The earliest theory of learning

Plato and Aristotle were called rationalists because the emphasized the role of the mind in acquiring knowledge. Plato (417-327 BC) believed in negativism, that knowledge is inherited and is therefore natural or an innate component of the human mind. Aristotle (384-322 BC) was called an empiricist, since he focused on sensory information as the basis of knowledge. He formulated his laws of association as the basis of knowledge. He formulated his law of association as follows:

• Law of Similarity - recall of the similar objects.
• Law of Contrast - recall of things that are opposite.
• Law of Contiguity - recall of an activity which is frequently related with a previous one.

Later notions on learning:

Rene Descartes (1596-1650), studied the relationship between the mind and body. He believed that the mind could initiate behavior.
John Locke (1632-1704), the infant's mind at birth is a tabularasa - "There is nothing in the mind that is not first in the senses, except the mind itself."
Franz Joseph Gall (1908-1882), examined the shape of the skull. He assumed that the faculties are located in specific parts of the brain. His study is called phrenology.
Charles Darwin (1908-1882), introduced the theory of evolution. He perceived human being as a combination of biological heritage and human experience.
Herman Ebbinghaus (1850-1909), learning and memory can be studied experimentally. He introduced the famous nonsense material.