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| birth_date = June 11, [[1818]]
  
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| birth_place = Aberdeen, Scotland
 
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|death_date = September 18, [[1903]]
  
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| occupation = philosopher and educationalist
  
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[[Image:AlexanderBain.jpg|thumb|350px|Alexander Bain]]
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'''Alexander Bain''' (11 June 1818 – 18 September 1903) was a Scottish [[philosophy|philosopher]] and [[educationalist]] in the [[Empiricism#British_empiricism|British school of empiricism]] who was a prominent and innovative figure in the fields of [[psychology]], [[linguistics]], [[logic]], [[moral philosophy]] and [[education reform]]. He founded ''[[Mind (journal)|Mind]]'', the first ever journal of psychology and analytical philosophy, and was the leading figure in [[History_of_psychology#Early British psychology|establishing]] and applying the [[scientific method]] to [[psychology]]. Bain was the inaugural [[Regius Professor|Regius Chair]] in Logic and [[List_of_Professorships_at_the_University_of_Aberdeen#School_of_Divinity.2C_History_and_Philosophy|Professor of Logic]] at the [[University of Aberdeen]], where he also held Professorships in [[Moral Philosophy]] and [[English Literature]] and was twice elected [[Lord Rector of the University of Aberdeen]].
   
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==Early life and education==
   
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Alexander Bain was born in [[Aberdeen]] to George Bain, a weaver and veteran soldier, and Margaret Paul. At age eleven he left school to work as a [[weaver (occupation)|weaver]]<ref>Kunitz, p. 30</ref> hence the description of him as Weevir, ''rex philosophorum''. He also took to lectures at the [[Mechanics' Institutes|Mechanics' Institutes of Aberdeen]] and the [[Central Library, Aberdeen|Aberdeen Public Library]].
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'''Alexander Bain''' (June 11, [[1818]] – September 18, [[1903]]) was a Scottish [[philosopher]] and educationalist.
  
   
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In 1836 he entered [[Marischal College]] where he came under the influence of Professor of [[Mathematics]] John Cruickshank, Professor of [[Chemistry]] Thomas Clark and Professor of [[Natural Philosophy]] William Knight. Towards the end of his undergraduate degree he became a contributor to the ''[[Westminster Review]]'' with his first article entitled "Electrotype and Daguerreotype," published in September 1840. This was the beginning of his connection with [[John Stuart Mill]], which led to a lifelong friendship. He was awarded the Blue Ribbon and also the Gray Mathematical Bursary. His college career and studies was distinguished especially in [[Philosophy of mind|mental philosophy]], [[mathematics]] and [[physics]] and he graduated with a [[Master of Arts (Scotland)|Master of Arts with Highest Honours]].
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==Biography==
  
   
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In [[1840]] he was awarded his MA from [[Aberdeen university]]<ref>Sheehey, N., Chapman, A.J. and Conroy, W. (1997). Biographical Dictionary of Psychology, 2nd ed. London:Routledge. </ref>.
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He was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, and went to school there, but took up the profession of a weaver, hence the punning description of him as Weevir, ''rex philosophorum''. In [[1836]] he entered [[Marischal College]], and came under the influence of [[John Cruickshank]], professor of mathematics, Thomas Clark, professor of [[chemistry]], and William Knight, professor of natural philosophy. His college career was distinguished, especially in mental philosophy, [[mathematics]] and [[physics]]. Towards the end of his arts course he became a contributor to the ''Westminster Review'' (first article "Electrotype and Daguerreotype," September 1840).
  
   
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This was the beginning of his connection with [[John Stuart Mill]], which led to a lifelong friendship. In 1841, Bain substituted for Dr Glennie, the professor of moral philosophy, who, through ill-health, was unable to discharge his academic duties. He continued to do this three successive terms, during which he continued writing for the ''Westminster'', and also helped Mill with the revision of the manuscript of his ''System of Logic'' ([[1842]]). In [[1843]] he contributed the first review of the book to the ''London and Westminster''.
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In 1841, Bain substituted for Dr. Glennie the Professor of [[Moral Philosophy]], who, due to ill-health, was unable to discharge his academic duties. He continued to do this three successive terms, during which he continued writing for the ''Westminster'', and also helped [[John Stuart Mill]] with the revision of the manuscript of his ''System of Logic'' (1842). In 1843 he contributed the first review of the book to the ''London and Westminster''.
   
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==Academic career==
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In [[1845]] he was appointed professor of mathematics and natural philosophy in the Andersonian [[University of Glasgow]]. A year later, preferring a wider field, he resigned the position and devoted himself to writing. In 1848 he moved to London to fill a post in the Board of Health, under [[Edwin Chadwick]], and became a prominent member of the brilliant circle which included [[George Grote]] and John Stuart Mill. In 1855 he published his first major work, ''The Senses and the Intellect'', followed in 1859 by ''The Emotions and the Will''. These treatises won him a position among independent thinkers. He was examiner in logical and moral philosophy (1857-1862 and 1864-1869) to the [[University of London]], and in moral science in the [[Indian Civil Service]] examinations.
  
