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Ippolit TaineFrench philosopher, historian, art critic, psychologist
Date of Birth: 21.04.1828
Country:  France |
Content:
- Biography of Hippolyte Taine
- Influence of Geography and Natural Conditions
- Associationist Psychological Theory
Biography of Hippolyte Taine
Hippolyte Adolphe Taine (21.4.1828, Vouziers, Ardennes – 5.3.1893, Paris) was a French philosopher, historian, art critic, and psychologist. He was a prominent representative of the first "classical" form of positivism and was influenced by Auguste Comte. Taine became a professor in 1895 and is considered the founder of the cultural-historical school in art history and psychology.
Influence of Geography and Natural Conditions
Taine believed in the primary role of a society's geographical location and natural conditions in its development. He was the first to attempt to study the functioning of art within a specific historical moment. According to his view, scientific aesthetic criticism, unlike morality, should be based on the understanding that the creation or perception of a work of art is influenced by three factors: race, environment, and moment.
Associationist Psychological Theory
As a supporter of associationist psychological theory, Taine tried to introduce the element of the motor nature of the psyche into psychology. In 1876, he published "Notes on the Acquisition of Speech in Children and in the Human Race," where he provided a systematic description of his daughter's language acquisition. Based on this, he concluded that there is a correspondence between the cultural history of humanity and the process of development of children's thinking.
