Phrenology, or, The doctrine of the mind : and of the relations between its manifestations and the body / by J. Spurzheim.

  • Spurzheim, J. G. (Johann Gaspar), 1776-1832.
Date:
MDCCCXXV. [1825]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Phrenology, or, The doctrine of the mind : and of the relations between its manifestations and the body / by J. Spurzheim. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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    their notions would never be at variance with the in- ferences of anatomy and physiology ; and one science would not arrogate the right of setting bounds to the progress of another. The doctrine of a single origin and central point for all the nerves, is neither true nor possible; as may be verified by examination. If, after this, the metaphysician cannot comprehend the unity of his individual consciousness, I ask him, if he can understand how, in automatic life, such different apparatus concur by their varied functions in forming one whole ?—If he can reconcile, in animal life, the occurrence of double organs with unity of function and simplicity of consciousness ?—If he can comprehend any single power in the material world ? The principal artificial impediment to the improve- ment of psychology was the blameable method pursued in the study of human nature. All phenomena were explained by the imagination alone, or by hypotheses. There exist, even at the present day, philosophers who maintain that man is in no wise subjected to the laws of nature; that he can begin a series of actions independent of all cause and motive, and that his actions admit of no explanation. According to these schoolmen, man is separated from all other beings, and is considered as regulated by laws peculiar to himself. They attribute all his operations to his soul: several of them even give it unbounded power over the body. This negligence in not comparing man with other beings has been a great obstacle to the progress of psychology. — Moreover, the various