Anatomy and politics / by W.E. Le Gros Clark.

  • Clark, Wilfrid E. Le Gros (Wilfrid Edward Le Gros), 1895-1971.
Date:
[1936?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: Anatomy and politics / by W.E. Le Gros Clark. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Anatomy and Politics. By PROF. W. E. LE GROS CLARK, F.R.C.S. The title of this lecture suggests an unnatural association of two quite incongruous subjects. Yet to-day, when human activities of every kind are becoming more and more involved in and directly dependent on political controversies and political creeds, there need be no surprise at a title which links up one of the most venerable of biological sciences with current world problems. There recently appeared in a reputable German scientific journal a paper entitled Anatomie and Kultur, in which the attempt was made to emphasise the contribution which the study of human anatomy has to make towards the development of a system of political philosophy. This involved rather forced arguments to the effect that our attitude towards the Universe in general, Macrocosmos, must ultimately be determined by our knowledge of the Microcosmos, of which the human body represents the material aspect, and that the creative work and manual dexterity of the anatomist brings him into the category of the skilled labourer or craftsman whose social position in those countries which are so intent at the moment on building up their technical equipment is gaining in prestige. I do not propose, however, to deal with these highly problematic and philosophical interpretations of the rôle of anatomical science. Nor shall I pause to consider the historical aspect of anatomy in so far as the early anatomists, by their discoveries, became involved in political issues, though it is well known that the progress of anatomical research in the Middle Ages was deeply affected by Church politics and by religious views regarding the proper disposal of the body after death. Rather do I propose to show how the science of anatomy may be, and indeed is, directly related to a number of modern social problems which form the basis for political controversy. It is a commonplace statement that had Cleopatra's nose been a quarter of an inch longer the whole history of the world might have been changed. Here is an instance where a slight anatomical variation may be fraught with political issues of the most extensive natiire. But, you may suggest, it is rather fantastic to quote this as an example of the way in which anatomy is related to politics to-day. Yet I assure you that if you were to-day a member of the German nation you would very soon find that the anatomical contour of the nose may involve some individuals in very terrible political issues. The question of racial anatomy is being brought into great prominence by the development of current controversies regarding the question of the inherent superiority or inferiority of different racial groups. This is quite an old idea which has lately been revived in a very insidious form. With the develop¬ ment of an intense nationalism in certain European countries there has been ex¬ pounded the doctrine of the chosen race as a legitimate excuse for a policy of 1