thoughts on man-第64章
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whatever it is； in which the thinking principle in man resides。 But； without adventuring in any way to dogmatise on the subject； we find so many analogies between the thinking principle； and the structure of what we call the brain； that we cannot but regard the latter as in some way the instrument of the former。
Now nothing can be more certain respecting the thinking principle； than its individuality。 It has been said； that the mind can entertain but one thought at one time； and certain it is； from the nature of attention； and from the association of ideas； that unity is one of the principal characteristics of mind。 It is this which constitutes personal identity； an attribute that； however unsatisfactory may be the explanations which have been given respecting it； we all of us feel； and that lies at the foundation of all our voluntary actions； and all our morality。
Analogous to this unity of thought and mind； is the arrangement of the nerves and the brain in the human body。 The nerves all lead up to the brain； and there is a centrical point in the brain itself； in which the reports of the senses terminate； and at which the action of the will may be conceived to begin。 This； in the language of our fathers； was called the 〃seat of the soul。〃
We may therefore； without departing from the limits of a due caution and modesty； consider this as the throne before which the mind holds its court。 Hither the senses bring in their reports； and hence the sovereign will issues his commands。 The whole system appears to be conducted through the instrumentality of the nerves； along whose subtle texture the feelings and impressions are propagated。 Between the reports of the senses and the commands of the will； intervenes that which is emphatically the office of the mind； comprising meditation； reflection； inference and judgment。 How these functions are performed we know not； but it is reasonable to believe that the substance of the brain or of some part of the brain is implicated in them。
Still however we must not lose sight of what has been already said； that in the action of the mind unity is an indispensible condition。 Our thoughts can only hold their council and form their decrees in a very limited region。 This is their retreat and strong hold； and the special use and functions of the remoter parts of the brain we are unable to determine； so utterly obscure and undefined is our present knowledge of the great ligament which binds together the body and the thinking principle。
Enough however results from this imperfect view of the ligament； to demonstrate the incongruity and untenableness of a doctrine which should assign the indications of different functions； exercises and propensities of the mind to the exterior surface of the scull or the brain。 This is quackery； and is to be classed with chiromancy； augury； astrology； and the rest of those schemes for discovering the future and unknown； which the restlessness and anxiety of the human mind have invented； built upon arbitrary principles； blundered upon in the dark； and having no resemblance to the march of genuine science。 I find in sir Thomas Browne the following axioms of chiromancy： 〃that spots in the tops of the nails do signifie things past； in the middle； things present； and at the bottom； events to come： that white specks presage our felicity； blue ones our misfortunes： that those in the nails of the thumb have significations of honour； in the forefinger； of riches； and so respectively in the rest。〃
Science； to be of a high and satisfactory character； ought to consist of a deduction of causes and effects； shewing us not merely that a thing is so； but why it is as it is； and cannot be otherwise。 The rest is merely empirical； and； though the narrowness of human wit may often drive us to this； yet it is essentially of a lower order and description。 As it depends for its authority upon an example； or a number of examples； so examples of a contrary nature may continually come in； to weaken its force； or utterly to subvert it。 And the affair is made still worse； when we see； as in the case of craniology； that all the reasons that can be deduced （as here from the nature of mind） would persuade us to believe； that there can be no connection between the supposed indications； and the things pretended to be indicated。
Craniology； or phrenology； proceeds exactly in the same train； as chiromancy； or any of those pretended sciences which are built merely on assumption or conjecture。 The first delineations presented to the public； marked out； as I have said； the scull into compartments； in the same manner as a country delineated on a map is divided into districts。 Geography is a real science； and accordingly； like other sciences； has been slow and gradual in its progress。 At an early stage travellers knew little more than the shores and islands of the Mediterranean。 Afterwards； they passed the straits of Hercules； and entered into the Atlantic。 At length the habitable world was distributed into three parts； Europe； Asia； and Africa。 More recently； by many centuries； came the discovery of America。 It is but the other day comparatively； that we found the extensive island of New Holland in the Southern Ocean。 The ancient geographers placed an elephant or some marine monster in the vacant parts of their maps； to signify that of these parts they knew nothing。 Not so Dr。 Gall。 Every part of his globe of the human Scull； at least with small exceptions； is fully tenanted； and he； with his single arm； has conquered a world。
The majority of the judgments that have been divulged by the professors of this science； have had for their subjects the sculls of men； whose habits and history have been already known。 And yet with this advantage the errors and contradictions into which their authors have fallen are considerably numerous。 Thus I find； in the account of the doctor's visit to the House of Correction and the Hospital of Torgau in July 1805； the following examples。
〃Every person was desirous to know what Dr。 Gall would say about T； who was known in the house as a thief full of cunning； and who； having several times made his escape； wore an additional iron。 It was surprising； that he saw in him far less of the organ of cunning； than in many of the other prisoners。 However it was proved； that examples； and conversation with other thieves in the house； had suggested to him the plan for his escape； and that the stupidity which he possesses was the cause of his being retaken。〃
〃We were much surprised to be told； that M。； in whom Dr。 Gall had not discovered the organ of representation； possessed extraordinary abilities in imitating the voice of animals； but we were convinced after enquiries； that his talent was not a natural one； but acquired by study。 He related to us that； when he was a Prussian soldier garrisoned at Berlin； he used to deceive the waiting women in the Foundling Hospital by imitating the voice of exposed infants； and sometimes counterfeited the cry of a wild drake； when the officers were shooting ducks。〃
〃Of another Dr。 Gall said； His head is a pattern of inconstancy and confinement； and there appears not the least mark of the organ of courage。 This rogue had been able to gain a great authority among his fellow…convicts。 How is this to be reconciled with the want of constancy which his organisation plainly indicates？ Dr。 Gall answered； He gained his ascendancy not by courage； but by cunning。〃
It is well known； that in Thurtel； who was executed for one of the most cold…blooded and remorseless murders ever heard of； the phrenologists found the organ of benevolence uncommonly large。
In Spurzheim's delineation of the human head I find six divisions of organs marked out in the little hemisphere over the eye； indicating six different dispositions。 Must there not be in this subtle distribution much of what is arbitrary and sciolistic？
It is to be regretted； that no person skilful in metaphysics； or the history of the human mind； has taken a share in this investigation。 Many errors and much absurdity would have been removed from the statements of these theorists； if a proper division had been made between those attributes and prop
