The Chosen

It was Friday, and I had nothing pla

The library had a large section devoted to psychology. I found some books on experimental psychology and leafed through them slowly, then checked the indexes and bibliographies. What I discovered made it very clear why Da

I had chosen the books at random, but even a quick glance at them made it apparent that they were all structured along similar lines. They dealt only with experimental data and were filled with graphs, charts, tables, photographs of devices for the measuring of auditory, visual, and tactile responses, and with mathematical translations of laboratory findings. Most of the books didn't even cite Freud in their bibliographies. In one book; Freud was referred to only once, and the passage was far from complimentary.

I checked the indexes under 'unconscious'. Some of the books didn't even have it listed. One book had this to say: It is impossible here to discuss the 'new psychology of the unconscious, but exaggerated as are many of the statements made as to the revolution in psychology caused by psychoanalysis there is little doubt that it has influenced psychology permanently. And it is well that the teacher should study something of it, partly because of its suggestiveness in many parts of his work, and partly to be on guard against the exaggerated statements of extremists and the uncritical advocacy of freedom from all discipline, based upon them.

That 'uncritical advocacy of freedom from all discipline' sounded a lot like Professor Appleman. Then I found something that really sounded like Professor Appleman: Magic depends on tradition and belief. It does not welcome observation, nor does it profit by experiment. On the other hand, science is based on experience; it is open to correction by observation and experiment.

The book in which I found that passage was full of tables and graphs showing the results of experiments on frogs, salamanders, rats, apes, and human beings. It didn't mention Freud or the unconscious anywhere.

I felt sorry for Da

Poor Da

I went home, feeling sad and a little helpless. Da

The second semester of college began the following Monday, and during lunch Da

I saw Da

'Thanks a lot,' he said bitterly. 'That's just what I need now. A kick in the pants from my best friend.'

'I'm telling you how I feel,' I said.

'And I'm telling you how I feel' he almost shouted. 'Thanks a million!'

He stormed angrily out of the lunchroom, leaving me to finish the meal alone.

We usually met outside the building after our final class and went home together, but that evening he didn't show up. I waited about half an hour, then went home alone. The next morning, as I walked up Lee A venue, I saw him waiting for me in front of the synagogue where my father and I prayed.

'Where were you last night?' he asked.

'I waited half an hour,' I said. 'What time did you get out?'

'A quarter after seven.'

'You were with him an hour?'

'We had a long talk. Listen, I'm sorry I blew up like that yesterday at lunch.'

I told him I had a pretty thick skin and, besides, what was a friend for if not to be blown up at every now and then.

We were walking toward the trolley station. It was a bitter cold morning. Da

'What happened?' I asked.

'It's a long story,' Da

'And?'

'He's a very fine person. He said he's been waiting all term for me to talk to him.'

I didn't say anything. But now I was gri

'Anyway, he knows Freud forwards and backwards. He told me that he wasn't objecting to Freud's conclusions as much as to his methodology. He said Freud's approach was based on his own limited experiences. He generalized on the basis of a few instances. a few private patients.'

'That's the problem of induction in a nutshell,' I said. 'How do you justify jumping from a few instances to a generalization?'

'I don't know anything about the problem of induction,' Da

'Well, well,' I said, gri

'He also said his quarrel was mainly with the Freudians, not so much with Freud himself. He said they were happy to earn their fat fees as analysts and refused to let anyone challenge their hypotheses.'

'There's our trolley,' I said. 'Come on!'

The trolley was waiting for a light, and we made it just in time.

Some of the people inside stared curiously at Da

'So he said analysts don't let anyone challenge their hypotheses,' I said. 'What happened then?'

'Well, we talked a lot about experimental psychology. He told me that it was almost impossible to study human subjects because it was too difficult to control the experiments. He said we use rats because we can vary the conditions. He repeated a lot of things he'd already said in class, but he made a lot more sense this time. At least, I think he made a lot more sense. Maybe after what he said about Freud being a genius I was just more willing to listen to him. He said he admired my knowledge of Freud but that in science no one was God, not even Einstein. He said even in religion people differed about what God was, so why shouldn't scientists take issue with other scientists? I couldn't argue with that. He said experimental psychology would be a healthy balance to my knowledge of Freud. Maybe. I still don't think it has anything to do with the human mind. It's more physiology than anything else, I think. Anyway, Appleman told me that if I had any problem with math he was willing to 'help me as much as he could. But his time is limited, he said, so he suggested I get a friend to help me on a regular basis: I didn't say anything.