The science of living / by Alfred Adler.

  • Alfred Adler
Date:
[1930]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The science of living / by Alfred Adler. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    context—the goal of an individuaFs life which marks the line of direction for all his acts and movements. This goal enables us to understand the hidden meaning behind the various separate acts—we see them as parts of a whole. Vice versa when we study the parts—provided we study them as parts of a whole—we get a better sense of the whole. In the author’s own case the interest in psy¬ chology developed out of the practice of medi¬ cine. The practice of medicine provided the teleo¬ logical or purposive viewpoint which is necessary for the understanding of psychological facts. In medicine we see all organs striving to develop towards definite goals. They have definite forms which they achieve upon maturity. Moreover, in cases where there are organic defects we always find nature making special efforts to overcome the deficiency, or else to compensate for it by developing another organ to take over the func¬ tions of the defective one. Life always seeks to continue, and the life force never yields to ex¬ ternal obstacles without a struggle. Now the movement of the psyche is analogous to the movement of organic life. In each mind 88
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