History of Psychology

Psychology began as an independent scientific discipline in the late nineteenth century. However, it built on the philosophical insights and scientific accomplishments of the prior centuries. In this chapter, we cover that background. We start by describing the work of the early scientists Galileo, Newton, and Harvey; their faith in the ability of human reason and careful observation to understand how the natural world works continues to inspire scientists today. We then discuss important traditions of “modern” philosophy, where reason and observation were similarly important – indeed, the philosophers often disagreed about the roles of these two processes in attaining knowledge, as we will see. As you read about each scientist and philosopher, consider how their own reasoning is similar to that of psychological researchers today, thinking through complex phenomena to understand the principles behind a wide variety of our experiences in the world.