The Freudian Wish and Its Place in Ethics

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July 16, 2026

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Edwin B. Holt's The Freudian Wish and Its Place in Ethics (1915) explores the concept of the "wish" as a planned course of action that influences mental processes. Holt, influenced by William James, proposed a form of cognitive behaviorism where stimulus-response relationships form the basis of cognition. He suggested that wishes, understood as purposes, are key to understanding the mind. This work connects to Sigmund Freud's theories, which posit that unconscious desires and motives drive human behavior. Freud's psychoanalytic theory emphasizes the role of the unconscious mind and the impact of early childhood experiences on mental health.1234

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Edwin B. Holt
In The Freudian Wish and Its Place in Ethics (1915), he suggested that the wish, considered as purpose or a planned course of action, is one such relation that helps explain mind or mental processes. Holt’s student, Edward C. Tolman, later emphasized these points in his…
Read More
In The Freudian Wish and Its Place in Ethics (1915), he suggested that the wish, considered as purpose or a planned course of action, is one such relation that helps explain mind or mental processes. Holt’s student, Edward C. Tolman, later emphasized these points in his…
Read More