Ivan Pavlov: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) (PDF)

Daniel P. Todes offers a comprehensive introduction to the remarkable life and science of Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936) in this book. The author delves into Pavlov’s biographical background, scientific values, context, and quest to understand the psyche and the “torments of our consciousness”. This volume follows the origins and development of Pavlov’s scientific pursuit throughout his eventful life, including his early upbringing in a priestly family in provincial Riazan, his challenges and eventual success in St. Petersburg, and his experiences during the Bolshevik takeover and civil war of 1917-1921, up to his later life as a “prosperous dissident” during the Leninist 1920s, and his successes and personal struggles in the midst of industrialization, cultural revolution, and Stalinist terror from 1929-1936.

Perhaps most significantly, Todes provides a fresh interpretation of Pavlov’s Nobel Prize-winning research on digestion (1891-1903) and his famous experiments on conditional reflexes and higher nervous activity (1903-1936), as well as his work with dogs. Contrary to popular belief, Pavlov was not a behaviorist who used a bell and sought to train dogs, but rather an “objectivist” who aimed to explain the emotional and intellectual life of animals and humans, while infusing his scientific work with his own experiences and values. Todes also examines Pavlov’s unpublished manuscripts, including his investigations into chimps and his thoughts on the relationship between science, Christianity, and Bolshevism. The Product Details section of the book includes ASIN B0B77WB115, Published by Oxford University Press on August 4, 2022. This book is in the English language and allows for screen reader enabled for visaully impaired readers. Additionally, Sticky notes available on Kindle Scribe and page numbers can be found using the source ISBN 0190906693.