Psychology of the Renaissance Era

Petrarch (1304-1374), considered the father of Italian Humanism, believed individuals should study ancient texts and develop unique styles reflecting their personalities. His ideas were crucial to Renaissance thought, challenging medieval traditions and emphasizing personal connection with God over strict dogma.

Petrarch criticized Scholasticism, a medieval approach to intellectualizing religion, arguing that it overemphasized intellectual aspects of faith, neglecting personal, emotional connection with God.

Petrarch believed humans possess significant abilities that should be developed and used to create positive changes in the world.

While no details were given on Luther in the provided text, the importance of personal faith in contrast to church doctrine is a concept frequently associated with his teachings.

Petrarch advocated for a return to personal religious experiences, similar to the way St. Augustine described them, over strict adherence to religious dogma.

An intellectual movement focusing on human potential and achievement, rediscovering classical texts, and challenging medieval mindsets.

A core theme of Renaissance Humanism, emphasizing individual potential and the belief that individuals can make a positive difference in the world.

A theme in Renaissance Humanism, promoting a more personal and experiential understanding of faith, rather than one imposed by the church.

A key aspect of Renaissance Humanism, involving study of Greek and Roman philosophers, poets, and texts, along with rediscovering old Eastern religions.

Renaissance Humanists challenged the authority of Aristotle's philosophy, considering it potential error-prone, despite its acceptance for Christian reasoning.

Works of Greek and Roman philosophers, poets, and writers. Renaissance Humanism was deeply interested in rediscovering and studying them.

A key figure in Renaissance Humanism, influential in reintroducing Platonism and establishing the Platonic Academy in Florence.

Central idea in Renaissance Humanism, stressing the importance of human capabilities, creativity, and actions.

Martin Luther's 1517 protest against the Catholic Church, marking the start of Protestantism.

Luther emphasized personal responsibility to God, rejecting the idea of paying fees to reduce punishment for sins. He favored a simple life and saw the blending of Aristotle's philosophy with Christianity as a major issue.

A shift from relying on religious texts and revelation to using observation and evidence to understand nature.

A conflict between the Church's authority and the growing emphasis on scientific inquiry and observation.

Scientists who used observation to study the natural world and challenged traditional religious dogma.

A method of reasoning that starts with observations and specific examples and then draws general conclusions or principles based on them. It moves from specific to general.

A method of reasoning that starts with a general principle or theory and uses it to predict specific events or outcomes. It moves from general to specific.

A scientific approach that emphasizes observation and inductive reasoning, collecting data before forming conclusions. It focuses on empirical evidence and rejects pre-conceived notions.

A scientific approach that emphasizes deduction, starting with a general principle and using it to make predictions and test them through observation. It focuses on theoretical frameworks and testing them.

Information gathered through observation, experimentation, or direct experience. It is based on what can be seen, heard, touched, tasted, or smelled.

A philosophy that emphasizes empirical observation and scientific methods as the primary sources of knowledge. It rejects theories and beliefs that are not based on evidence.

Observation is a cornerstone of scientific inquiry. It allows scientists to gather empirical data, identify patterns, and test hypotheses. Without observation, science would be based on speculation.

Bacon's view of science, which emphasizes the importance of both observation and reasoning. It rejects pure empiricism (simply collecting facts) and pure rationalism (creating theories) as inadequate approaches to knowledge.

Galileo challenged Aristotle's belief that heavier objects fall faster than lighter ones. He proved this wrong using observation and experimentation.

Galileo improved the telescope and discovered four moons orbiting Jupiter, demonstrating that Earth wasn't the center of the universe.

Objective reality exists independently of perception. It's the physical world with measurable properties like size, shape, and motion.

Subjective reality is what we experience through our senses. It's personal and changes based on who we are.

Galileo believed consciousness and subjective experiences couldn't be scientifically measured, therefore psychology couldn't be a true science.

Secondary qualities are subjective properties like color and taste. Galileo believed they were unreliable for scientific study.

Jennifer Thompson wrongly identified Ronald Cotton as her attacker due to a strong memory but a flawed identification process.

Memory is powerful but can be unreliable, especially when dealing with stressful events.

A combination of intuition and deduction, where intuition provides clear and distinct ideas, and deduction uses those ideas to derive further truths.

A hypothetical substance thought to flow through nerves, responsible for movement and sensation in both humans and animals.

The idea that the mind (non-physical) and body (physical) are distinct entities that interact.

The belief that reason is the primary source of knowledge.

The idea that some ideas are innate, born into us.

The study of the nature and essence of conscious experience.

Descartes explained reflexes as involuntary actions caused by the flow of animal spirits through the nervous system.

Descartes' ideas about the mind-body interaction and the mechanistic view of bodily functions paved the way for later developments in psychology.