Psychology and Cognitive Transition from Philosophy to Science

Abstract

Psychology, as one of the fundamental humanities, underwent significant progress and multiple stages before achieving independence from philosophy. Its roots trace back from ancient Greek philosophy to modern philosophy, where metaphysical philosophical interpretations dominated psychological matters, preventing their consideration as scientific studies. However, these philosophical conceptions of the mind accumulated as cognitive foundations that paved the way for the emergence of psychology around the mid-19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. This was achieved by creating suitable epistemological conditions, marking the separation of psychology from philosophy and establishing it as an actual independent field of knowledge with its unique subject matter and methodology.

     Consequently, delving into the cognitive foundations contributing to the emergence of psychology necessitates exploring two stages: starting from the philosophical stage with its perceptions of the mind and progressing toward the scientific stage by highlighting the immense developments in natural and mathematical sciences and their impact on the birth of humanities and specifically psychology. The significance of this research lies in attempting to elucidate the position of humanities and social sciences through psychology within the broader intellectual domain, and its relation to human psychological and social development.