Phrenology, or, The doctrine of the mental phenomena (Volume 2).

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

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Phrenology, or, The doctrine of the mental phenomena (Volume 2). Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

    5/224
    PREFACE. Whoever wishes for truth is a philosopher; and of philosophers there are as many varieties as there are departments of knowledge as well physical as metaphys- ical. The title, however, is more particularly given to him who looks for exact notions and positive knowledge founded on principles dependent on the relations be- tween cause and effect. It is unfortunate for humanity that those who assume distinctive titles, do not act up to them. From this cause it is that the most noble appellations fall into dis- credit. Pretended patriots have sometimes been more dangerous than declared enemies; pretended Christians worse than heathens. Who would not be styled philos- opher, or friend, or lover of wisdom? Yet is this name often applied to decry individuals and their manner of thinking. Let us only observe that all who call them- selves philosophers deserve not the title any more than do all their's who are called noble. The ancient philosophers were, in general, metaphy- sicians, that is, they examined objects, without the reach cf observation; for instance, the primitive cause of the universe,the origin of beings, the cause of life, the nature of the soul, its immortality, &c. 1 incessantly repeat, that the aim of Phrenology is never to attempt pointing out what the mind is in itself or its manner of acting,