Thomas's theorem: philosophical reflections or confirmation that thoughts are material?

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

From the beginning of human history, great minds have tried to streamline the knowledge about the formation of states, their decline and the role of society in these events. In the 30s of the 19th century, this area of study was separated into a separate science - sociology. Philosophers and thinkers found an official field of activity in which they could sow their conclusions. Thus, Thomas's theorem on the reality of a situation was once put forward, similar in its statements to the now popular idea of the materiality of thoughts.

If people think situations are real, they are real in the consequences.

The road to recognition

William Isaac Thomas was one of the creators of social psychology. Teaching activities at Oberlin College and the University of Chicago earned him a doctorate and a professorship. In addition, this allowed him to conduct extensive observation of the real life of the youth of that time. Thus was created one of his greatest works, Sex and Society. The publication was met with great interest, making the scientist popular among the progressive stratum.population.

William Thomas did not allow himself to be forgotten. Over the next ten years, he lectured not only to his students, but also during his numerous travels in Europe. It is not surprising that the five-volume work on the Polish peasants, created by him in collaboration with the sociologist F. Znaniecki, brought both world fame.

Government attempts to throw Thomas off the pedestal of the educator of fellow citizens did not bring the expected effect. The arrest of the scientist by the FBI on charges of violating the law on sexual coercion, of course, de alt a serious blow to his reputation and career. But among the population, his popularity rose to unprecedented heights, and the works began to be sorted into quotes.

What is written in pen

Given these circumstances, it becomes clear why Thomas' theorems occupy such a significant place in sociology. After all, it is known that ideas about the implementation of situations were put forward earlier. The founders of this position were such great thinkers as Bishop Bossuet, Karl Marx and Sigmund Freud. In addition, even Thomas Hobbes, an English philosopher of the 17th century, expressed the idea that prophecies became the cause of many situations.

But it was the thought formulated by William Thomas that was not forgotten, like many similar ones, but was called the Thomas theorem. The mathematical analogy was supposed to emphasize the indisputability and truth of the statement.

When prophecies come true

He played a significant role in popularizing the statementeminent sociologist Robert King Merton. True, he believed that the main merit in the formulation belonged to William's future wife Dorothy. In his books, he called the statement "the Thomas theorem", emphasizing that the idea belongs not to one scientist, but to joint creativity. But such a nuance often went unnoticed and was eventually forgotten. However, it remains an indisputable fact that materials on sociology, speaking about the idea of realizing situations, are mainly mentioned in the works of Merton. He cites the theorem in his work Self-Fulfilling Prophecies. Only one textbook out of forty studied by contemporary analysts refers directly to the work of spouses.

The Parable of the Bank

To clarify the idea, the Mertons describe the deposit situation as an example.

It was 1932 in the yard. Mr Cartwright Millingville was in high spirits. His bank brought, albeit not very high, but stable income. Piles of papers lying on the table and waiting for a signature confirmed the liquidity of the organization.

The attention of the manager was attracted by the growing hubbub. The bank was too crowded for an environment. Mr. Cartwright sighed sympathetically, suggesting that people had been fired in the middle of the week. Because otherwise they would be at their jobs.

Meanwhile, sharp loud phrases began to be heard against the general background. The usual banking rumble broke into exclamations and swearing. This was the beginning of the end for the once prosperous banker.

Mr Millingeville was not familiar with the work of sociologists. But he was well aware thata bankruptcy rumor is enough for the business to collapse. Frightened depositors, rushing to get their savings, unwittingly realize what should not have happened.

False truth

The self-fulfilling prophecy is an inherently flawed judgment. Only the reaction of a person who has changed his intentions allows him to incarnate. An event that was not destined to happen becomes reality because it was perceived as having a reason.

The theorem unwittingly confirms the growing idea that thought is material. Of course, the justifications are based on fundamentally different views on life. However, the main theses received identical foundations: the image created in the minds, especially supported by unshakable knowledge, becomes embodied.

It remains only to correctly apply in practice what great minds have been working on for centuries. After all, it is only in our will to choose the direction of our own thoughts.