Sully'S “Outlines of Psychology”

Abstract

AT the present time no one is so well qualified as Mr. Sully to write in the English language a text-book of psychology. Himself not committed to any of the systems of philosophy, he is unsurpassed in his knowledge of all, while we do not think it is too much to add that there is no one in this country who can be said to equal him in his acquaintance with the literature of pure psychology. Moreover, the weight of his information is ably balanced by that of his judgment, and therefore we were prepared to expect that in the often difficult task of drawing the lines between philosophy and psychology, he would furnish in this text-book and in this particular a brilliant example of scientific discrimination. After having carefully read his work with this consideration before our mind, we are glad to allow that our expectation has been fully realised, so that in no case can we say that we have found a philosophical theory doing duty for a psychological fact, or a psychological doctrine unduly coloured by the use of any philosophical spectacles. And this carefulness of method is the more creditable to the author, inasmuch as he nowhere avoids pointing out the relations in which this and that truth of psychology stands to this and that system of philosophy.

Outlines of Psychology, with Special Reference to the Theory of Education.

By James Sully. (London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1884.)