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Between 1841 -1844 He was Assistant in Moral Philosophy at [[University of Aberdeen]]
   
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In 1845 he was appointed Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy at [[University of Strathclyde|Anderson's University]] in [[Glasgow]]. Shortly later, preferring a wider field, he resigned the position and devoted himself to writing.
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In [[1860]] he was appointed by the crown to the new chair of Logic and English literature at the [[University of Aberdeen]] (created by the amalgamation of the two colleges, King's and Marischal, by the Scottish Universities Commission of 1858). Up to this date neither logic nor English had received adequate attention in Aberdeen, and Bain devoted himself to supplying these deficiencies. He succeeded not only in raising the standard of education generally in the north of Scotland, but also in forming a school of philosophy and in widely influencing the teaching of English [[grammar]] and composition. His efforts were first directed to the preparation of textbooks: ''Higher English Grammar'' (1863), followed in 1866 by the ''Manual of Rhetoric'', in 1872 by ''A First English Grammar'', and in 1874 by the ''Companion to the Higher Grammar''. These works were wide-ranging and their original views and methods met with wide acceptance.
 
   
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In [[1848]] he moved to London to fill a post in the [[Department of Health (United Kingdom)|Board of Health]] under [[Sir Edwin Chadwick]] where he worked for social reform and became a prominent member of the [[intellectual]] circle which included [[George Grote]] and [[John Stuart Mill]].
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His own philosophical writings already published, especially ''The Senses and the Intellect'' (to which was added, in 1861, The ''Study of Character'', including an ''Estimate of Phrenology''), were too large for effective use in the classroom. Accordingly in 1868, he published his ''Manual of Mental and Moral Science'', mainly a condensed form of his treatises, with the doctrines re-stated, and in many instances freshly illustrated, and with many important additions. The year 1870 saw the publication of the ''Logic''. This, too, was a work designed for the use of students; it was based on JS Mill, but differed from him in many particulars, and was distinctive for its treatment of the doctrine of the conservation of energy in connection with causation and the detailed application of the principles of logic to the various sciences. His services to education in [[Scotland]] were now recognized by the conferment of the honorary degree of doctor of laws by the university of Edinburgh in 1871. Next came two publications in the "International Scientific Series", namely, ''Mind and Body'' (1872), and ''Education as a Science'' (1879).
  
   
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Between [1851]] and [[1854]] and was then a lecturer in Mental and Moral Philosophy at [[University of London|Bedford College]], London
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All these works, from the ''Higher English Grammar'' downwards, were written by Bain during his twenty years as a professor at Aberdeen. He also started the philosophical journal, ''Mind''; the first number appeared in January 1876, under the editorship of a former pupil, [[George Croom Robertson]], of [[University College, London]]. To this journal Bain contributed many important articles and discussions; and in fact he bore the whole expenses of it till Robertson, owing to ill-health, resigned the editorship in 1891.
 
   
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In 1855 he published his first major work, ''The Senses and the Intellect'', followed in 1859 by ''The Emotions and the Will''. These treatises won him a position among independent thinkers. Bain was also Examiner in [[Logic]] and [[Moral Philosophy]] from 1857–1862 and 1864–1869 for the [[University of London]] and also an Instructor in [[moral science|Moral Science]] for the [[Indian Civil Service]] examinations.
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He was succeeded by [[William Minto]], one of his most brilliant pupils. Nevertheless his interest in thought, and his desire to complete the scheme of work mapped out in earlier years, remained as keen as ever. Accordingly, in 1882 appeared the ''Biography of James Mill'', and accompanying it ''John Stuart Mill: a Criticism, with Personal Recollections''. Next came (1884) a collection of articles and papers, most of which had appeared in magazines, under the title of ''Practical Essays''. This was succeeded (1887, 1888) by a new edition of the ''Rhetoric'', and along with it, a book ''On Teaching English'', being an exhaustive application of the principles of rhetoric to the criticism of style, for the use of teachers; and in 1894 he published a revised edition of ''The Senses and the Intellect'', which contain his last word on psychology. In 1894 also appeared his last contribution to ''Mind''. His last years were spent in privacy at Aberdeen, where he died. He married twice but left no children.
  
