Content area
Abstract
Through an exploration of thinkers focusing on intellect and will in philosophy and theology in the nineteenth century a model is developed for psycho-theology. The psychological thinkers examined were: J. G. Fichte, G. W. F. Hegel, J. F. Herbart, A. Schopenhauer, G. T. Fechner, R. H. Lotze, H. L. F. v. Helmholtz, W. N, Wundt, and F. C. Brentano. The theological thinkers examined were: F. D. E. Schleiermacher, Julius Muller, I. A. Dorner, F. J. Delitzsch, and A. B. Ritschl. The model is a multi-level ontological matrix. Each level defines a stratum of being or conceptualization. From the bottom upwards, these levels are: material substratum, behavioral manifestation, function or operation, faculty, transpersonal stratum, and transcendent stratum. Their respective manifestations are: brain, CNS, (hormones); consciousness or intelligence, and motivation or learning, (feelings); mind, thinking, understanding or reasoning, and volition, act, decision or choice; intellect or reason, and will; spirit and soul; God and Spirit. Additionally, each level includes classifications of the manifestation according to phenomenal category(s), applicable method, nature of knowledge, referent of knowledge, and nature of freedom. The latter two are illustrated as continua. It is suggested that the model accomplishes several purposes by providing: (1) a model of personality; (2) a conceptual framework for the integration of psychology and theology; and (3) a levels of discourse paradigm capable of organizing much psychological knowledge bi-directionally.
