Rationality Vs Irrationality in Human Nature and Holism, Reductionism and Four Theories - Assignment Example

Review of ‘Rationality Vs Irrationality in Human Nature’ The chapter primarily analyzes human behavior in terms of actions that are based on rational or irrational decisions and traces the evolution of behavioral analysis through the ages. Various philosophers and social scientists have propounded theories that try to explain human behavior under normal and excruciating circumstances. But they agree that the rational or irrational behavior is subjective to one’s approach and understanding of the issue that broadly confines to individual’s choice and thereby his or her actions. Hence, whatever we do, it is based on reasoning or motivating forces that influence our thinking process and the way we think. Some of the forces that might determine our form of ‘thinking’ may include gender, ethnicity, scientific background, official compulsions or socio-economic parameters. Rational thinking involves an in-depth analysis of the situation where emotions are not involved. The articulated and well defined reasons detailing the pros and con of the issue form the basis for the type of thinking and the action thereon, which is broadly applicable to similar situations. Greek philosophers like Aristotle, Socrates and Plato have consistently tried to rationalize the complex human behaviour and come with conclusions that have become the foundation for modern philosophers and social scientists to improve and improvise the analysis of behavioural pattern from a wider perspectives and taking into account the changing paradigms of social changes and values. Kant’s moral philosophy is a case in point where he emphasises that people rationalize their actions according to what they deem as morally good. Irrational behaviour, on the other hand, is more multifaceted because of the diversity of the probable causes that might promote actions which are based on irrational decisions. Ellis, eminent psychologist cum social scientist has defined rationality as ‘any thought, emotion, or behavior that leads to self- defeating or self- destructive consequences- that significantly interferes with the survival and happiness of the organism’. Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy focuses on reversing the process of irrational behavior through behavioral analysis. Hence, irrational behavior cannot be construed as universally acceptable forms of actions. The behavioral scientists and philosophers through the ages have tried to explain human behavior for the wider welfare of human race. While it is true that rational and irrational behaviors is the outcome of individual’s perception of things or issues, it is equally true that there are factors that have considerable influence on the decision power of the man. It is, therefore, important to analyze the factors that have significant impact on the human psyche which prompts or promotes the process of rational or irrational thinking. Review of ‘Holism, Reductionism and Four Theories The chapter tries to explain the human behavior by perceiving human life in two ways; Reductionism or analyzing different phases of one’s life to come to a conclusion about his present behavior; and holism or as single entity that might behave differently under different circumstance, depending on factors that may influence the behavior. The chapter comprises of theories of four social scientists and each of them has tried to explain human behavior in a manner that takes into account the wide ranging imperatives to analyze the outcome of human behavior under different circumstances. The cause and effect of various socio-psychological paradigms have been used to study the outcome and come to conclusions. Reductionism can be broadly defined as the behavior that is the end result of some external or internal stimuli that produces the action. ‘Reductionism is basically the process of breaking things down into the simpler parts that create the whole’. Watson has stated that human behavior is intrinsically linked to a cause. Hence, man reacts differently in different circumstances. Human behavior can be explained by studying the circumstances or the phases of man’s life because ‘individuals adapt or mold themselves depending on the situation, setting, and people’. Holism argues that ‘all the properties of a given system cannot be determined or explained by its component parts alone. Instead, the system as a whole determines in an important way how the parts behave’. Piaget asserts that human behavior can be explained through cognitive theory that basically relies on the different cognitive processes that are controlled by the brain. Hence, from childhood to adulthood, man reacts differently. Skinner’s theorizes that ‘behavior changes as a result of its consequences’. Skinner’s theory therefore, can be explained through reductionism as well as through holism. But the most interesting and probably the most pertinent is the theory proposed by Gestalt who says that ‘human being is a “whole” being. You cannot reduce the person into sections or “parts” to fix problems, or gain deeper insight. His actions are mainly based on four ideas: contact, awareness, personal responsiveness and responsibility’. While fundamentally, Gestalt believes in holistic behavioral pattern but when applied practically, it can be easily observed that the analysis of the behavior also follows reductionism. While one single theory cannot explain the human wider, reductionism helps to give better insight into human behavior. Gestalt theory becomes vital primarily because it focuses on the environmental factors that have significant impact on the outcome of the behavior. Review of ‘Nature Vs Nurture Nature Vs Nurture is highly relevant in the contemporary times because it has not only tried to analyze human behavior as per the socio environmental factors but it has also promoted the scientific intervention in the analysis of human behavior. Hereditary traits and genetic are intrinsic part of evolution that can explain the type of traits and behavior, a man is prone to exhibit, with relative accuracy. But the presence of doubt makes it imperative that scientists need to analyze human behavior on socio-psychological platform so that one is able to understand the paradoxes in one’s life. While knowledge of genetics may provide certain vital clue to a man’s personality, the external factors that have considerable influence the behavior are important criteria that determine the behavioral pattern under different circumstances. Various diseases and traits are linked to genetics which are transferred from generation to generation. The social scientists have accepted the important role of genes and