Refractions of Philosophy in the Origins of Psychology: From Soul to Science

Vijay Kumar Yadavendu

Abstract: Philosophical Ideas do not exist in a vacuum; they are always embedded in a specific historical, social, and cultural context. This paper traces the historical and philosophical foundations of psychology, examining its evolution from early modern metaphysical speculation to the establishment of psychology as an independent empirical science. Beginning with the etymological origins of "psychology" and its institutionalization in sixteenth and seventeenth-century thought, the discussion highlights Christian Wolff's systematic division between empirical and rational psychology and Immanuel Kant's critique of psychology's scientific status. Kant's limitations on rational psychology and his turn toward anthropology marked a pivotal moment, shaping subsequent debates on consciousness, empiricism, and freedom. The paper then explores the transformation of German idealism through Fichte, Schelling, and Hegel, whose revisions of Kantian thought emphasized will, unconscious processes, and social mind. Finally, the analysis turns to Wilhelm Wundt's establishment of psychology as an experimental discipline, bridging philosophical traditions with scientific methods. By situating these shifts in broader intellectual contexts, the study underscores psychology's enduring negotiation between philosophy and science.

Keywords: Psychology, Enlightenment, Rational, Empirical, German idealism, Paradigms, Philosophy of mind

How to Cite?: Vijay Kumar Yadavendu, "Refractions of Philosophy in the Origins of Psychology: From Soul to Science", Volume 7 Issue 6, June 2018, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1970-1976, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR18619105239, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR18619105239