Psychology : the changing outlook / by Francis Aveling.

  • Francis Aveling
Date:
1937
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Psychology : the changing outlook / by Francis Aveling. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    157/166 page 145
    A final point that may be touched upon as a possible indication of the way in which scientific psychology is moving towards a more complete and coherent synthesis is that of the Gestalt concept of wholeness ” as an explanatory principle. It would be premature yet to attempt to predict the outcome of its thorough-going application to all the problems of psychology ; but it may be stated quite definitely that its psychological implica¬ tions are in no way necessarily bound up with the physiological hypotheses that have been advanced in its support. That this principle is at present the object of keen criticism and controversy is much in its favour as evidence of the serious challenge it has made to con¬ temporary thought. And already the conclusion appears to be emerging from the discussion that the laws of “ wholeness/' which have been stated as objective laws governing the process of perception and, consequently upon this, have been extended to cover all other mental process also, must be enlarged to include at least one principle of an essentially subjective kind. Even in so far as perception alone is concerned, we are able to control our manner of perceiving. How a reconciliation of what at present appear to be absolutely incompatible principles will come about, it is impossible to say ; but in any completed science of psychology all the relevant facts will have to be taken into account, and the ultimate synthesis reached precisely by way of these statements, refutations, and conciliations. Possibly further research into the orectic, or feeling and striving, aspect of the mind, and particularly into the function of the human will, may provide the nuclear point round which the whole will crystallize out in an orderly and intelligible fashion.
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