Principles Of Psychology The Foundation Work Of The Al Theian System Of Philosophy

Excerpt from Principles of Psychology: The Foundation Work of the Aletheian System of Philosophy Of the great tasks within the compass of man one of the most fascinating is surely that of tracing out the course of thought, so that this may be seen from the first glimmering of intelligence to the complex web Of knowledge and reasoning that form our comprehension of the world. Since all this is contained in our thought, the suggestion arises as to whether the thought be not capable Of exhibiting its content lucidly in the modes of its experiences and processes of combination. The problem of discovering these processes and laying bare the entire mechanism might well appear so vast, and at the same time so tenuous and elusive, as to be impossible, unless indeed by favour of new methods of conducting the attack and the discovery of new forms of analysis. It is the object of the present work to show the investigations that furnish the solution. Briefly the pith of the book is the elucidation of the manner in which all complexes of thought may be shown to be built up by syntheses of certain Fundamental Processes, which are in the psychic world the analogues of the chemical elements in the physical world. Once the central problem' solved, the main position secured, I have shown a series of developments in which various great problems of psychology are dealt with in new illu mination and the work will have missed something of its purpose unless it be found to give to the reader the sense of standing at a central point of command from which he sees the development of the structural forms of thought, whether it be in the ordinary operations of the mind, or in the domain of the sciences, or in the applications wherein he may find the vast mechanical products of civilisation springing as corollaries from the delicate filaments of the thinker's mind. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

William James' The Principles of Psychology, Volume One is an epic work in the field of psychology and one of the most well known books of the discipline. James was a philosopher and psychologist who spent most of his adult life employed by Harvard University, where he developed and taught some of the most influential psychological theories of the time. The book opens with an analysis of the functions of the brain and a discussion of the scope of psychology. From there, James' focus is primarily on the localization of functions within the brain, or how specific parts of the brain act as neural centres for the human body's senses. James relies on a comparative method in which humans are compared to other animals, and the importance of instincts in shaping the actions of man are discussed in detail. The primary value in reading the work of William James is to absorb the author's ability to contextualize psychology. Much of what is known about psychology today is a direct result of the foundation laid by James. If one wants truly to understand the present, it is important to understand the past. The Principles of Psychology, Volume One is rightly considered a masterpiece. For the experienced student of psychology, this book is an absolute must-read. It is a work that begs to be meditated upon and will surely ruminate in your consciousness long after you turn the last page. A true classic. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

The publication of William James's acknowledged masterpiece marked a turning point in the development of psychology as a science in America. This new paperback edition of The Principles Psychology, prepared according to modern standards of textual scholarship. presents the complete authoritative text, all of the changes James made in the eight printings he supervised, as well as the revisions he added to his own copy. It includes footnotes, more than eighty drawings, and James's index.