmerlebnis by Christian Kuhn
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy