Revisiting Wittgenstein on Köhler and Gestalt psychology.
In an article in this journal, Nicholas Pastore rejected Ludwig Wittgenstein's critique of Wolfgang Köhler and Gestalt psychology. Pastore appears not to have appreciated Wittgenstein's argument that Köhler mistook conceptual questions for factual ones. A simi-lar confusion seems to underlie at least some aspects of contemporary neuroscience. Be that as it may, Wittgenstein has had minimal influence on the research practices of psychologists while Köhler remains influential. This outcome would not have surprised Wittgenstein, who predicted that scientists would not see his work as relevant to theirs.
Benjafield
John G
JG
Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. John.Benjafield@BrockU.ca
D005863:Gestalt Theory / Q000266:history*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D009484:Neuropsychology / Q000266:history; D010684:Philosophy / Q000266:history*