   
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In 1860 he was appointed by the British Crown to the inaugural [[List_of_Professorships_at_the_University_of_Aberdeen#School_of_Divinity.2C_History_and_Philosophy|Regius Chair]] of [[Logic]] and the Regius Chair of English Literature at the [[University of Aberdeen]], which was newly formed after the amalgamation of [[King's College, Aberdeen]] and [[Marischal College]] by the [[Ancient universities of Scotland|Scottish Universities Commission]] of 1858.
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Bain took a keen interest and frequently an active part in the political and social movements of the day; after his retirement from the chair of logic, he was twice elected lord rector of the university ([[1881]], ?), each term of office extending over three years. He was a strenuous advocate of reform, especially in the teaching of sciences, and supported the claims of modern languages to a place in the curriculum. A marble bust of him stands in the public library and his portrait hangs in the Marischal College. Although his influence as a logician, a grammarian and a writer on rhetoric was considerable, his reputation rests on his psychology. At one with [[Johannes Peter Müller|Johannes Müller]] in the conviction ''psychologus nemo nisi physiologus'', he was the first in Great Britain during the [[19th century]] to apply physiology in a thoroughgoing fashion to the elucidation of mental states. He was the originator of the theory of psycho-physical parallelism, which is used so widely as a working basis by modern psychologists. His idea of applying the natural history method of classification to psychical phenomena gave scientific character to his work, the value of which was enhanced by his methodical exposition and his command of illustration. In line with this, too, is his demand that [[psychology]] should be cleared of [[metaphysics]]; and to his lead is no doubt due in great measure the position that psychology has now acquired as a distinct positive science.
  
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He returned to Scotland and between 1860- 1880 he held the position of Professor of Rhetoric and Logic at the University of Aberdeen.
   
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[[William James]] calls his work the "last word" of the earlier stage of psychology, but he was in reality the pioneer of the new. Subsequent psycho-physical investigations "have all been in" the spirit of his work; and although he consistently advocated the introspective method in psychological investigation, he was among the first to appreciate the help that may be given to it by animal and social and infant psychology. He may justly claim the merit of having guided the awakened psychological interest of British thinkers of the second half of the 19th century into fruitful channels. He emphasized the importance of our active experiences of movement and effort, and though his theory of a central innervation sense is no longer held as he propounded it, its value as a suggestion to later psychologists is great. His autobiography, published in 1904, contains a full list of his works, and also the history of the last thirteen years of his life by WL Davidson of Aberdeen University, who further contributed to ''Mind'' (April 1904) a review of Bain's services to philosophy.
  
   
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Works (beside the above) Edition with notes of [[William Paley|Paley]]'s ''Moral Philosophy'' (1852); ''Education as a Science'' (1879); ''Dissertations'' on leading philosophical topics (1903, mainly reprints of papers in ''Mind''); he collaborated with JS Mill and Grote in editing James Mill's ''Analysis of the Phenomena of the Human Mind'' (1869), and assisted in editing Grote's ''Aristotle and Minor Works''; he also wrote a memoir prefixed to G Croom Robertson's ''Philosophical Remains'' (1894).
  
   
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===Linguistics===
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A school in Mexico City is named after him, which consists of kindergarten, primary school, junior high and highschool.
  
   
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Until 1858 neither logic nor English had received adequate attention in Aberdeen, and Bain devoted himself to supplying these deficiencies. He succeeded not only in raising the standard of education generally in the [[Education in Scotland|North of Scotland]], but also in establishing a School of Philosophy at the University of Aberdeen, and in widely influencing the teaching of English [[grammar]] and [[Composition (language)|composition]] in the [[United Kingdom]]. His efforts were first directed to the preparation of textbooks: ''Higher English Grammar''<ref>[http://books.google.ca/books?vid=ISBN1402181566&id=vVLAFrEvSzoC ''Higher English Grammar'' at Google Books]</ref> and ''An English Grammar''<ref>[http://books.google.ca/books?vid=0Uu3Ii85L5ygbkTV&id=P3ECAAAAQAAJ ''An English Grammar'' at Google Books]</ref> were both published in 1863, followed in 1866 by the ''Manual of Rhetoric'', in 1872 by ''A First English Grammar'', and in 1874 by the ''Companion to the Higher Grammar''. These works were wide-ranging and their original views and methods met with wide acceptance.
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==External link==
  
