Michael Sylvester wrote:
> WHAT THEY NEVER TOLD YOU IN PSYCHOLOGY CLASS!
Perhaps because they stuck to the _facts_?
> The art and science of Psychology originated in Ancient Egypt.
1. Psychology isn't an art it's a science.
2. Slavery, torture for information, incest by Royal decree, drug abuse,
human sacrifice and state sanctioned prostitution of children originated
there, but the science of psychology? Sorry, Michael, but that's absurd.
> The early Egyptians had theories of mind which included consciousness
> on various levels.They knew about the manifest and latent contents of
> dreams.
The ancient Egyptians believed that the "reality" we perceive when awake
is an illusion, and that only the dream state is real. They believed that
the mind survived death of the "illusory" body and underwent trials in the
Underworld where it was judged in part on the basis of the many gifts and
sacrifices that accompanied the body to the grave. Their beliefs about
mental health were equally advanced.
By your standards, the fact that they knew there was a mind (which, btw,
they assigned to the heart not the brain--so much for your "science of
psychology") "proves" that they understood psychology. Since they also
knew that flight was possible (after all they flew in their dreams and Ra
flew across the sky with the Sun in his chariot), they were clearly
astrophysicists, right?
> They were the first trait theorists,utilized the laws of
> perception in art,had an educational system that predated the laws of
> learning, and had bird cages that predated Skinner boxes with operant
> conditioning devices.
If you include a "natural" state of slavery and inferiority or one of
Godhood and Royalty as "traits" then they must have been trait theorists.
As far as perception in art, precisely how ELSE could you create art than
in a manner intended to affect the perceptions of the viewer? They had no
understanding of the _principles_ of perception--or even the basic
artistic principles of perspective and depth. With respect to education,
they certainly did have an educational system, complete with schools--they
were called "Temples" and only certain persons were permitted to learn
there. Of course the only thing they learned (apart from reading and
writing, wich required a membership in a certain caste or class) was the
pseudo-magic of a set of very primitive religions (do YOU want to send
your kids to school to learn to sacrifice a goat to the local goddess?),
but I suppose with the current trend toward grade inflation and the
reduction in academic quality of US schools, there IS some parallel there.
By the way, they had laws of learning: If you didn't study as instructed
they killed you. Very effective law. Finally, the "Skinner boxes." Not to
point out the obvious, but the ancient Chinese had birdcages--as have most
cultures up to the present. I have several friends with bird cages, in
fact. Does that make them behavioral psychologists?
> Stay tuned for Psy thought #2.
I'm sure it will be as edifying as this one.
Rick
--
Rick Adams
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
"... and the only measure of your worth and your deeds will be the love
you leave behind when you're gone. --Fred Small, Everything Possible "
