How did Hartley’s work exceed the aims of the other empiricists and associationists? How did Hartley explain association?
Hartley explained the emericists and associationist in terms of mechanical processes and also the underlying physiological processes. According to Isaac Newton the physical world had impulses that vibrated, and this same logic was applied to neurons. According to him the conduction of impulses were like vibrations, and not animal spirits as described by Descartes.
Hartley applied the same logic to humans. He said that the nerves are not hollow, unlike how Descartes perceived. Instead they carry the impulses from the organs to the mind. It was his attempt to understand the use of scientific idea, about the mechanical universe, which can also be used to study the nature of humans.
According to Hartley, association means memory, reasoning and learning were all connected with each other. Ideas and sensations occurred in connection with each other. He proposed that repetition of ideas, and sensation were essential for association.
As child grows he gathers experiences ideas and sensations, which helps in the development of connections, of increasing complexity. Analyzing, judging, and reasoning are higher mental processes, which can be reduced to simpler ones.