Psychology attends to the human mind and its cognitive functions: attention, memory, language, learning, reasoning, problem solving, and decision making. Historically, psychology also included the study of human emotion.
Thumology attends to spirit defined in terms of thumos, "that which makes alive." Its field of study is broader than psychology's because it attends to thumos in all living beings, not just humans.
The primary function of thumos is to animate and enliven. It is prior to cognitive functions and makes cognitive functions possible.
In thumology, thumos and emotions are very closely related if not the same. Emotions are viewed as direct expressions of the thumos.
While thumos has a unique cognitive function in human beings, specifically inner deliberation, the cognitive function is of less importance in thumology than in psychology.
Object of study:
- Psychology: human mind
- Thumology: spirit in all living beings
Functions studied:
- Psychology is primarily the study of the cognitive functions of the human mind
- Thumology is primarily the study of the animating, enlivening function of spirit
Scope:
- The scope of psychology is primarily human beings
- The scope of thumology is all living beings
Emotions:
- Psychology: emotions are caused by cognitive functions of the mind
- Thumology: emotions are direct expressions of spirit
Cognition:
- Psychology: cognition is limited to the mind
- Thumology: there is a type of cognition associated with the thumos, deliberation
Ontological status:
- Mind must be spirited, alive, to exist
- Spirit does not have to be cognitive to exist. Being spirited precedes being cognitive.
I like the distinction you make here regarding the differences between Thumotics and Psychology. Indeed, psychology is dedicated to the human mind, and not much else. Not to say there isn't a great deal to occupy us with our own minds, LOL. It's the broader perspective of Thumotics that I find so captivating and life-affirming.
ReplyDeleteIt is certainly my perspective that everything we see and know is alive, even if we cannot necessarily use the breadth of our five senses to see that aliveness in a way that registers. I know rocks and trees to be animated and alive, able to communicate if only we can still our restless selves and egos long enough to truly listen. The same is true for animals So many of us acknowledge the aliveness of animals, and yet still treat them as prey or food, or completely "less than" human. If Thumotics can change pull us away from our self-centered, mind-oriented, never-ending analysis, it has the capacity to reverse the damage we've done to ourselves and our home. A big job. . .with lots of learning and exploring to come. Separating it from psychology is a big start. Thanks.
I so appreciate your comments! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteJust to clarify, Thumotics is an umbrella term that includes thumology, thumotherapy, and thumotic spirituality. I take your comments to be relevant to thumology and also, in a broader sense, Thumotics.
Yes, I agree that thumology specifically and more generally Thumotics can help us change our perspective and improve how we live and relate with other living beings.
Thanks for catching my choice of the umbrella term rather than the specific one which you were blogging about. I will be more careful in the future with my use of these terms. Yes, my comments were directed toward thumology. I'm pleased you thought they could also apply in a broader context. I'm in favour of anything that improves our relationships with all living beings.
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