...Another conflict point originates from the Innate Concept thesis. The thesis asserts that some of knowledge is acquired from experience 3. This directly relates to the first is the argument that rationalists hold. The argument is that there exist cases where the information delivered by sensory experiences is outstripped by knowledge 3. Descartes offers an explanation of this argument in his meditations when he states “Among my ideas, some appear to be innate, some to be adventitious, and other to have been invented by me. My understanding of what a things is, what truth us, and what thought is, seems to derive simply from my own nature 8.” Also, he adds “But perhaps all my ideas may be thought of as adventitious, or may all be innate, or...
Words: 848 - Pages: 4
...The theory of innateness is a philosophical idea that was developed to explain how human beings have certain ideas that lead to knowledge. However, in An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Locke claims that there is not satisfactory evidence to support this theory. In the first book of the Essay, Locke’s motive is to challenge the general assumption that the human mind innately possesses the basic truths thought necessary for the possibility of knowledge. Contrary to the widely held belief of innateness, Locke makes the argument that knowledge is derived from empirical experience. In An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, John Locke presents a systematic case against innate knowledge, and argues for the doctrine that sense...
Words: 1768 - Pages: 8
...the Psychological societies around the world. The fact being that no Leader is identical to an other so deriving a conclusion from any particular theory has always been a question mark. Although one may comment about the innate genetic factors which has given raise to “Born Leaders” and the “Made Leaders” by their choice and opportunities to improve their skills and work towards a goal. Born and Made Concept: According to “Fielder”, leader is defined as a person who is “appointed, elected, or informally chosen to direct and co-ordinate the work of others in a group”. So one has to understand leader and leader-ship are two very different concepts. With reference to the statement leaders are “born not made”, certain predispositions such as personality characteristics, could add an additional advantage of being a leader. The other factors such as family genes which one may procure are definitely cannot be argued upon. Intelligence, religion-growth-status, society, education, training, job etc... remain as external factors influencing ones Leadership. Therefore a change and a conflict is simply evident. The recent break through of a concept called “Cloning” has stirred a wider controversy about replicating a “LEADER”. Although the research is banned in most countries, a possibility of “BORN” leader in every Human mind is very much an innate quality. According to William A Cohen (Cohen, 1998), “Lack of leadership ability” can most of the time be corrected with training and a little...
Words: 1707 - Pages: 7
...Psychology What makes you think, feel, and behave the way you do? Were you born predisposed to live the life you are currently living, or were you born a blank canvas upon which your experiences gave shape and expression to the person you are today? These are the types of questions the Nature vs. Nurture debate has posed and scientists have probed for over a century. In this paper we will look at some of the aspects of this debate the scientific community does not attend to, or dismisses, the origin and history of this debate, the essential characteristics around which this issue is debated, and where scientists are today in understanding this issue. What are your thoughts on the Nature vs. Nurture argument? Sir Galton wrote in his book English Men of Science (1874), “Nature is all that a man brings with him into the world; nurture is every influence that affects him after his birth,” (p. 12). I have been led to believe that our biology (nature), our environment (nurture), and our cognitive abilities all interplay and influence our resulting personality and other existing traits. We are, as Myers (2012) continuously asserts, biopsychosocial beings (p.124). These aspects of our existence work in accord to actuate the developmental potential written into our genetic code. Where I think there is a deficiency in the theories proffered, in attempt to answer the Nature vs. Nurture issue, is in the lack of consideration for the spiritual reality in which we exist. Theories are bereft...
