Article

Leibniz‘ Einfluss auf Wundts Psychologie, Philosophie und Ethik

Author(s) / Creator(s)

Fahrenberg, Jochen

Abstract / Description

Leibniz‘s essential influence on Wundt’s thinking, so far, is not thoroughly examined. In the Introduction of his Grundzüge der physiologischen Psychologie, Wundt refers to Kant and Herbart being the most influential in shaping his philosophical standpoints. Taking this lead, however, it is noticeable that Wundt’s attitude is mostly critical, especially regarding Herbart. In comparison, Leibniz’s impact is essential and constructive in forming Wundt’s psychology, philosophy, epistemology, and ethics. This influence is obvious in Wundt’s Essay on Leibniz in 1917 and from a number of basic concepts, terms, and epistemological principles in Wundt’s work. Furthermore, Leibniz’s perspectivism was formative to Wundt’s cognitive style. The introduction refers to four basic postulates in Leibniz’ thinking: Law of Continuity, Principle of Harmony, Individuality, and Autonomous Activity. The main part of the present contribution includes 10 issues or Sections: (1) Monad, Mind (Soul) and actuality; (2) Epistemology; (3) Psychophysical Parallelism; (4) Perception and Apperception; (5) (Self-) Consciousness; (6) Will and Voluntarist Tendency; (7) Principle of sufficient reason; (8) Development (Evolutionism); (9) Ethics; (10) Monism. Each Section includes citations from Leibniz’s work; definitions from Historisches Wörterbuch der Philosophie (Ritter et al., 1971 ff); Wundt’s direct commentaries on Leibniz; citations from Wundt’s work; relationships with epistemology; consequences for research and methodology; the reception of Wundt’s work and critique. Obviously, Leibniz had a profound impact on psychology and philosophy as conceived by Wundt. He transformed philosophical concepts to an innovative research program and methodology in the formative years of modern psychology. The present Essay is a plea for a renewed discourse on philosophical presuppositions in psychology, and, thus, complements previous books: Menschenbilder (Psychologische Anthropologie, 2008), Wilhelm Wundt – Pionier der Psychologie und Außenseiter? (2011), Zur Kategorienlehre der Psychologie (2013), Theoretische Psychologie (2015).

Keyword(s)

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Wilhelm Wundt Immanuel Kant Johann Friedrich Herbart Apperzeption Apperzeptionstheorie Bewusstsein Ethik Evolutionismus Geschichte der Psychologie Humanitätsidee Intellektualismus Interdisziplinarität Monadologie Monismus Perspektivität Perspektivismus Philosophische Psychologie Psychische Kausalität Psychophysischer Parallelismus Satz vom zureichenden Grund Voluntarismus Willenspsychologie Wissenschaftstheorie

Persistent Identifier

Date of first publication

2016-07-20

Publisher

Trier: Leibniz-Zentrum für Psychologische Information und Dokumentation

Publication status

unknown

Review status

unknown

Is version of

Citation

  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Fahrenberg, Jochen
  • PsychArchives acquisition timestamp
    2022-11-21T17:09:21Z
  • Made available on
    2016-07-25T08:01:36Z
  • Made available on
    2022-11-21T17:09:21Z
  • Date of first publication
    2016-07-20
  • Abstract / Description
    Leibniz‘s essential influence on Wundt’s thinking, so far, is not thoroughly examined. In the Introduction of his Grundzüge der physiologischen Psychologie, Wundt refers to Kant and Herbart being the most influential in shaping his philosophical standpoints. Taking this lead, however, it is noticeable that Wundt’s attitude is mostly critical, especially regarding Herbart. In comparison, Leibniz’s impact is essential and constructive in forming Wundt’s psychology, philosophy, epistemology, and ethics. This influence is obvious in Wundt’s Essay on Leibniz in 1917 and from a number of basic concepts, terms, and epistemological principles in Wundt’s work. Furthermore, Leibniz’s perspectivism was formative to Wundt’s cognitive style. The introduction refers to four basic postulates in Leibniz’ thinking: Law of Continuity, Principle of Harmony, Individuality, and Autonomous Activity. The main part of the present contribution includes 10 issues or Sections: (1) Monad, Mind (Soul) and actuality; (2) Epistemology; (3) Psychophysical Parallelism; (4) Perception and Apperception; (5) (Self-) Consciousness; (6) Will and Voluntarist Tendency; (7) Principle of sufficient reason; (8) Development (Evolutionism); (9) Ethics; (10) Monism. Each Section includes citations from Leibniz’s work; definitions from Historisches Wörterbuch der Philosophie (Ritter et al., 1971 ff); Wundt’s direct commentaries on Leibniz; citations from Wundt’s work; relationships with epistemology; consequences for research and methodology; the reception of Wundt’s work and critique. Obviously, Leibniz had a profound impact on psychology and philosophy as conceived by Wundt. He transformed philosophical concepts to an innovative research program and methodology in the formative years of modern psychology. The present Essay is a plea for a renewed discourse on philosophical presuppositions in psychology, and, thus, complements previous books: Menschenbilder (Psychologische Anthropologie, 2008), Wilhelm Wundt – Pionier der Psychologie und Außenseiter? (2011), Zur Kategorienlehre der Psychologie (2013), Theoretische Psychologie (2015).
    de_DE
  • Publication status
    unknown
  • Review status
    unknown
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11780/3675
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.10907
  • Language of content
    deu
    de_DE
  • Publisher
    Trier: Leibniz-Zentrum für Psychologische Information und Dokumentation
    de_DE
  • Is version of
    https://doi.org/10.6094/UNIFR/12407
  • Keyword(s)
    Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
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  • Keyword(s)
    Wilhelm Wundt
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  • Keyword(s)
    Immanuel Kant
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  • Keyword(s)
    Johann Friedrich Herbart
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  • Keyword(s)
    Apperzeption
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  • Keyword(s)
    Apperzeptionstheorie
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  • Keyword(s)
    Bewusstsein
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  • Keyword(s)
    Ethik
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  • Keyword(s)
    Evolutionismus
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  • Keyword(s)
    Geschichte der Psychologie
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  • Keyword(s)
    Humanitätsidee
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  • Keyword(s)
    Intellektualismus
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  • Keyword(s)
    Interdisziplinarität
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  • Keyword(s)
    Monadologie
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  • Keyword(s)
    Monismus
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  • Keyword(s)
    Perspektivität
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  • Keyword(s)
    Perspektivismus
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  • Keyword(s)
    Philosophische Psychologie
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  • Keyword(s)
    Psychische Kausalität
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  • Keyword(s)
    Psychophysischer Parallelismus
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  • Keyword(s)
    Satz vom zureichenden Grund
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  • Keyword(s)
    Voluntarismus
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  • Keyword(s)
    Willenspsychologie
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  • Keyword(s)
    Wissenschaftstheorie
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  • Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)
    150
  • Title
    Leibniz‘ Einfluss auf Wundts Psychologie, Philosophie und Ethik
    de_DE
  • DRO type
    article
    de_DE
  • Visible tag(s)
    PsyDok