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===Philosophy===
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  ⚫
Bain's philosophical writings already published, especially ''The Senses and the Intellect'' to which was added in 1861 The ''Study of Character'' including an ''Estimate of Phrenology'', were too large for effective use in the classroom. Accordingly in 1868, he published his ''Manual of Mental and Moral Science'', mainly a condensed form of his treatises, with the doctrines re-stated, and in many instances freshly illustrated, and with many important additions. The year 1870 saw the publication of the ''Logic''. This, too, was a work designed for the use of students; it was based on [[John Stuart Mill]], but differed from him in many particulars, and was distinctive for its treatment of the doctrine of the conservation of energy in connection with causation and the detailed application of the principles of logic to the various sciences with a section on the classification of the all [[sciences]].<ref>http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Alexander_Bain</ref> Next came two publications in the "International Scientific Series", namely, ''Mind and Body'' (1872), and ''Education as a Science'' (1879). All these works, from the ''Higher English Grammar'' downwards, were written by Bain during his twenty years as a Professor at the University of Aberdeen. He also started the philosophical journal, ''Mind''; the first number appeared in January 1876, under the editorship of a former pupil, [[George Croom Robertson]], of [[University College London]]. To this journal Bain contributed many important articles and discussions; and in fact he bore the whole expenses of it till Robertson, owing to ill-health, resigned the editorship in 1891 and [[George Stout]] took up the baton.
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===Psychology===
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Although his influence as a [[logician]] and [[linguist]] in grammar and rhetoric was considerable, his reputation rests on his works in [[psychology]]. At one with the German physiologist and comparative anatomist [[Johannes Peter Müller]] in the conviction ''psychologus nemo nisi physiologus'' (one is not a psychologist who is not also a physiologist), he was the first in Great Britain during the 19th century to apply physiology in a thoroughgoing fashion to the elucidation of mental states. In discussing the will, he favoured physiological over metaphysical explanations, pointing to reflexes as evidence that a form of will, independent of consciousness, inheres in a person's limbs. He sought to chart physiological correlates of mental states but refused to make any materialistic assumptions.<ref>Columbia Encyclopedia</ref> He was the originator of the theory of [[psychophysical parallelism]] which is used so widely as a working basis by modern psychologists. His idea of applying the [[scientific method]] of classification to psychical phenomena gave scientific character to his work, the value of which was enhanced by his methodical exposition and his command of illustration. In line with this, too, is his demand that [[psychology]] should be cleared of [[metaphysics]]; and to his lead is no doubt due in great measure the position that psychology has now acquired as a distinct positive science. Bain established psychology, as influenced by [[David Hume]] and [[Auguste Comte]], as a more distinct discipline of science through application of the [[scientific method]]. Bain proposed that physiological and psychological processes were linked, and that traditional psychology could be explained in terms of this association. Moreover he proposed that all knowledge and all mental processes had to be based on actual physical sensations, and not on spontaneous thoughts and ideas, and attempted to identify the link between the mind and the body and to discover the correlations between mental and behavioral phenomena.
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  ⚫
[[William James]] calls his work the "last word" of the earlier stage of psychology, but he was in reality the pioneer of the new. Subsequent psycho-physical investigations "have all been in" the spirit of his work; and although he consistently advocated the introspective method in psychological investigation, he was among the first to appreciate the help that may be given to it by [[social psychology]], [[comparative psychology]] and [[developmental psychology]]. He may justly claim the merit of having guided the awakened psychological interest of British thinkers of the second half of the 19th century into fruitful channels. Bain emphasised the importance of our active experiences of movement and effort, and though his theory of a central innervation sense is no longer held as he propounded it, its value as a suggestion to later psychologists is great. His thought that a belief is but a preparation for action is respected by both [[pragmatism]] and [[Functionalism (philosophy of mind)|functionalism]].<ref>Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy</ref>
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===Other works===
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  ⚫
Bain's autobiography, published in 1904, contains a full list of his works, and also the history of the last thirteen years of his life by Professor W. L. Davidson of the University of Aberdeen, who further contributed to ''Mind'' (April 1904) a review of Bain's services to philosophy. Further works include editions with notes of [[William Paley|Paley]]'s ''Moral Philosophy'' (1852); ''Education as a Science'' (1879); ''Dissertations'' on leading philosophical topics (1903, mainly reprints of papers in ''Mind''); he collaborated with JS Mill and Grote in editing James Mill's ''Analysis of the Phenomena of the Human Mind'' (1869), and assisted in editing Grote's ''Aristotle and Minor Works''; he also wrote a memoir prefixed to G Croom Robertson's ''Philosophical Remains'' (1894).
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==Social Reform==
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Bain took a keen interest in [[social justice]] and [[social development|development]] and was frequently an active part in the [[political movement|political]] and [[social movement]]s of the day; after his retirement from the Chair of Logic, he was twice elected [[Lord Rector of the University of Aberdeen]] each term of office extending over three years. He was a strenuous advocate of reform, especially in the [[science education|teaching of sciences]], and supported the claims of [[modern languages]] to a place in the curriculum. Moreover, he as an avid supporter for [[Student rights]] and in 1884 the Aberdeen University Debating Society took the first steps towards the introduction of a [[Students' Representative Council]] and later [[Aberdeen University Students' Association]] under his support.
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Bain was a member of the Committee of the [[Central Library, Aberdeen|Aberdeen Public Library]] throughout his life as well as the [[Education in Aberdeen|School Board of Aberdeen]]. Furthermore, Professor Bain gave lectures and wrote papers for the [[Mechanics' Institutes|Mechanics' Institutes of Aberdeen]] and served as the Secretary of its Committee.
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His services to education and social reform in [[Scotland]] were recognised by the conferment of the honorary degree of [[Doctor of law|Doctor of Law]] by the [[University of Edinburgh]] in 1871. A marble bust of him stands in the Aberdeen Public Library and his portrait hangs in Marischal College.
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==Later life and death==
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  ⚫
Bain retired from his Chair and Professorship from the University of Aberdeen and was succeeded by [[William Minto]], one of his most brilliant pupils. Nevertheless his interest in thought, and his desire to complete the scheme of work mapped out in earlier years, remained as keen as ever. Accordingly, in 1882 appeared the ''Biography of [[James Mill]]'', and accompanying it ''John Stuart Mill: a Criticism, with Personal Recollections''. Next came (1884) a collection of articles and papers, most of which had appeared in magazines, under the title of ''Practical Essays''. This was succeeded (1887, 1888) by a new edition of the ''Rhetoric'', and along with it, a book ''On Teaching English'', being an exhaustive application of the principles of rhetoric to the criticism of style, for the use of teachers; and in 1894 he published a revised edition of ''The Senses and the Intellect'', which contain his last word on psychology. In 1894 also appeared his last contribution to ''Mind''. His last years were spent in privacy at Aberdeen, where he died on 18 September 1903. He married twice but left no children. His last request was that "no stone should be placed upon his grave: his books, he said, would be his monument."<ref>Alexander Bain: The Story of the Life of the Famous Aberdeen Professor. New York Times (1857-1922); Jul 30, 1904, pg. BR514</ref>
