The Human Nature Club Psychology of Reasoning

Abstract

MR. THORNDIKE, already favourably known by his ingenious experimental studies of animal intelligence, has achieved a very fair measure of success in the bold attempt to compose an easy introduction to psychology in dialogue form. His little work is bright and interesting, and should be found an excellent introduction to the genetic study of mental plocesses. In particular, it is well adapted to be taken up as a first course preliminary to the study of Prof. James' great “Principles of Psychology.” In some respects Mr. Thorndike, perhaps, defers too much to the authority of his eminent countryman. When his book reaches a second edition he might do well to add to the chapter in which Prof James' well-known theory of the emotions is expounded some indication of the grave difficulties which beset the theory, and the flaws of the reasoning by which it is supported. Perhaps, too, he will see reason to modify the passage in which he repeats certain weak metaphysical arguments of the professor in favour of the immortality of the soul. Mr. Thorndike's one really weak point is his style. Dialogue, to be successful, should never be a direct imitation of actual speech, still less of a type of speech like that of Mr. Thorndike's characters, which is at onceundignified, ungraceful, and occasionally gravely inaccurate, as, e.g., when the brain is spoken of as “just a ‘lot’ of nerve-cells,” an expression as unfortunate as it is inelegant.