Skip to main content
Chaptra
Cover of On Sameness and Identity: A Psychological Study: Being a Contribution to the Foundations of a Theory of Knowledge

On Sameness and Identity: A Psychological Study: Being a Contribution to the Foundations of a Theory of Knowledge

Written by George Stuart Fullerton

Not rated yet — tap a star to review it
Knowledge, Theory of

Chaptra reads alongside you — AI insights, chapter breakdowns and reader discussions for every book. Join free

About this book

"On Sameness and Identity: A Psychological Study" by George Stuart Fullerton is a scientific publication written in the late 19th century. The book explores the intricate concepts of sameness and identity in relation to psychological theory, examining the ambiguity of the word "same" and how different experiences can mistakenly be interpreted as identical. Fullerton aims to clarify these distinctions and the implications of misinterpretation on understanding knowledge and perception. The opening of the text lays the groundwork for this exploration by addressing the various meanings associated with sameness. Fullerton begins with a discussion on the ambiguity of the term "same," indicating that its common usage obscures essential distinctions that have significant implications. He categorizes the types of sameness into several sections, ranging from the identity of a sensation at a given moment to the perception of the same object over time. His methodical approach intends to untangle the complexities surrounding identity in perception and thought, setting the stage for deeper philosophical inquiries into the foundation of knowledge.

Read it with a club

Small groups reading the same books and talking as they go.

All clubs
A hand taking a book down from a shelf

News

  • 1 member
  • 1,813 discussions
  • Active 15h ago

Read On Sameness and Identity: A Psychological Study: Being a Contribution to the Foundations of a Theory of Knowledge alongside people who are reading it too.

Open the club

Also here: News Bulletin, Just Joking....

Chaptra Prime — paid clubs, every club feature, and unlimited reading support, for $5 a month or $60 once.

See Prime

Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in On Sameness and Identity: A Psychological Study: Being a Contribution to the Foundations of a Theory of Knowledge, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 18 hours
  • advanced
  • Academic
  • Analytical
  • Philosophical

George Stuart Fullerton's "On Sameness and Identity" is a seminal psychological and philosophical treatise that meticulously explores the fundamental concepts of sameness and identity as they underpin human cognition and the acquisition of knowledge. Published in 1890, this work delves into how the mind perceives, judges, and constructs the continuity of objects and experiences despite sensory variations. Fullerton argues that identity is not merely a passive reception of sensory data but an active, complex cognitive process essential for forming a coherent understanding of the world. It serves as a crucial contribution to the foundations of epistemology, bridging early empirical psychology with philosophical inquiry into the nature of reality and knowledge.

“The problem of identity is, at bottom, a problem of knowledge, and a psychological one.”

Key themes

The Nature of Identity
This is the central theme, exploring the concept of identity itself, distinguishing between qualitative sameness (similarity) and numerical identity (being one and the same entity). Fullerton delves into how the mind constructs and maintains the idea of an object or self remaining identical over time despite changes in appearance or state.
Epistemology and Knowledge Formation
Fullerton's work is explicitly positioned as a contribution to the foundations of a theory of knowledge. He argues that the psychological processes of recognizing sameness and identity are fundamental to how we acquire, organize, and validate all knowledge. Without a stable concept of identity, coherent understanding of the world would be impossible.
Perception and Sensation
The book meticulously examines the interplay between sensory input and cognitive processing in the formation of identity. Fullerton distinguishes between immediate sensory sameness (e.g., two identical colors) and the more complex judgment of identity that involves interpreting sensory data over time and through change, emphasizing the mind's active role over passive reception.

Worth discussing

How does Fullerton's distinction between 'sameness' and 'identity' inform our understanding of personal identity and the continuity of the self?

Chapter-by-chapter breakdowns, character arcs and the full thematic analysis come with a free account.

Sign up freeLog in

Discussions

No one has started one yet

Join

Questions this book opens up

No discussions yet

Be the first to start a discussion about this book!

Sign up to start the discussion

Reviews

No reviews yet

Be the first to review this book!