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The University of Aberdeen Philosophy Department established the Bain Medal in 1883. It is awarded annually to the best candidate who gains First Class Honours in Mental Philosophy.
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As Professor William L. Davidson wrote in Bain's obituary in ''Mind'' "In Dr. Bain's death, psychology has sustained a great loss; but so too has education and practical reform. It is rare to find a philosopher who combines philosophical with educational and practical interests, and who is also an active force in the community in which he dwells. Such a combination was here. Let us not fail to appreciate it."
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==Bibliography==
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* [http://fair-use.org/mind/1876/01/the-early-life-of-james-mill "Early Life of James Mill"], from ''[[Mind (journal)|Mind]]'', Vol. 1, No. 1 (January 1876).
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* [http://fair-use.org/mind/1876/01/critical-notices/the-principles-of-sociology Review of Herbert Spencer's ''Principles of Sociology''], from ''[[Mind (journal)|Mind]]'', Vol. 1, No. 1 (January 1876).
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* [http://fair-use.org/mind/1876/01/notes/mr-gh-lewes-on-the-postulates-of-experience "Mr. G. H. Lewes and the Postulates of Experience"], from ''[[Mind (journal)|Mind]]'', Vol. 1, No. 1 (January 1876).
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* [http://archive.org/stream/educationasscien02bain#page/n11/mode/2up ''Education as a Science'', New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1884]
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* Practical Essays
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* Dissertations on Leading Philosophical Topics
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* [http://archive.org/stream/autobiography00bainuoft#page/n7/mode/2up ''Autobiography by Alexander Bain'', LL.D., London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1904]
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* Elements of chemistry and electricity: in two parts
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* Astronomy
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* {{Citation |last= |first=|author-link= Alexander Bain |year=1882 |editor-last= |editor-first= |contribution= |title= James Mill, A Biography |volume= |edition=1 |publisher= Logmans, Green & Co. |publication-date=1882 |publication-place=London |pages= |url= http://archive.org/stream/jamesmillabiogr00baingoog#page/n9/mode/2up |accessdate=2012-12-11 }}
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* [http://archive.org/stream/cu31924029045982#page/n5/mode/2up ''John Stuart Mill: A Criticism: With Personal Recollections'', London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1882]
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* The Art of Study
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* Is There Such a Thing As Pure Malevolence?
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* The Classical Controversy
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* The University Ideal: Past and Present
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* On Teaching English: With Detailed Examples and an Enquiry Into the Definition of Poetry
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* English Composition and Rhetoric: Emotional qualities of style
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* English Composition and Rhetoric: Intellectual elements of style
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* English grammar as bearing upon composition
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* First English Grammar
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* A Higher English Grammar
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* An English grammar
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* English composition and rhetoric: A manual
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* Logic: Induction
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* Logic: Volume 1
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* Deduction
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* Some Points in Ethics
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* Fragments on ethical subjects
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* The Moral Philosophy of Paley
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* The emotions and the will
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* The senses and the intellect
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* Mind And Body: The Theories Of Their Relation
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* Physiological Expression in Psychology
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* Analysis of the phenomena of the human mind: Volume 1
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* How to study character; or, The true basis for the science of mind
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* The emergence of neuroscience in the nineteenth century: Mind and body : the theories of their relation
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* Pleasure and Pain
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* On the study of character: including an estimate of phrenology
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* Mental science: a compendium of psychology, and the history of philosophy, designed as a text-book for high-schools and colleges
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* [http://archive.org/stream/princeton_theological_seminary_287726_microfiche_1986_0003#page/n0/mode/2up ''Moral science: a compendium of ethics'']
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* [http://archive.org/stream/mentalmoralscie00bain#page/n3/mode/2up ''Mental and moral science: A compendium of psychology and ethics'', London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1868]
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* Mental and Moral Science: Psychology and history of philosophy
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* Mental and Moral Science: Theory of ethics and ehtical systems
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==See also==
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* [[Association of Ideas]]
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* [[Psychophysical parallelism]]
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* ''[[Mind (journal)|Mind]]''
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== References ==
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{{reflist}}
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==Further reading==
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* Bain, Alexander, ''English Composition and Rhetoric'', 1871 (facsimile ed., 1996, Scholars' Facsimiles & Reprints, ISBN 978-0-8201-1497-2).
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* {{cite encyclopedia
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| last = Hattiangadi
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| first = Jagdish N.
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| title = Bain, Alexander
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| encyclopedia = [[Dictionary of Scientific Biography]]
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| volume = 1
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| pages = 403–404
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| publisher = Charles Scribner's Sons
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| location = New York
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| year = 1970
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| isbn = 0-684-10114-9
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}}
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* B. R. Hergenhahn, An Introduction to the History of Psychology, Sixth Edition
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* [[Stanley Kunitz|Kunitz, Stanley]], and [[Howard Haycraft]]. "Bain, Alexander." ''British Authors of the Nineteenth Century.'' H. W. Wilson Company, New York, 1936.
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== External links ==
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{{Wikisource author}}
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* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Bain, Alexander}}
 