Words: 1666 - Pages: 7
...The History of Psychology Psychology 310 Judd Smutt November 23, 2010 The study of the human mind and psychology started in ancient philosophy. Greek philosophers such as Plato and Descartes marked the beginning of the science of psychology. Many years later Wilhelm Wundt founded scientific psychology including the first research laboratory in psychology at the University of Leipzig. Wilhelm Wundt’s Gestalts psychology never became mainstream even though it had greatly influenced the beginnings of American psychology. Philosophies Contribution to Psychology Greek philosophers such as Plato Galen and Descartes began to study thought and behavior and form ideas on their observations. Their ideas about human behavior were arrived at by the use of logic, common sense, reason and systematic use of observation. Plato believed that individual differences is evidence that humans possessed different strengths and weaknesses. Some individuals are known for courage other for intellectual abilities and other for motivation. This determined what role each person would play in society. The most fundamental distinction in Plato's philosophy is between the many observable objects that appear beautiful (good, just, unified, equal, big) and the one object that is what beauty (goodness, justice, unity) really is, from which those many beautiful (good, just, unified, equal, big) things receive their names and their corresponding characteristics. Nearly every major work of...
Words: 989 - Pages: 4
...we follow it”, furthermore he believes the attitude of our conscience shouldn't revolve around pleasure and profit. His belief is similar, in a way, to the virtue ethics approach and unfortunately boasts the same flaws, where it is hard to determine what is a virtue and what isn't, it's equally difficult to determine whether or not the attitude of our conscience is genuine. Another theory, put forward by Freud, and later developed by Piaget and Fromm, argues that conscience is more likely a result of environmental factors. This is typical of Freud's beliefs as he was first and foremost a psychologist and scientist with little time for the supernatural or divine. Sigmund Freud's definition of conscience links closely to a human beings feelings of guilt and fear of punishment, this suggests that people may act in order to get approval and could be easily seen as an unreliable guide to ethical decision making. Freud believed that the human mind began to be controlled by powerful desires that must be satisfied as early as birth. Up until the age of 3, these desires are apparently critical to our behaviour and drive the part of the mind Freud refers to as the id. Most people are aware of Freud's theory of the make up of the human mind, he felt there were two categories at war within the id. They would be “eros”...
Words: 1022 - Pages: 5
...(35 Marks) Conscience, an individuals’ moral sense of right or wrong, is the driving force behind many of our actions and decision making in life. A number of people, the most prominent being the German neurologist Sigmund Freud, believe that the shaping and subsequent implementation of the human conscience is brought about as a direct result of environmental factors, in other words, that conscience is formed through conditioning of the mind. On the other hand, the opposing view held with regards to conscience is that it is innate part of us, borne into existence from the moment we are born. This stance is most often upheld by Christianity, moreover, that God is responsible for placing within us our conscience and as such, it must be obeyed at all times given the gravitas of its supposed link to religion. A key aspect of conscience, irrespective of whether it is innate or environmental is whether or not it must always be obeyed. It can be argued that some individuals may possess a skewed sense of morality, thus preventing them from doing what the consensus may perceive to be an ethical, positive action. Indeed, at times it may seem entirely reasonable to completely disregard conscience, calling into question whether it is of any need at all. As touched upon briefly before, Freud believed that the conscience is formed as a direct result of our early childhood in which our behaviour is either positively or negatively reinforced. Feelings of guilt, embarrassment and shame all supposedly...
Words: 1000 - Pages: 4
...To what extent is the conscience the voice of God? The vast majority of people understand the conscience to be an internal moral source which guides us in situations to the right thing to do. Some believe this is an innate drive we are born with, other believe it is a result of early environment and conditioning. However, whether the belief differs about how we acquire a conscience, many peoples conscience guide them in different moral directions, for example one person may feel that it is morally right to kill someone who is committing homicides themselves, while others feel that it morally wrong to kill in al situations, irrespective of the victims history, for example it would be morally wrong to kill Adolf Hitler regardless of all the people he killed and maimed. The conscience can be argued to be the voice of god as god is believed to be benevolent, omniscient and omnipresent and made us in the image of him, giving us the conscience for us to stay on the moralistically correct side of the spectrum. In the Holy Scriptures the conscience is also called the heart. In the Sermon on the Mount the Lord Jesus Christ likens the conscience to an adversary with whom a man must make peace before he appears before the Judge (who is God) (Matt. 5:25). The Lord also compares the conscience to the eye, by means of which a person sees his moral state (Matt. 6:22). The first comparison reveals the distinguishing characteristic of our conscience, its to oppose our bad actions and intentions...
