Modern Psychology: Philosophical Roots

Modern Psychology: Philosophical Roots
Although modern psychology is a relatively new science, historically the manifestations are seen in early civilization. Man has long sought ways to understand and address the mental ailments of patients. First through the primitive attempts of shaman, medicine men, mid-wives and enchanters to heal the mind through religious ceremony, herbal remedies and magic, explored by philosophers during the Renaissance period, and finally becoming a formal discipline through studies of 19th century philosophers, psychology has evolved into it's own distinct science. Following on the heels of early philosophers and scientists such as Aristotle, Galileo, and Sir Francis Bacon, René Descarte was a prominent scholar of the early 17th Century. Major figures that provided the modern philosophical foundation for the study of psychology included Wilhem Wundt, John Locke, Thomas Upham, and William James. Psychology evolved from popular methods such as phrenology and physiognomy to a more scientific quest to understand how the brain and nervous system work, leading to the discovery of neurophysiology, psychoanalysis and psychophysics. In the United States, scholars took the science of psychology into two main branches of study, structuralism and functionalism. (Benjamin, L. 2008)
Historically, psychology was rooted in the beliefs of major philosophers, with notable early examples being Hippocrates, Aristotle and Plato.   Hippocrates was the scholar to demonstrate that the mind is located in the brain, and suggested that mental illness due to demonic presence as was popularly believed, but was rather a manifestation of physical ailments.   Aristotle was an early empiricist and established the methodology which was the primary structure of empirical research. He believed that knowledge is obtained through observing, personal experience and analyzing. Plato believed that although the mind is different from the body, they interact with one another....