* William L. Davidson, [http://fair-use.org/mind/1904/01/notes/professor-bain Professor Bain], an obituary from ''Mind'' (Jan. 1904)
  
* William L. Davidson, [http://fair-use.org/mind/1904/01/notes/professor-bain Professor Bain], an obituary from ''Mind'' (Jan. 1904)
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* [http://virtuescience.com/moral-science.html Moral Science: A Compendium of Ethics by Alexander Bain]
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*{{gutenberg author|id=Alexander_Bain|name=Alexander Bain}}
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* {{gutenberg author|id=Alexander_Bain_(1818-1903)|name=Alexander Bain}}
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* {{SBDEL Cite|Bain, Alexander}}
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* [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/scottish-19th/#AleBai181190 Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry on Alexander Bain]
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{{succession box|title=[[Lord Rector of the University of Aberdeen]]|before=[[Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery|Earl of Rosebery]]|after=[[Charles Gordon, 11th Marquess of Huntly|Marquess of Huntly]]|years=1881–?}}
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{{succession box|title=[[List_of_Professorships_at_the_University_of_Aberdeen#School_of_Divinity.2C_History_and_Philosophy|Regius Chair in Logic at the University of Aberdeen]]|before=none|after=[[William Minto]]|years=?–?}}
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{{s-end}}
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{{Philosophy topics}}
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{{Ethics}}
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{{philosophy of science}}
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{{Psychology}}
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{{philosophy of mind}}
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{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
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| NAME = Bain, Alexander
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| DATE OF BIRTH = 11 June 1818
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| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Aberdeen]], [[Scotland]]
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| DATE OF DEATH = 18 September 1903
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| PLACE OF DEATH = [[Aberdeen]], [[Scotland]]
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AlexanderBain

Alexander Bain

Alexander Bain (11 June 1818 – 18 September 1903) was a Scottish philosopher and educationalist in the British school of empiricism who was a prominent and innovative figure in the fields of psychology, linguistics, logic, moral philosophy and education reform. He founded Mind, the first ever journal of psychology and analytical philosophy, and was the leading figure in establishing and applying the scientific method to psychology. Bain was the inaugural Regius Chair in Logic and Professor of Logic at the University of Aberdeen, where he also held Professorships in Moral Philosophy and English Literature and was twice elected Lord Rector of the University of Aberdeen.

Early life and education

Alexander Bain was born in Aberdeen to George Bain, a weaver and veteran soldier, and Margaret Paul. At age eleven he left school to work as a weaver[1] hence the description of him as Weevir, rex philosophorum. He also took to lectures at the Mechanics' Institutes of Aberdeen and the Aberdeen Public Library.

In 1836 he entered Marischal College where he came under the influence of Professor of Mathematics John Cruickshank, Professor of Chemistry Thomas Clark and Professor of Natural Philosophy William Knight. Towards the end of his undergraduate degree he became a contributor to the Westminster Review with his first article entitled "Electrotype and Daguerreotype," published in September 1840. This was the beginning of his connection with John Stuart Mill, which led to a lifelong friendship. He was awarded the Blue Ribbon and also the Gray Mathematical Bursary. His college career and studies was distinguished especially in mental philosophy, mathematics and physics and he graduated with a Master of Arts with Highest Honours.

In 1840 he was awarded his MA from Aberdeen university[2].

In 1841, Bain substituted for Dr. Glennie the Professor of Moral Philosophy, who, due to ill-health, was unable to discharge his academic duties. He continued to do this three successive terms, during which he continued writing for the Westminster, and also helped John Stuart Mill with the revision of the manuscript of his System of Logic (1842). In 1843 he contributed the first review of the book to the London and Westminster.

Academic career

Between 1841 -1844 He was Assistant in Moral Philosophy at University of Aberdeen

In 1845 he was appointed Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy at Anderson's University in Glasgow. Shortly later, preferring a wider field, he resigned the position and devoted himself to writing.

In 1848 he moved to London to fill a post in the Board of Health under Sir Edwin Chadwick where he worked for social reform and became a prominent member of the intellectual circle which included George Grote and John Stuart Mill.

