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:
[1897]
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

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.

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    that is enough for the teacher, for he sees in these facts an important approach to conduct. However, in reply to this sound of alarm, it may be said that if a trans- cendental will is one that is absolutely free, or one that is entirely lifted above the influence of desire in mak- ing choice, then education is comparatively valueless, for it can find no purchase upon such a will. But if the transcendental will is one that is influenced by de- sire in making choice, one can believe in it heartily and still accept the above-mentioned Herbartian doctrine, for it is known that desire has its origin in interest.”1 From our standpoint this seems eminently straight- forward and satisfactory. It does not please Mr. A. F. Ames, however, who replies2 to it, pointing out that it is possible to accept the Herbartian theory of interest without giving up the transcendental will. In fact, if we neglect interest, he maintains that we are unfair to this transcendental will. “ Place a child,” he says, “ whose parents have been vicious and immoral in a pure environment and under wholesome influences, and his will may be strong enough to originate such modifications in his hereditary tendencies as will save him.” But on the other hand: “Place a child in the midst of surroundings which are grossly immoral, and his will is powerless to originate modifications in his environment that shall set aside the streams of causa- tion in which he finds himself.” Does this differ in any important way from the sun- nier statement of Professor McMurry ? Neither main- tains the absolute freedom of the will, for even with 1 Am. Educ. Beview, Feb., 1896. 2 Ibid., April, 1896.