Wolfgang Köhler (1887–1967) was a prominent German psychologist and a leading figure in the field of Gestalt psychology, which emphasizes understanding the human mind and behavior as a whole rather than through its individual parts.
Born in Stuttgart, Germany, Köhler studied under renowned psychologists like Carl Stumpf and later conducted significant research on problem-solving in animals, particularly apes. His work at the Tenerife Zoo led to groundbreaking insights on insight learning, where he observed chimpanzees using tools to solve complex problems.
Köhler’s influential publications include The Mentality of Apes (1917,) which documented his observations of chimpanzees and laid the groundwork for future studies in animal cognition. Another notable work is Gestalt Psychology (1929,) where he elaborated on the principles of Gestalt theory and its application to perception and learning.
In addition to his contributions to psychology, Köhler served as the president of the American Psychological Association and held academic positions at various institutions. Outspoken in his criticism of Adolf Hitler’s government, Köhler went to the United States in 1935 and was a professor of psychology at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania until 1955.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Wolfgang Kohler
It has sometimes been said that we find nowhere in nature an analogue of the difference between “happens” and “is,” on the one hand, and “ought,” on the other hand.
—Wolfgang Kohler
Topics: Reality
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