BIOLOGY IN HUMAN AFFAIRS 



reasoning, imagination, etc. This view was vigorously 

 combated by Herbart on theoretical grounds, and later by 

 James and Thorndike on the basis of experimental findings. 

 The influence of these psychologists brought an extreme 

 reaction to the older views and gave prevalence to the 

 dogma that transfer is entirely too negligible to merit 

 being taken into account in the choice of subject matter 

 for the school curriculum. The weight of opinion of to-day 

 favors an intermediate position. It is certain that the earlier 

 educational theorists laid entirely too much stress upon 

 mind training. It is hardly less certain that Thorndike and 

 his followers have overestimated the specificity of training. 

 The latter viewpoint favors selection of curriculum material 

 almost entirely upon the basis of so-called "practical" 

 values, to the neglect of values that have to do with the 

 cultivation of intellectual attitudes. 



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