How to Read Human Nature: Its Inner States and Outer FormsAtkinson, William Walker
Science
How to Read Human Nature: Its Inner States and Outer Forms
Atkinson, William Walker
Character; Personality; Phrenology; Physiognomy
Gall says, regarding its discovery: "I often conversed with a
philosopher endowed with great vivacity, who, when unable to prove his
point by logic, had recourse to a comparison, by which he often threw
his opponents off the track, which he could not do by arguments." It
tends to reason by analogy, and to make rapid and clever
generalizations. The majority of scientists have it largely developed,
as also do discoverers in all lines of investigation and research, and
as Gall says: "Its possessors seize and judge well of the relations of
things, etc., and are well fitted for business." It is attracted by
investigation and thought regarding concrete things, rather than by
abstract subjects. It is scientific, rather than philosophical.
As Prof. O. S. Fowler says, it: "illustrates with great cleverness and
facility from the known to the unknown, and discovers the deeper
analogies which pervade nature, and has an extraordinary power of
discovering new truths. It reasons clearly and correctly from
conclusions and scientific facts up to the laws which govern them;
discerns the known from the unknown; detects error by its incongruity
with facts; has an excellent talent for comparing, explaining,
expounding, criticising, exposing, etc.; employs similes and metaphors
well; puts this and that together, and draws correct inferences from
them."
This Quality manifests in outer form in the middle of the upper part of
the forehead, along the middle-line, just below the hair, directly above
Eventuality, and between the two lobes of Logic (see group figure).
Prof. O. S. Fowler says of it: "It commences at the centre of the
forehead and runs upward nearly to the hair. When it projects beyond
surrounding organs it resembles a cone, its apex forming a ridge which
widens as it rises. Its ample development elevates the middle of the
upper portion of the forehead, and gives it an ascending form."
LOGIC. This Quality manifests in a strong desire to inquire into the
"Why?" of things--into Causes--into the "Wherefore?"; and to reason
therefrom to _effects_ and application of laws. Those in whom it is
large manifest the power of _logical reasoning_ to a high degree, and
abhor fallacies. This is the _philosophical_ faculty of mind. It
searches back of facts and phenomena for _causes_, _motives_ _and laws_,
and then reasons deductively from these. Combe says: "This faculty
prompts us on all occasions to ask, "Why is this so, and what is its
object?" It _demands reasons and proofs_ in the reasoning of its owner,
as well as from others."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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