Mary Whiton Calkins Quotes
Mary Whiton Calkins was an American philosopher and psychologist and the first woman elected president of both the American Psychological Association and the American Philosophical Association. She completed all the requirements for the Harvard doctorate under William James and Josiah Royce in 1895, but the Harvard Corporation refused to grant the degree to a woman. The quotes below are attributed to Mary Whiton Calkins, organized by topic.
Browse Mary Whiton Calkins by topic
Mary Whiton Calkins on Knowledge
-
“The phenomenon of dreaming has rarely been discussed or investigated in a thorough and in an experimental manner; of description, of theory , of discussion, of poetic analogy and illustration there has been no end; of accurate observation almost nothing. ... The most scientific books—those of Maury and of Tissié —have been wholly or chiefly the result of the observations of abnormal subjects and in the interest, more or less distinctly, of pathology. The fullest discussion of the subject—the works of Radestock and of Spitta —are largely compilations of the recorded dreams of other people.”
(1893) . "Statistics of Dreams". The American Journal of Psychology 5 (3): 311–343. DOI : 10.2307/1410996 . -
“(1893) . "Statistics of Dreams". The American Journal of Psychology 5 (3): 311–343. DOI : 10.2307/1410996 .”
The phenomenon of dreaming has rarely been discussed or investigated in a thorough and in an experimental manner; of description, of theory , of discussion, of poetic analogy and illustration there has been no end; of accurate observation almost nothing. ... The most scientific books—those of Maury and of Tissié —have been wholly or chiefly the result of the observations of abnormal subjects and i -
“An Introduction to Psychology (2nd ed.). New York: Macmillan. 1908. p. 3. (1st edition, 1901)”
All psychologists would agree to define their subject, at least in an introductory way, as the science of consciousness . But this definition is not enlightening unless its terms are thoroughly understood, and we must at once, therefore, proceed to discuss the nature of a science. -
“(1907) . "Psychology: What is it About?". The Journal of Philosophy, Psychology and Scientific Methods 4 (25): 673–683. DOI : 10.2307/2011639 .”
Any serious attempt to define and to classify forms of consciousness will act as a "red flag" waved in the face of many critics. The effort to define accurately and to classify in any detail is bound, they will urge, to result in a conservative clinging to conclusions once reached and in a love of schedules and schemes for their own sake. The system maker, they will insist, is likely to subordinat -
“A First Book in Psychology (3rd ed.). New York: Macmillan. 1917. p. 1. (1st edition, 1909)”
Psychology has most often been defined as science of consciousness, but this definition does not go far enough. For consciousness does not occur impersonally. Consciousness, on the contrary, always is a somebody-being-conscious. There is never perception without a somebody who perceives, and there never is thinking unless some one thinks. And this somebody is not an isolated self but a self which
Mary Whiton Calkins on Love
-
“Any serious attempt to define and to classify forms of consciousness will act as a "red flag" waved in the face of many critics. The effort to define accurately and to classify in any detail is bound, they will urge, to result in a conservative clinging to conclusions once reached and in a love of schedules and schemes for their own sake. The system maker, they will insist, is likely to subordinate the facts to his classification and to cut down the truth to the measure of his framework.”
(1907) . "Psychology: What is it About?". The Journal of Philosophy, Psychology and Scientific Methods 4 (25): 673–683. DOI : 10.2307/2011639 .
Mary Whiton Calkins on Mind
-
Attributed to Mary Whiton Calkins:
“The self is the most fundamental category of psychology.”
-
Attributed to Mary Whiton Calkins:
“Personalist idealism takes selves as the only finally real beings.”
-
“Consciousness is always self-consciousness.”
A First Book in Psychology (3rd ed.). New York: Macmillan. 1917. p. 1. (1st edition, 1909) -
Attributed to Mary Whiton Calkins:
“To study a person is the highest task of philosophy.”
-
“All psychologists would agree to define their subject, at least in an introductory way, as the science of consciousness . But this definition is not enlightening unless its terms are thoroughly understood, and we must at once, therefore, proceed to discuss the nature of a science.”
An Introduction to Psychology (2nd ed.). New York: Macmillan. 1908. p. 3. (1st edition, 1901)
Mary Whiton Calkins on Politics
-
Attributed to Mary Whiton Calkins:
“The recognition of women as philosophers is overdue, not extraordinary.”