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Arthur Schopenhauer and Andras Angyal
David Lester1, Emek Yüce Zeyrek
1Psychology Program, The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Jimmie Leeds Road, Pomona, NJ 08240, USA. lesterd@stockton.edu
Psychological Reports
|February 20, 2007
Summary
Schopenhauer
Area of Science:
- Philosophy of Mind
- Personality Theory
- Environmental Psychology
Background:
- Philosophical attributions of 'will' to inanimate objects have been historically dismissed.
- Schopenhauer's philosophy controversially assigned will to both humans and objects.
- Existing personality theories often focus solely on the individual, neglecting environmental forces.
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-evaluate the concept of 'will' in relation to inanimate objects.
- To propose a framework for attributing forces to both individuals and their environment.
- To explore Angyal's personality theory as a means to integrate environmental influences.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of Schopenhauer's philosophy of will.
- Application of Angyal's holistic personality theory.
- Focus on the role of environmental perception in attributing forces.
Main Results:
- A novel interpretation of 'will' is proposed, shifting focus from the environment itself to its perception.
- Angyal's theory offers a viable model for understanding the interplay between individual and environmental forces.
- This approach reconciles the attribution of forces to both the subject and their perceived surroundings.
Conclusions:
- Perception-centric environmental engagement provides a basis for attributing forces beyond the individual.
- Angyal's personality theory supports a holistic view encompassing both personal and environmental dynamics.
- Reconsidering 'will' through environmental perception opens new avenues in philosophy and psychology.
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