Arguably, psychology is not a discipline that developed overnight. For many centuries and years, psychology has undergone tremendous growth from the simplest form of psychological ideas to become a science on its own. There are many philosophers who are historically linked with the formation of psychology as a discipline. As a matter of fact, before psychology became a discipline and a science, various intellectuals are known to have contributed to philosophical concepts behind psychology. This relationship can be linked back to the Renaissance period, middle age, and Greeks. In the early 19th and late 18th century, a link between modern psychology and philosophy became possible (Goodwin, 2008).
The philosophers who are historically recognized for developing psychology tried to develop a tremendous understanding of various areas of psychology. Ebbinghaus Herman elaborated on the challenges that philosophers faced in developing psychology. Historically, modern psychology is believed to have been established by Greek philosophers. During this era, one of the great philosopher was Plato and Aristotle. In fact, Plato is believed to be one of the fathers of philosophy. Certainly, in the 18th and 19th centuries, another known philosopher made a tremendous opening in the history of modern psychology; this philosopher was Rene Descartes (Goodwin, 2008). In fact, Rene Descartes is credited in the field of modern psychology for changing various people in society think about the human mind and body. Rene Descartes developed a way of solving problems, which was based on reasoning. Before Rene Descartes died, he published a book, which made him the pioneer of physiologist and psychologist. Basically, it can be approved that Rene Descartes developed the themes that made the modern psychology what it is today (Brett, 2004).
Studies show that various configuration strategies of psychology to be a formal discipline began in the western region led by famous western philosophers In addition, John Locke also came up with various ideas, which helped in building modern psychology. Locke elaborated on how human beings acquire knowledge and understand the world (Brett, 2004). Basically, other British empiricists are credited historically with developing modern psychology. These British empiricists include David Hartley and David Hume. Wundt is also part of historical philosophers who created psychology; perhaps, Wundt wrote a lot of psychology as an independent discipline and established psychological laboratory.
Moreover, Sigmund Freud is part of the philosopher who made psychology a formal discipline. George Berkeley is also part of philosophers in Western culture who made tremendous contributions to the formation of psychology as a discipline. In the 17th century, Berkeley was focused on materialistic implications. He made a contribution through the publishment of his books. In his books, Barkeley elaborated on visual perception (Schultz & Schultz, 2011).
The development of psychology did not end in the 17th and 18th century, it continued in the 19th century. Another philosopher that is historically recognized for beginning psychology in the 19th century is John Stuart Mill. In fact, he was the first to focus on how the mind has chemicals running, a view that moved him away from the mechanical beliefs. Additionally, in the 19th century, John Mill made an analysis on the logic part of science, and focused on strategies for making a conclusive view on the inductive science. Today’s issues related to correlation and experimental researches that are used in psychological experimentation was developed by Mill (Schultz & Schultz, 2011).
Conclusively, the history of modern psychology has taken place for many centuries. Most of the credit today goes to Rene Descartes and other philosophers whose ideas link to the development of psychology as a science and discipline. The development of psychology is attributed fully to philosophy as a discipline and philosophers.
References
Brett, G. (2004). A History of Psychology: Modern Psychology. London: Routledge
Goodwin, J. (2008). A History of Modern Psychology. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons
Schultz, D & Schultz, S.(2012). Modern Psychology. A History. London: Wadsworth
