To feel is to know relations: James' concept of stream of thought and contemporary studies on procedural knowledge
A. Haye, Manuel Torres-Sahli
August 1, 2017 DOI: 10.1016/j.newideapsych.2017.02.001 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that William James's theory of mind as a temporal flow of subjective experience implies knowledge is primarily affective and practical, with declarative knowledge derived from and supported by a more basic procedural and affective knowledge, and draws lessons for contemporary dynamic accounts of procedural knowledge. |
Abstract
Abstract The theory of William James concerning the temporal and dynamic nature of mind is analyzed as implying that thought is a flow of subjective experience that belongs to the material flow of living beings, and therefore, that knowledge is primarily affective and practical rather than declarative and contemplative. In this context, we will discuss contemporary theory and research relevant to the discussion about declarative and procedural knowledge, with the focus on a literature review in the neurosciences of knowledge. Then we reconstruct James' theory of mind as flow, in terms of relatedness, feeling, and temporality of experience. The Principles suggest that declarative knowledge is not independent, but derived and supported by a more basic knowledge that is both procedural and affective in nature. Finally, we discuss possible lesson for nowadays efforts to develop a dynamic account of the procedural nature of knowledge.
Citations in the library
Cites 3
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