Empiricism has shaped the study of religion in many ways. In order to study the psychology of religion one must gain an understanding of the approaches taken to do so. Natural and radical empiricism plays an important role on these approaches. In this response paper natural and radical empiricism will be defined in terms of its approaches and consequently effect on the study of religion.
The basis of natural empiricism places sensory experience as its primary focus and all other factors as its secondary (Hood et al. 2010, 21). This reveals the first characteristic of natural empiricism, physical evidence. This characteristic reveals the scientific approach within natural empiricism which there shapes the study of religion (Hood et al. 2010, It is a form of empiricism that William James developed (Capps 2005, 21-22). The basis of this form of empiricism is the individual. Great emphasis is placed upon the experiences of the individual. The objectivity of natural empiricism is replaced with subjectivity (Capps 2005, 22). This is an important factor to note as it takes the study of religion on a different path in terms of what is deemed as evidence as well as the measurement of this evidence. Examples of what would therefore be considered evidence or data in radical empiricism include; emotions, beliefs and other aspects of the self that is not solely sensory (Capps 2005, This can be seen in his research done on mysticism (James 2002, 294-332). Within this study great emphasis was placed on personal experiences of mysticism and single case studies where outside influences such as community and religious institutions were left out (James 2002, 294-332). This can be seen in his four characteristics of mystic experiences, namely ineffable, noetic, transient and passive. Ineffable refers to the state in which the experience occurs; it is therefore described as a feeling rather than an understanding. Noetic refers what the experience has to give and James describes this as holding important insight. Transient refers to the length of times which is defined as short lived or cannot be experienced for long periods. Lastly, passive refers to the experience itself and that it does not occur out of the ordinary (James 2002, 295). These characteristics make the focus of the individual clear. This exposes a characteristic which can hinder the study of religion in terms of what is studied and its influences on individual’s beliefs (James 2002,
bodies orbit the Sun Heretical Contrary to church doctrine or accepted beliefs or standards Inquisition A Roman Catholic tribunal for investigating and prosecuting charges of heresy. natural philospher Scientists Ptolemaic System Ptolemy's model of the universe with the Earth at the center Scientific Empiricism knowledge comes from sense experiences, observation, and experimentation. Set forth by Sir Francis Bacon Scientific Method A series of steps followed to solve problems including collecting…
to material agencies. What is Materialism? • Materialism as a worldview emphasizes sensory experience and material concerns to the exclusion of spiritual and religious considerations. • There are many terms associated with materialism • • • • Empiricism Logical-positivism Rationalism Reductionism Metaphysics of Materialism • In metaphysics, the central premise of Materialism is that only matter is real. • There is no other, spiritual reality. • In a sense, materialism might be understood as denying…
and space * Abstract theory or talk with no basis in reality Solipsism * The mind creates the world around us * Does the world exist outside of the mind? SCHOOLS OF EPISTEMOLOGY: Epistemology * Acquisition of knowledge Empiricism * Doctrine that all knowledge is derived from sense experience Rationalism * All knowledge is expressible in self- evident propositions or their consequences * Acquisition of knowledge through our mind (reasoning/critical thinking)…
Dan Arrick Hume: The Essentials David Hume was one of the most successful philosophers of the early modern era. His precise empiricism and cogent skepticism build upon a glorious philosophy that to this day remains a sturdy foundation for natural inquiry and metaphysics. Hume establishes what little footing we maintain as empiricists by plotting the trajectory of our feelings and ideas governing experience. In this way, Hume’s works culminate in a forceful denunciation of scientific inquiry…
that Bhattacherjee explained throughout the chapter. Science Bhattacherjee begins by defining science into two broad categories, natural science and social science, with natural science being the science of naturally occurring objects or phenomena, and social science being the science of people or collections of people and their individual collective behavior. Natural science can be described in more defined categories like, physical sciences like physics or chemistry, earth sciences like geology…
in any genre, Hume's major philosophical works — A Treatise of Human Nature (1739-1740), the Enquiries concerning Human Understanding (1748) and concerning the Principles of Morals (1751), as well as the posthumously published Dialogues concerning Natural Religion (1779) — remain widely and deeply influential. Although many of Hume's contemporaries denounced his writings as works of scepticism and atheism, his influence is evident in the moral philosophy and economic writings of his close friend Adam…
the nature of change. 2. Natural Theology: The study of a God or Gods; involves many topics, including among others the nature of religion and the world, existence of the divine, questions about Creation, and the numerous religious or spiritual issues that concern humankind in general. 3. Universal science: The study of first principles, such as the law of noncontradiction (logic), which Aristotle believed were the foundation of all other inquiries Aristotle’s empiricism is if you can see it, hear…
metaphysics. This main question that is raised by Descartes is, “Why and what should I doubt?” This vital question examines the existence of knowledge and where is originates from. There are two schools of thoughts that attempt to answer this question: empiricism and rationalism. Empiricists like Locke, Berkeley, and Hume believe that sense experience is the best source for all of our knowledge. In contrast, rationalists like Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz think that we acquire knowledge independently…
AP Psychology 5th July 21, 2012 1. Empiricism – the theory that all knowledge originates from experiment and observations 2. Structuralism – method of interpretation and analysis of aspects of human cognition, behavior, culture, and experience that focuses on relationships 3. Functionalism – belief in or stress on the practical application of a specific thing 4. Experimental psychology – psychology concerned with the scientific investigation of basic psychological processes such…
Roy Baumeister Sexual drive and orientation between men and women Men have stronger sexual drive Daryl Bem Studies temperament Biological factors may predispose a temperament that influences sexuality Charles Darwin Instinct Theory Virginia Johnson Sexual Response Cycle Four Stages Excitement Plateau Orgasm Resolution Simon LeVay Known for his studies of brain structures and sexual orientation Brain structures in strait and gay people are different William Masters Researched…