the presence of hereditary traits. But at the same time, they have also emphasized that human behavior is vulnerable to external causes that have the power to change behavioral pattern to suit the situation. Philosophers like Sigmund Freud and Erikson have argued that the environment molds the personality and influences the behavior of the man. According to cognitive theory, conscious and unconscious working of our mind is strongly co-related with our experience of the object reality. Behavioral scientists have emphasized the fact that even though the genes play a very vital role in the development of the adolescents, the parents and the environment within which the child is growing up, has great capacity to exert considerable influence to mould the personalities of their children. Siblings brought under different environmental conditions, develop diametrically diverse personalities which corroborates to their respective environment of upbringing. External factors like chemicals, diet etc have the ability to change genetic characteristics or mapping conditioned environment promotes similar behavior. Nature and nurture both play significant role in the molding of one’s character and personality. While nature provides with the essential human traits, the environment help nurture those traits into behavioral pattern. The parents have the most important task of providing that environment which would not only promote good behavior but also help inculcate values that would stand by their children in the hour of their need. The theory of ‘nature Vs nurture’ is important because the parents and the environment within which the child is growing up, has great capacity to exert considerable influence to mould the personalities of their children. Answer 1 How did the separation between the Church and science during the Renaissance influence the types of explanations used by scientists. During renaissance, church and religion played vital role in the life of the people. The church believed in the supremacy of the biblical philosophy that promoted the concept of God as the creator and therefore was against those people or scientists who tried to analyze nature and celestial bodies which could undermine the supremacy of God. Since church was a powerful entity which had considerable influence in the everyday life of the people, it was able to interfere in the area of academics that wanted to unravel the mystery of nature. Galileo was one of the greatest scientists of our time. He specialized in the field of Physics and Astronomy. He propounded the theory of inertia and laws of falling bodies. He also contributed greatly in the area of Astronomy where he defended the work of Copernicus who had described the Sun as the stationary central body around which the other planets like earth move in a set pattern. The credit for the invention and innovative use of telescope in the research of celestial bodies and planetary system also goes to him. Galileo’s vociferous support for Copernicus theory that Sun is stationary and Earth moves around it became shrouded in much publicised controversy with the Church. He emphasized that scientific facts cannot be explained from Biblical and theological points of view. But the church considered that Copernicus theory might endanger public support for their own philosophies and beliefs. The vested interests thus used scriptures to disown and disprove his support for Copernicus theory by spreading the rumour that the theory challenged the theological interpretation of Bible. Advancement in science has effectively established that scientific knowledge is an integral part of evolution and misinterpretation of the religious scriptures can only hold true temporarily. Answer 2 Take a position on the question of whether knowledge really exists. Provide supporting evidence for your position. Knowledge is difficult to define but its presence in our life complements and supplements our existence. It promotes our inherent tendency to explore and widen its area of influence through all available means. In fact, the most interesting aspect of knowledge is that whether we want or not, we have the choices to imbibe, cultivate, facilitate, use, misuse and so on. This becomes apparent when one’s behavior is analyzed under different conditions. Behavioral scientists trough the ages have made efforts to analyze human behavior and each of them has learned some important fact from his peer which has been used to improve and improvise the theoretical outcome of the human behavior. Knowledge can be defined as the ideas, thoughts, opinion, observation, application of all these in our everyday life and categorizing them in some systematic format so that can be further used, modified or changed as per our need. The diversity in the area of knowledge is the most important aspect of it. The inherent tendency of the mankind to experiment and disseminate information has been the foundation for the ever expanding areas of knowledge and its consequences are easily discernible in the development of the societies and transformation of the world in terms of socio-economic and political development as well as that of fast paced technology whose presence can be felt in all spheres of our existence. Answer 3 Evaluate the opposing philosophical arguments for nature vs. nurture and discuss the implications of this debate for contemporary psychology. The various theories regarding the influence of parents in the development of children’s personality have at one or the other clashed with the theory of the role of hereditary genes in determining the familial traits and characteristics. Researches have shown that parents have the ability to nourish the inherent tendencies of the children to develop into healthy and happy adults. An introvert child, if left alone would develop into an introvert and shy person, whereas if the same child is consistently involved into group activities, he would develop into a more friendly and social person. The scientists call this ‘evocative gene environment correlation’. It is true hereditary characters are transferred from generation to generation but environmental factors like stress, diet, culture etc. have strong influence in the result of the actions. Man is a social animal and is greatly inclined to learn from his environment. It is for this reason that his environment becomes a crucial factor in the way he is prone to act under different circumstances. Genetic traits give an indication to how an individual may act under some specific situation but how he will ultimately behave would most probably depend on the way he is brought up. In other words, environment would greatly dictate the way a person is going to behave in certain given situation. Read More