ABSTRACT
The scientific revolution of the seventeenth century awakened the vision of a "science of man", widening the application of the new scientific method to human beings. One of the first to propose a scientific inquiry into human nature was David Hume. One very influential model of psychology emerged with the founding of psychoanalysis by Sigmund Freud. He is a giant figure in twentieth century thought. His writings comprise over a million words, and there is a vast literature citing and discussing his ideas. Freud showed an early interest in science, first intending to study chemistry then shifting to physiology and anatomy. He was especially impressed by evolutionary ideas then in vogue at the University of Vienna. Freud studied medicine in Vienna in the hope of pursuing scientific research. He worked in a physiological laboratory for several years, then in a psychiatric clinic, studying brain anatomy After medical school he specialized in neurology, studying causes of brain damage.
