James Sully
Encyclopedia
James Sully was an English
psychologist
.
He was born at Bridgwater
, and was educated at the Independent College, Taunton
, the Regent's Park College, University of Göttingen, where he studied under Lotze, and at Humboldt University, Berlin
where he studied under DuBois-Reymond and Helmholtz. Originally destined for the Nonconformist ministry and in 1869 he became classical tutor at the Baptist College, Pontypool
. In in 1871 he adopted a literary and philosophic career. He was Grote professor of the philosophy of mind and logic
at University College, London, from 1892 to 1903, when he was succeeded by Carveth Read
. An adherent of the associationist school of psychology, his views had great affinity with those of Alexander Bain
. He wrote monographs on subjects such as pessimism
, and psychology textbooks, some of the first in English, including The Human Mind (1892). His 1881 Ilusions was commended by Freud and Wundt.
Sully opened an experimental psychology laboratory at University College London in January 1889. In 1901 he was one of the founder members of the British Psychological Society
and in fact called the meeting at which the Society was formed.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
psychologist
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
.
He was born at Bridgwater
Bridgwater
Bridgwater is a market town and civil parish in Somerset, England. It is the administrative centre of the Sedgemoor district, and a major industrial centre. Bridgwater is located on the major communication routes through South West England...
, and was educated at the Independent College, Taunton
Taunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
, the Regent's Park College, University of Göttingen, where he studied under Lotze, and at Humboldt University, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
where he studied under DuBois-Reymond and Helmholtz. Originally destined for the Nonconformist ministry and in 1869 he became classical tutor at the Baptist College, Pontypool
Pontypool
Pontypool is a town of approximately 36,000 people in the county borough of Torfaen, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire in South Wales....
. In in 1871 he adopted a literary and philosophic career. He was Grote professor of the philosophy of mind and logic
Grote Chair of the Philosophy of Mind and Logic
The Grote Chair of the Philosophy of Mind and Logic is an endowed chair at University College London.-Origin:Along with Moral Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind and Logic was one of two Philosophy chairs established at the founding of University College London...
at University College, London, from 1892 to 1903, when he was succeeded by Carveth Read
Carveth Read
Carveth Read was a 19th and 20th century British philosopher and logician. He was Grote professor of philosophy of mind and logic at the University College London from 1903 to 1911.-Bibliography:...
. An adherent of the associationist school of psychology, his views had great affinity with those of Alexander Bain
Alexander Bain
Alexander Bain was a Scottish philosopher and educationalist in the British school of empiricism who was a prominent and innovative figure in the fields of psychology, linguistics, logic, moral philosophy and education reform...
. He wrote monographs on subjects such as pessimism
Pessimism
Pessimism, from the Latin word pessimus , is a state of mind in which one perceives life negatively. Value judgments may vary dramatically between individuals, even when judgments of fact are undisputed. The most common example of this phenomenon is the "Is the glass half empty or half full?"...
, and psychology textbooks, some of the first in English, including The Human Mind (1892). His 1881 Ilusions was commended by Freud and Wundt.
Sully opened an experimental psychology laboratory at University College London in January 1889. In 1901 he was one of the founder members of the British Psychological Society
British Psychological Society
The British Psychological Society is a representative body for psychologists and psychology in the United Kingdom. The BPS is also a Registered Charity and, along with advantages, this also imposes certain constraints on what the society can and cannot do...
and in fact called the meeting at which the Society was formed.
Works
- Sensation and Intuition (1874)
- Pessimism (1877)
- Illusions (1881; 4th ed., 1895)
- Outlines of Psychology (1884; many editions)
- Teacher's Handbook of Psychology (1886)
- Studies of Childhood (1895)
- Children's Ways (1897)
- An Essay on Laughter (1902).