Why did William James emphasize 'stream of consciousness'?
I found the traditional, static view of the mind insufficient. Consciousness is not a collection of discrete ideas, but a continuous, flowing process. It is a personal, ever-changing, and selective flow. To understand the mind, one must appreciate this dynamic, qualitative character, this unbroken stream of thoughts, feelings, and sensations that constitutes our inner life. This notion was crucial for moving psychology beyond simple associationism.
Ask William James the follow-up →