Words: 1365 - Pages: 6
...thinker’s position. Secondly, this method of analysis will show that the debate is not one conducted from extreme opposites as it may seem at first sight, for both Mencius and Xunzi agreed that man must cultivate his goodness consciously regardless of whether he is born with it or acquires it from the state. The differences in their views on human nature lead to the ultimate difference of interpretation of the betterment of human nature. Although both philosophers had differences, their ultimate goal was to suggest that human beings can be good and this is what the state needed in such a crucial time in China’s history. To elaborate further on human nature, it is crucial to look at its development within each philosopher’s teachings. Mencius, being the idealist that he was, believed in the innate goodness of man. He believed that man's ability to learn how to be a good and responsible citizen stems from and thrives upon his innate...
Words: 2133 - Pages: 9
...it. Which factors form the basis of our conception of what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’—‘good’ and ‘bad’? Do we all share certain values, or some approach, that helps us come about our moral judgments? Is there a universal ‘good’ and ‘bad’? This is really the crux of it, is it not? This essay will present the argument that the pursuit of human happiness—or at least perceived happiness—is the only value that can be considered universal amongst all human beings, and that the differences and conflicts between us stem from different interpretation’s of happiness and the means that should be taken toward its actualization. That is to say that something is ‘good’ to the extent to which it enables perceived happiness, or, disables a lack of perceived happiness. The universality of this value will be suggested to extend to all sentient beings, regardless of human intelligence and the capacity to reason. This essay’s thesis is in agreement with the proposed statement that, “ultimately, all human beings share core universal values, and apparent differences are merely variances of practices or interpretation,” however not to the extent that the ideas of philosophers John Stuart Mill, Aristotle and Jeremy Bentham are. Instead, it will refute and pose counter-arguments to certain aspects of their ideas, specifically, the need to define and place values on happiness, while building upon others. It will argue humans do not need to agree on what the ‘good life’ is, but rather just that we are all equally...
Words: 1473 - Pages: 6
...‘Conscience is the voice of God within us’ Discuss In order to discuss whether the conscience is the result of the voice of God within us or whether in fact it is the result other environmental or biological factors we must firstly understand what a conscience is. Conscience is defined as a ‘direct intuitive awareness of right and wrong’ and therefore it is a ‘way of selecting moral ideas, resolving conflict and deciding which will work or not’. The conscience itself has three main functions, the first is that it has a decision-making function; this is seen as the most important function as it decides between right and wrong, the second is that it has a imperative functions; that is it commands and the third is that it has a reflective function; that is that it reflects on former decisions and considers the consequences of actions. However the question raised within this essay is whether our conscience comes from the voice of God within us, therefore is it acquired from God and is the result of an internal influence or is it required as a result of environmental factors, therefore is formed from an external influence whether this is from our parents or our own life experiences. Within this essay I shall discuss the theories in favour of the conscience being the voice of God within us (focussing on Butler, Augustine and Newman), and those that instead propose that it is acquired from other sources whether this is through our reason (Aquinas) or in our early childhood (psychologists...
Words: 3118 - Pages: 13
...Theories Of First Language Acquisition English Language Essay Imagine a blank template, a white sheet of paper, thats how human being starts off. From a crying baby in a cradle, to babbling, to simple single words, slowly progressing into two-words, then finally a complete sentence, ever wonder how one acquires the ability to produce the language? Linguists throughout the ages have tried to find out how does one ACQUIRE a language, is it a deep structure as claimed by Kimball? Or is it an innate ability, a build-in human capacity propagated by Chomsky? Various theories have arose since language studies came to fore, and the ability to acquire language has interested various parties since the dawn of man. From the dunes of Egypt, Psammeticus, the Pharaoh during the 7 th century BC, believed language was inborn and that children isolated from birth from any linguistic influence would develop the language they had been born with. Fast forward to the 15th century,King James of Scotland performed a similar experiment; the children were reported to have spoken good Hebrew. Akbar, a 16th century Mogul emperor of India, desired to learn whether language was innate or acquired through exposure to the speech of adults. He believed that language was learned by people listening to each other and therefore a child could not develop language alone. So he ordered a house built for two infants and stationed a mute nurse to care for them. The children did not acquire speech, which seemed to...
