An Intellectual History of Psychology

by Daniel N. Robinson

     An Intellectual History of Psychology , already a classic in its field, is now available in a concise new third edition. It presents psychological ideas as part of a greater web of thinking throughout history about the essentials of human nature, interwoven with ideas from philosophy, science, religion, art, literature, and politics.
     Daniel N. Robinson demonstrates that from the dawn of rigorous and self-critical inquiry in ancient Greece, reflections about human nature have been inextricably linked to the cultures from which they arose, and each definable historical age has added its own character and tone to this long tradition. An Intellectual History of Psychology not only explores the most significant ideas about human nature from ancient to modern times, but also examines the broader social and scientific contexts in which these concepts were articulated and defended. Robinson treats each epoch, whether ancient Greece or Renaissance Florence or Enlightenment France, in its own terms, revealing the problems that dominated the age and engaged the energies of leading thinkers.
     Robinson also explores the abiding tension between humanistic and scientific perspectives, assessing the most convincing positions on each side of the debate. Invaluable as a text for students and as a stimulating and insightful overview for scholars and practicing psychologists, this volume can be read either as a history of psychology in both its philosophical and aspiring scientific periods or as a concise history of Western philosophy’s concepts of human nature.

Genres: Psychology, History, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Science

392 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Daniel N. Robinson is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Georgetown University and a Fellow of the Faculty of Philosophy, Oxford University.

Robinson has published in a wide variety of subjects, including moral philosophy, the philosophy of psychology, legal philosophy, the philosophy of the mind, intellectual history, legal history, and the history of psychology. He has held academic positions at Amherst College, Georgetown University, Princeton University, and Columbia University. In addition, he served as the principal consultant to PBS and the BBC for their award-winning series 'The Brain' and 'The Mind', and he lectured for 'The Great Courses' series on Philosophy. He is on the Board of Consulting Scholars of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions and is a Senior Fellow of BYU's Wheatley Institution. In 2011 he received the Gittler Award from the American Psychological Association for significant contributions to the philosophical foundations of Psychology.

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably has more -ism and -ist suffixes per page than anything I've read. Don't let the erudition scare you, but know that this is largely a history of philosophy with a final chapter or two showing how modern psychology has departed from its intellectual roots.

[Burning Thoughts · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book to read slowly, making notes, considering connections and allusions. It treats psychology as the study of human behavior that lies implicit in philosophical discourse for two thousand plus years.

[Anjar Priandoyo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Difficult book, try to find more easy introduction to psychology school of thought. This book is good and comprehensive, especially when trying to have a cut of from Greek Civilization as the basis. But for me, I need to read more easier book first.

[Gretchen Monson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my 4 years of studying Psychology, I haven't really gotten a good history of where Psychology originated. This book was a very interesting tool to use in one of my classes. Robinson gives a great ride through history, while pointing out the salient thinkers and how their ideas have shaped modern day Psychology. I really liked how Robinson wrote it at an intellectual level, it really made you think, but at the same time, it was easy to get lost and forget what was being talked about. I really did enjoy this book!

[Emily Brayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very insightful. I suggest reading slowly and taking notes. It gets easier to read as the book goes on, not because it’s any less difficult but because you adjust to Robinson’s writing style. This book demonstrates very clearly the historical lineage of ideas of contemporary psychology rooted in Hellenic philosophy and so on. You can clearly see that our ideas are recycled and products of centuries of thought and theories. I found it wonderful to read and see the thread of ideas laid out in this manner.

[Harman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was good; extremely heady in some places, sometimes to the point of being unintelligible - although I think that's more due to my inability to measure up to Robinson's IQ than poor writing. My favorite part was his analysis of the psychology of Augustine. I probably wouldn't have read this if I hadn't had to for class.

[Erisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an excellent read!
I won't go into details, because Bruce has already written a great review, and I agree with everything he says. I will give this five stars for now, because it is the best book I've read on this topic; best for the amount and kind of information it contains, as well as the way it is presented. Daniel is a remarkable teacher and writer!

[Deanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was ok - he is amazing in a live lecture. I had the opportunity to take a class from him and I really loved our lectures/discussions.