Between [1851]] and 1854 and was then a lecturer in Mental and Moral Philosophy at Bedford College, London

In 1855 he published his first major work, The Senses and the Intellect, followed in 1859 by The Emotions and the Will. These treatises won him a position among independent thinkers. Bain was also Examiner in Logic and Moral Philosophy from 1857–1862 and 1864–1869 for the University of London and also an Instructor in Moral Science for the Indian Civil Service examinations.

In 1860 he was appointed by the British Crown to the inaugural Regius Chair of Logic and the Regius Chair of English Literature at the University of Aberdeen, which was newly formed after the amalgamation of King's College, Aberdeen and Marischal College by the Scottish Universities Commission of 1858. He returned to Scotland and between 1860- 1880 he held the position of Professor of Rhetoric and Logic at the University of Aberdeen.


Linguistics

Until 1858 neither logic nor English had received adequate attention in Aberdeen, and Bain devoted himself to supplying these deficiencies. He succeeded not only in raising the standard of education generally in the North of Scotland, but also in establishing a School of Philosophy at the University of Aberdeen, and in widely influencing the teaching of English grammar and composition in the United Kingdom. His efforts were first directed to the preparation of textbooks: Higher English Grammar[3] and An English Grammar[4] were both published in 1863, followed in 1866 by the Manual of Rhetoric, in 1872 by A First English Grammar, and in 1874 by the Companion to the Higher Grammar. These works were wide-ranging and their original views and methods met with wide acceptance.

Philosophy

Bain's philosophical writings already published, especially The Senses and the Intellect to which was added in 1861 The Study of Character including an Estimate of Phrenology, were too large for effective use in the classroom. Accordingly in 1868, he published his Manual of Mental and Moral Science, mainly a condensed form of his treatises, with the doctrines re-stated, and in many instances freshly illustrated, and with many important additions. The year 1870 saw the publication of the Logic. This, too, was a work designed for the use of students; it was based on John Stuart Mill, but differed from him in many particulars, and was distinctive for its treatment of the doctrine of the conservation of energy in connection with causation and the detailed application of the principles of logic to the various sciences with a section on the classification of the all sciences.[5] Next came two publications in the "International Scientific Series", namely, Mind and Body (1872), and Education as a Science (1879). All these works, from the Higher English Grammar downwards, were written by Bain during his twenty years as a Professor at the University of Aberdeen. He also started the philosophical journal, Mind; the first number appeared in January 1876, under the editorship of a former pupil, George Croom Robertson, of University College London. To this journal Bain contributed many important articles and discussions; and in fact he bore the whole expenses of it till Robertson, owing to ill-health, resigned the editorship in 1891 and George Stout took up the baton.

Psychology

Although his influence as a logician and linguist in grammar and rhetoric was considerable, his reputation rests on his works in psychology. At one with the German physiologist and comparative anatomist Johannes Peter Müller in the conviction psychologus nemo nisi physiologus (one is not a psychologist who is not also a physiologist), he was the first in Great Britain during the 19th century to apply physiology in a thoroughgoing fashion to the elucidation of mental states. In discussing the will, he favoured physiological over metaphysical explanations, pointing to reflexes as evidence that a form of will, independent of consciousness, inheres in a person's limbs. He sought to chart physiological correlates of mental states but refused to make any materialistic assumptions.[6] He was the originator of the theory of psychophysical parallelism which is used so widely as a working basis by modern psychologists. His idea of applying the scientific method of classification to psychical phenomena gave scientific character to his work, the value of which was enhanced by his methodical exposition and his command of illustration. In line with this, too, is his demand that psychology should be cleared of metaphysics; and to his lead is no doubt due in great measure the position that psychology has now acquired as a distinct positive science. Bain established psychology, as influenced by David Hume and Auguste Comte, as a more distinct discipline of science through application of the scientific method. Bain proposed that physiological and psychological processes were linked, and that traditional psychology could be explained in terms of this association. Moreover he proposed that all knowledge and all mental processes had to be based on actual physical sensations, and not on spontaneous thoughts and ideas, and attempted to identify the link between the mind and the body and to discover the correlations between mental and behavioral phenomena.

William James calls his work the "last word" of the earlier stage of psychology, but he was in reality the pioneer of the new. Subsequent psycho-physical investigations "have all been in" the spirit of his work; and although he consistently advocated the introspective method in psychological investigation, he was among the first to appreciate the help that may be given to it by social psychology, comparative psychology and developmental psychology. He may justly claim the merit of having guided the awakened psychological interest of British thinkers of the second half of the 19th century into fruitful channels. Bain emphasised the importance of our active experiences of movement and effort, and though his theory of a central innervation sense is no longer held as he propounded it, its value as a suggestion to later psychologists is great. His thought that a belief is but a preparation for action is respected by both pragmatism and functionalism.[7]

Other works

Bain's autobiography, published in 1904, contains a full list of his works, and also the history of the last thirteen years of his life by Professor W. L. Davidson of the University of Aberdeen, who further contributed to Mind (April 1904) a review of Bain's services to philosophy. Further works include editions with notes of Paley's Moral Philosophy (1852); Education as a Science (1879); Dissertations on leading philosophical topics (1903, mainly reprints of papers in Mind); he collaborated with JS Mill and Grote in editing James Mill's Analysis of the Phenomena of the Human Mind (1869), and assisted in editing Grote's Aristotle and Minor Works; he also wrote a memoir prefixed to G Croom Robertson's Philosophical Remains (1894).

