Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Preface
- Mottoes
- Contents
- Letter. 1 Inquiry for a Basis
- Letter. 2 Proposal of a Basis
- Letter. 3 Preparation of the Ground
- Letter. 4 What is the Brain?
- Letter. 5 Inquiry about its Structure
- Letter. 6 Early days of Phrenology
- Letter. 7 Inquiry for New Discoveries
- Letter. 8 Methods of New Discovery. Organic Arrangement of the Brain
- Letter. 9 Illustrative Cases
- Letter. 10 Organic Arrangement of the Cerebrum
- Letter. 11 Dr. Howe's Report on Idiocy
- Letter. 12 The Senses and Nervous System
- Letter. 13 Illustrative Comment
- Letter. 14 Facts about the Senses under various conditions
- Letter. 15 Raising questions
- Letter. 16 Bacon, on Matter and Causation. Inferences and Dreams. Association of Ideas
- Letter. 17 Nothing
- Letter. 18 Knowledge and Notions. Results of each
- Letter. 19 Release from Notions. Entrance upon Knowledge
- Letter. 20 Natural History of Superstition
- Letter. 21 Theology and Science
- Letter. 22 Central Law and Pervasive Unity. Light. Sense of Identity. Ghost-seeing. Unrevealed Human Relations
- Letter. 23 Position and Privilege of Truth-seekers
- Letter. 24 Position and Privilege of Truth-speakers
- Appendix
Letter. 3 - Preparation of the Ground
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 August 2010
- Frontmatter
- Preface
- Mottoes
- Contents
- Letter. 1 Inquiry for a Basis
- Letter. 2 Proposal of a Basis
- Letter. 3 Preparation of the Ground
- Letter. 4 What is the Brain?
- Letter. 5 Inquiry about its Structure
- Letter. 6 Early days of Phrenology
- Letter. 7 Inquiry for New Discoveries
- Letter. 8 Methods of New Discovery. Organic Arrangement of the Brain
- Letter. 9 Illustrative Cases
- Letter. 10 Organic Arrangement of the Cerebrum
- Letter. 11 Dr. Howe's Report on Idiocy
- Letter. 12 The Senses and Nervous System
- Letter. 13 Illustrative Comment
- Letter. 14 Facts about the Senses under various conditions
- Letter. 15 Raising questions
- Letter. 16 Bacon, on Matter and Causation. Inferences and Dreams. Association of Ideas
- Letter. 17 Nothing
- Letter. 18 Knowledge and Notions. Results of each
- Letter. 19 Release from Notions. Entrance upon Knowledge
- Letter. 20 Natural History of Superstition
- Letter. 21 Theology and Science
- Letter. 22 Central Law and Pervasive Unity. Light. Sense of Identity. Ghost-seeing. Unrevealed Human Relations
- Letter. 23 Position and Privilege of Truth-seekers
- Letter. 24 Position and Privilege of Truth-speakers
- Appendix
Summary
H. M. to H. G. A.
Yes,—the reason why I want to understand your views is that which you assign;—that you have abjured idols, and come with a free mind to the study of a subject which is rarely entered upon from the beginning. It appears to me that men come to the subject with antecedent notions of “dignity of origin” for man; with words upon their lips about man being made in the image of God; and then, in the fear of impiety, if this notion is invaded, they lose their freedom, and desire to find the truth lying in one direction, rather than another. Now, from the moment that a man desires to find the truth on one side rather than another, it is all over with him as a philosopher. I doubt whether I have ever met with any one but yourself who was perfectly free from such leaning. I have sometimes supposed that I had met with a truly impartial inquirer,—judging him by the sacrifices he had made for his convictions. But, sooner or later, out it comes! He lets out, in one connection or another, that he should be sorry to believe this or that, which he has not yet the means of fully comprehending. He may have gone further in free inquiry than his neighbours, and he rejoices in what he has attained; yet, not the less does he pity those who have outstripped him, as the brethren and friends whom he has outstripped are pitying him.
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- Letters on the Laws of Man's Nature and Development , pp. 11 - 15Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009First published in: 1851