The Herbartian psychology applied to education : being a series of essays applying the psychology of Johann Friedrich Herbart / by John Adams.

  • Adams, John, 1857-1934.
Date:
[1900?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The Herbartian psychology applied to education : being a series of essays applying the psychology of Johann Friedrich Herbart / by John Adams. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

    287/316 (page 275)
    potter. Given certain stimuli which the teacher may apply, the pupil must respond to them in a definite way. What becomes of the child's will ? This question is at present causing a considerable amount of uneasiness among Herbartians, who in all other respects are thoroughly satisfied with their theory. In his Psy- chology Herbart makes it clear that what is called the transcendental will does not commend itself to his favour 1 and his critics have not failed to point out that transcendental freedom of will, in Kant's sense, is an impossibility in his system. It seems to be only of late, however, that practical teachers have come to a knowledge of the bearing of this fact upon their work. If interest inevitably rouses desires, and desires lead to determinations resulting in actions, there can be no room for this transcendental will which is defined as a will which can originate modifications in its environment, and therefore set aside, to a greater or less extent, the stream of causation in which it finds itself. ^ It is maintained by critics of the Herbartian doctrine of interest, that its stream of causation leaves no room for the working of the will as thus defined. In answer Professor McMurry cheerily writes : So far as replies to this charge have been given, they indicate that the Herbartians, while greatly interested in the discussion of the transcenden- tal will, regard the problem as belonging rather to metaphysics than to pedagogy. In their opinion daily experience teaches that interest affects volition; and 1 Psychology^ p. 118. ^ j. Ward, Art. *' Herbart, Enc. Brit. »Dr. W. T. Harris.