Social Reform

Bain took a keen interest in social justice and development and was frequently an active part in the political and social movements of the day; after his retirement from the Chair of Logic, he was twice elected Lord Rector of the University of Aberdeen each term of office extending over three years. He was a strenuous advocate of reform, especially in the teaching of sciences, and supported the claims of modern languages to a place in the curriculum. Moreover, he as an avid supporter for Student rights and in 1884 the Aberdeen University Debating Society took the first steps towards the introduction of a Students' Representative Council and later Aberdeen University Students' Association under his support.

Bain was a member of the Committee of the Aberdeen Public Library throughout his life as well as the School Board of Aberdeen. Furthermore, Professor Bain gave lectures and wrote papers for the Mechanics' Institutes of Aberdeen and served as the Secretary of its Committee.

His services to education and social reform in Scotland were recognised by the conferment of the honorary degree of Doctor of Law by the University of Edinburgh in 1871. A marble bust of him stands in the Aberdeen Public Library and his portrait hangs in Marischal College.

Later life and death

Bain retired from his Chair and Professorship from the University of Aberdeen and was succeeded by William Minto, one of his most brilliant pupils. Nevertheless his interest in thought, and his desire to complete the scheme of work mapped out in earlier years, remained as keen as ever. Accordingly, in 1882 appeared the Biography of James Mill, and accompanying it John Stuart Mill: a Criticism, with Personal Recollections. Next came (1884) a collection of articles and papers, most of which had appeared in magazines, under the title of Practical Essays. This was succeeded (1887, 1888) by a new edition of the Rhetoric, and along with it, a book On Teaching English, being an exhaustive application of the principles of rhetoric to the criticism of style, for the use of teachers; and in 1894 he published a revised edition of The Senses and the Intellect, which contain his last word on psychology. In 1894 also appeared his last contribution to Mind. His last years were spent in privacy at Aberdeen, where he died on 18 September 1903. He married twice but left no children. His last request was that "no stone should be placed upon his grave: his books, he said, would be his monument."[8]

The University of Aberdeen Philosophy Department established the Bain Medal in 1883. It is awarded annually to the best candidate who gains First Class Honours in Mental Philosophy.

As Professor William L. Davidson wrote in Bain's obituary in Mind "In Dr. Bain's death, psychology has sustained a great loss; but so too has education and practical reform. It is rare to find a philosopher who combines philosophical with educational and practical interests, and who is also an active force in the community in which he dwells. Such a combination was here. Let us not fail to appreciate it."

Bibliography

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kunitz, p. 30
  2. ↑ Sheehey, N., Chapman, A.J. and Conroy, W. (1997). Biographical Dictionary of Psychology, 2nd ed. London:Routledge.
  3. ↑ Higher English Grammar at Google Books
  4. ↑ An English Grammar at Google Books
  5. ↑ http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Alexander_Bain
  6. ↑ Columbia Encyclopedia
  7. ↑ Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy
  8. ↑ Alexander Bain: The Story of the Life of the Famous Aberdeen Professor. New York Times (1857-1922); Jul 30, 1904, pg. BR514

Further reading

  • Bain, Alexander, English Composition and Rhetoric, 1871 (facsimile ed., 1996, Scholars' Facsimiles & Reprints, ISBN 978-0-8201-1497-2).
  • Hattiangadi, Jagdish N. (1970). "Bain, Alexander". Dictionary of Scientific Biography 1. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. 403–404. ISBN 0-684-10114-9. 
  • B. R. Hergenhahn, An Introduction to the History of Psychology, Sixth Edition
  • Kunitz, Stanley, and Howard Haycraft. "Bain, Alexander." British Authors of the Nineteenth Century. H. W. Wilson Company, New York, 1936.

External links

Wikisource
Wikisource has original works written by or about:
Alexander Bain

Template:S-start Template:S-aca |- style="text-align: center;" |- style="text-align: center;" |width="30%" align="center" rowspan="1"|Preceded by:
Earl of Rosebery |width="40%" style="text-align: center;" rowspan="1"|Lord Rector of the University of Aberdeen
1881–? |width="30%" align="center" rowspan="1"|Succeeded by:
Marquess of Huntly |- |- style="text-align: center;" |- style="text-align: center;" |width="30%" align="center" rowspan="1"|Preceded by:
none |width="40%" style="text-align: center;" rowspan="1"|Regius Chair in Logic at the University of Aberdeen
?–? |width="30%" align="center" rowspan="1"|Succeeded by:
William Minto |- Template:S-end

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Persondata
NAME Bain, Alexander
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION
DATE OF BIRTH 11 June 1818
PLACE OF BIRTH Aberdeen, Scotland
DATE OF DEATH 18 September 1903
PLACE OF DEATH Aberdeen, Scotland


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