Whatever happened to Karl Bühler?

Abstract

AbstractThe work of Karl is not particularly well known in English - speaking countries. If is mentioned at all in texts on of psychology, it is in connection with his early work at University of Wurzburg. This work represents only start of Buhler's career in psychology. He subsequently produced important work on perception, Gestalt theory, developmental psychology, theoretical psychology and psychology of language. Buhler's work has had a profound -- though largely unnoticed -- influence on later thinkers. It has also been subject of a revival of interest in Europe in recent years. This article provides an overview of Buhler's life and work.In a wide - ranging article on historiography of psychology, Weimer (1974) has discussed what he calls the suppression of psychological history (p. 248). Weimer points out that 'history' is inevitably selective. Historians of psychology -- particularly those who are practising psychologists -- have some general idea of what psychology is and how it ought to be done. This will lead them to select out certain aspects of psychology's past and to ignore others. Weimer argues that this process is not always a conscious one. Few historians of psychology will deliberately suppress 'history'. They are simply not aware of its existence. Works which did not have a major impact on psychology will disappear from 'collective memory' of psychologists.Weimer illustrates these points with example of Karl (1879 - 1963). One suspects that was chosen because example is such a striking one. If is mentioned at all in texts on of psychology, it is in connection with his early work as Oswald Kulpe's assistant at University of Wurzburg (e.g. Hothersall, 1990; Brennan, 1991; Hergenhahn, 1992; Leahey, 1992a; Schultz & Schultz, 1992). It was Buhler's work on 'imageless thought' which sparked off famous controversy with Wilhelm Wundt over methods of 'Wurzburg School'. Boring (1950) wrote:Buhler was severely criticized by Wundt, by Durr, who was one of his observers, and by von Aster. Titchener, of course, criticized entire movement. Buhler, however, left total picture of thought without important change, and we may thus close our account of Wurzburg school and return once again to Kulpe. (pp. 406 - 407).Boring mentions only in context of Kulpe's students at Wurzburg and as editor of Kulpe's posthumous Vorlesungen [Lectures] (Kulpe, 1920). With regard to latter, Boring only comments that Buhler may even have introduced Husserl to Kulpe (p. 408). If this was Buhler's only work of any significance, then his minor role in of psychology would be perfectly justified. Let us take a closer look at this 'minor' figure in order to see why is such an interesting case.Concept of GestaltBuhler's work as part of 'Wurburg School' represents only start of his career in psychology. He subsequently moved, together with Kulpe, to University of Bonn in 1909 and to University of Munich in 1913. It was during his stay in Bonn that became interested in Ehrenfels' concept of 'Gestalt' and applied this to study of perception. The results of this work appeared under title, Die Gestaltwahrnehmungen [The Gestalt Perceptions] (Buhler, 1913). This was one of earliest attempts to experiment with Gestalt phenomena.(f.1) During his stay in Munich, turned his attention to developmental psychology. His major work on subject -- Die geistige Entwicklung des Kindes [The Mental Development of Child] -- appeared in 1918 (Buhler, 1918). This work was widely used in teacher - training institutes and had already reached its 6th edition by 1930 (Buhler, 1930a). An abridged version of book -- Abri der geistigen Entwicklung des Kindes [Outline of Mental Development of Child] -- appeared in 1919 (Buhler, 1919). …

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