Draft:Ancient Psychology

Psychology, or the study of the mind and behavior has a history linking back to ancient times. The study of psychology takes a lot of inspiration from ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Greece, and China, where there was a new interest in understanding human nature, mind, and the innerworkings of the universe.

Egypt

The direct link between Ancient Egyptian thought is not as clear as that of Ancient Greece due to modern psychology taking most information from western thought., there was still an emphasis on the soul, ethics and an understanding of the brain that may have indirectly contributed to the development of psychology.

The Edwin Smith Papyrus and Neuropsychology

The Edwin Smith Papyrus, dating from 1600 BCE described the brain for the first time in history as something enclosed within a membrane, containing two hemispheres, marked with convulsions. This document contains the first known descriptions of a plethora of medical ideas still used today including meninges, cerebrospinal fluid and intracranial pulsations. Despite this knowledge being documented, the Ancient Egyptians believed the heart to be the center for consciousness and in turn regarded the brain with less importance. This can be seen through the mummification process, in which they pull the brain out through the nostrils with an iron hook in the process of excerebration, as it is seen as unimportant for the afterlife.

Papyrus Ebers and Mental Illness

Ancient Egyptian texts often described somatic, emotional and psychological symptoms stemming from depression, foreshadowing what modern psychology would often classify as mood disorders. Papyrus Excerpts discuss “the mind in the heart which goes up and falls down,” “the mind kneels, his heart in its place, his heart becomes weary, he eats little and is fastidious,” and “his mind is drowned, this means his mind is forgetful, like one who is thinking of something else…as if his mind is dark.”

Dream Interpretation

The ancient Egyptians practiced dream interpretation long before Freud. In Ancient Egypt, a person suffering from psychological distress would be sent to a sanatorium, in which they would enter a dark room and prepare to dream in order to therapize the individual. They would burn perfumed wood and turn on lamps in order to induce a hypnotic sleep state in order to induce therapeutic dream states.

Greece

Ancient Greece is often known as the birthplace of philosophies surrounding the self, where philosophers such as Socrates, Plato and Aristotle aimed to understand the nature of man through the distinction of the mind, body and soul. They developed theories surrounding the relationship between the mind and body, later inspiring prominent theories of identity and mind that came about in the Renaissance and the Enlightenment. These theories are partially credited for inspiring the development of modern western psychology through the focus on individualism and self. The earliest Greek philosophers looked at two key topics: the basic nature of the mind and its various functions. These philosophers believed that the universe consisted of something called the “psyche” defined generally as a force causing things to change, and in relation to an individual would best be characterized as the soul.

Plato

Plato, born around 428–348 B.C., engaged in an exploration of the human psyche in his early works. He contemplated the prospect of enhancing one's psyche through education, emphasizing its role as the wellspring of human morality. Over time, Plato evolved his perspective, asserting that the psyche wielded authority over the body, serving as the repository of all knowledge. According to him, knowledge was innate, and experiences merely unveiled this inherent wisdom through a process of recollection, known as anamnesis.

Plato claimed the immortality of the psyche. He proposed that the demise of the physical body liberated the psyche, enabling it to unite with the Forms—an elusive realm only glimpsed through philosophy during the soul's entrapment in the body.

In his work "Republic," Plato expounded a three part nature of the psyche, comprising the logistikon (intellect), thumos (emotions), and epithumetikon. According to his vision of an ideal psyche, the logistikon would govern, orchestrating a harmonious balance among the three components through the application of reason.

Aristotle

Aristotle, who lived from 384 to 322 B.C., apprenticed under Plato, and his exploration in "On the Soul" scrutinizes the intricate fusion of the psyche and the body to create a living organism. According to Aristotle, the psyche functions as the form or organizational structure imposed upon the body's substance, shaping the essence of a living entity when combined. He identified five faculties of the psyche, categorizing them as nutrition (essential for life), perception (inclusive of sight, touch, taste, smell, and hearing), desire, locomotion, and intellect. Nutrition, vital for sustaining life, pertained solely to plants.

To attain the status of an animal, an organism had to possess the faculty of perception, embracing various sensory experiences. Those with perception also showcased imagination and desire. He reserved the attribute of locomotion for specific animals, while the possession of intellect was ascribed to only a select few animals. Aristotle considered intellect as a distinct faculty associated with reasoning and understanding. He believed that only a few select animals, particularly humans, possessed this higher cognitive function.

China

Ancient Chinese thinkers and scholars delved into the complexities of the human mind and behavior through different beliefs, contributing unique insights that have left an enduring impact on the development of psychological thought.

Confucianism

Confucianism was founded by K’ung Fu-tzu or Confucius. His main ideas centered around morality and moral integrity, which will in turn affect the world through “cosmic harmony”. Confucian ethics centers around the idea that the world is moral in nature, governed by a system that centers around the human in society. Human beings should strive for moral perfection through the 5 Constants, humaneness/benevolence, justice/righteousness, proper rite, knowledge and integrity. This can be achieved through education and through the humaneness of ren. This then results in behaviors such as altruism, humility and respect. Confucius is best known for his golden rule “do not do unto others what you would not want others do unto you.” He believed that a sense of community as well as devotion to family strengthens this behavior and in turn society. Confucianism places emphasis on relationships amongst people and harmonious relationships, the functioning of a family relies on individuals being in the right relationships with each other. This philosophy asserts that when familial relationships are in harmony, society as a whole will benefit.

He believed human development to be an unending process, with individuals coming into the world very similar to one another, and becoming different as they grow. He advocated for a universal right to education because he saw learning as something crucial role in this process.

Daoism

Daoism's roots trace back to the 4th century BCE and closely associated with the philosopher Lao Tzu, centers around the concept of Dao, often translated as "the way." This principle is viewed as an all-encompassing force that permeates the entire world, existing within individuals as well. While sharing a concern for harmony with Confucianism, Daoism diverges by placing greater emphasis on the balance between humans and nature, as opposed to focusing on interpersonal relationships.

At the core of Daoist ethics lies the concept of wu-wei, which translates to "nonaction." This philosophy advocates for living in harmony with the Dao and its inherent energy, discouraging the imposition of one's will on the universe. Instead, Daoism encourages allowing things to unfold organically and spontaneously. Harmony, in the Daoist perspective, is intricately linked to the Yin and Yang concept, representing dualism in the universe. Yin and Yang illustrate the interconnection and collaboration of opposites, such as light and dark, functioning together like two sides of a coin. Notably, a single entity can embody both Yin and Yang simultaneously, and two distinct entities can each hold Yin or Yang qualities concurrently. This dualistic concept is integral to Ch’i or Qi, the energy flowing through the Dao, guiding the universe. Additionally, Daoist's believe in the reunion of the spirit or soul with the Dao after death, reinforcing the interconnectedness between human existence and the cosmic order.