What were the major features of French sensationalism?
The main goal of French philosophers was to explain the mind as a physical body rather than metaphysical. They supported the Newtonian belief about the mental activity and mechanical nature of the mind.
They gave importance to sensations and explained laws of associations to carry out various actions and behaviors. They were similar to British empiricist, who also believed that as universe, mental activity of humans can also be explained in terms of mechanical laws.
French philosophers are said as sensationalists because they emphasized sensations in explaining all conscious experiences. According to them, mind works with few basic principles and laws of associations. French sensationalism has unique features. Some of the beliefs of French sensationalists are as follows:
1. Human mind works according to the mechanical principles.
2. Humans are machines despite intense opposition from Church.
3. Human mind contains both sensations and ideas.
4. Sensations and ideas form strong associations.
5. Law of association is the fundamental principle of mental life.
6. Mind is as predictable as physical events.
7. Mind and body do not work on different principles, which were explained in Descartes’s dualism.
8. The mind is explained by them as physical world, like Newton did.