Words: 5227 - Pages: 21
...PSY 100 STUDY GUIDE EXAM #3 CHAPTER 8 Memory Retrieval Serial Position Effect: Recall is superior for the items at the beginning and end of a list Primacy Effect: superior recall for items at the beginning of a list Recency Effect: superior recall for items at the end of a list Retrieval Cues Recall: individual must retrieve previously learned information (essay test) Recognition: individual only has to identify (“recognize”) learned items (multiple choice test) Encoding Specificity Principle: associations formed at the time of encoding or learning tend to be effective retrieval cues (ex. Mnemonics, semantic encoding) Priming: activating particular connections or association in memory Flashbulb Memories: memories of emotionally significant events that people often recall with more accuracy and vivid imagery than everyday events Factors involved in forgetting Challenges of Forgetting 1. Absent-mindedness: inattention to details produces encoding failure 2. Transience: storage decay over time 3. Blocking: inaccessibility of stored info Challenges of Distortion 4. Misattribution: confusion about source of info 5. Suggestibility: lingering effects of misinfo 6. Bias: belief-colored recollections Challenge of Intrusion 7. Persistence: unwanted memories Proactive Interference: info learned earlier interferes with recall or newer material; material that was learned earlier disrupts the recall of material learned later Retroactive Interference:...
Words: 1427 - Pages: 6
...Empiricism. Rationalists like Leibniz claimed that knowledge is innate, that is, we are born with all the knowledge and the experiences that we have in this world just help us in uncovering/ remembering this knowledge. Empiricist believed that all knowledge is got only through experience in other words we are born with our minds/souls like a clean slate and the experiences write on them. With this struggle between the two schools of thought enlightenment Europe was striving to find ways to arrive at a consensus about some of these aforementioned central issues of theory of knowledge. And the champion of a philosopher who accomplished with task was Immanuel Kant. Kant borrowed many concepts from both empiricism and rationalism. But he felt that the many of the rationalist ideas were too simplistic and dogmatic and some of the empiricist ideas we too skeptic about the ability of humans to acquire true knowledge. As a part of his critical philosophy, with an aim to resolve this problem of theory of knowledge he wrote 3 critiques: Critique of pure reason, Critique of practical reason and Critique of judgment. Critique of Pure Reason talks about the process of knowledge acquisition in natural sciences, the way in which the structures of our mind influences what we understand about the world and the limitations of our understanding. In Critique of Practical Reason, he addresses the issues of moral judgment and preconditions of our minds to arrive at such judgments. Critique of Judgment talks...
Words: 2562 - Pages: 11
...Does theory of mind develop gradually or is there a radical conceptual shift between the ages of 3 and 4 years? Explain how research evidence supports your views. From an evolutionary perspective, the complex and highly functional psychological abilities can be seen as a product of a continuous adaptation process. Well-developed mental skills form the basis of humans complex and advanced mental functioning, both interpersonal and intrapsychologically. One of these advanced mental abilities is the capability to attribute emotions, intentions and knowledge within yourself and others (Flavell, 2004). This is a form of social cognition or a mental understanding that within developmental psychology is termed “Theory of Mind”. It is often said that children start to develop a “Theory of Mind” at the age between 3 to 5 years (Premack & Woodruff, 1978), but scientists have always had different views and opinions about when and how Theory of Mind develops. Some researchers believe that this development happens gradually, while others believe there is a conceptual shift between the ages of 3 and 4. I will in this essay evaluate and discuss the different viewpoints with the support of previous research evidence. Within the theory of mind approach, the ability to attribute mental states to others is considered evidence for children having developed a psychological understanding of the mind as representational – that is, they have realised that what is in the mind is only a representation...
Words: 2093 - Pages: 9
