Examination of the objections made in Britain against the doctrines of Gall and Spurzheim / [J.G.Spurzheim].

  • Spurzheim, J. G. (Johann Gaspar), 1776-1832.
Date:
1817
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Examination of the objections made in Britain against the doctrines of Gall and Spurzheim / [J.G.Spurzheim]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    INTRODUCTION. Discussions, properly conducted, are of great utility. For that reason, I am always ready to examine every objection, against our doctrines. But I am sorry to ob- serve, that scientific pursuits are so often degraded by selfish passions and. the spirit of party ;—that literary publications are employed for the purposes of calumny and detraction ;—that invectives are used instead of ar- guments ;—and that, by praising friends and blaming rivals, the progress of the arts and sciences, and the im- provement of man, are mightily retarded. Such behaviour I will never imitate; nay, the illiberal and uncandid manner in which some British Reviews have taken up our investigations, has hitherto prevented me from attempting justification. As, however, many persons have no inclination, and a greater number no time for comparing the original works with the reports of the critics; and as in science the majority of readers believe, without examining for themselves, I cannot en- tirely avoid controversy. We have never published a separate answer to single pamphlets, but merely consider- ed the objections.in our Lectures or in our Works, when treating of the respective objects. Our maxim is, never to fight with darkness, but to endeavour to bring light. 2}