History and Systems

This is a graduate survey course designed to thoroughly acquaint the student with the history and philosophical issues that combine as precursors to modern psychology. Although some consider that psychology was founded in 1879 when Wilhelm Wundt opened his laboratory, actually psychology emerged from the very origins of philosophy in ancient times, grew into the disciplines of philosophy and physiology becoming a separate and distinct discipline in the late 19th century. This course will study the myriad figures, discoveries, and ideas contributing to the rise of psychology. The course will investigate how psychological thought has paralleled the development of western thought, tradition, culture, religion, medicine, and social institutions.