The Monist, Vol. 2, 1891-1892 : $b A quarterly magazineVarious
Philosophy
The Monist, Vol. 2, 1891-1892 : $b A quarterly magazine
Various
Philosophy -- Periodicals
In the German edition of Sollier’s book Professor Pelman, whom we have
above mentioned, has written an introduction in which he speaks of the
work in words of praise similar to those expressed by Lucien Arréat in
_The Monist_. “Sollier,” says he, “has put us into the possession of a
psychology of mental imbecility, in a completeness in which hitherto
it was not at our disposal.” Then follows another passage which we
will also quote, as it forms an important supplement to the remarks
of Arréat. It is this: “Imbecility had remained the step-child of the
science of psychiatry and has not by any means met with the consideration
which in view of its social importance is due to it. If we go through
the works, as great in number as they are in voluminousness, which
have been published in the style of Lombroso on criminals and their
peculiar characteristics, we shall be unable to escape the impression
produced in our minds that the characteristics of imbeciles portrayed by
Sollier recur point for point in the typical criminal. Here as there,
the same insufficiency of all ethical development, the same frivolity,
and the same incapacity for being of use in society exist. That which
in Sollier’s explanation decides the whole anthropological position of
the imbecile—his anti-social, society-hostile attitude—is emphasised by
all writers as the characteristic trait common to all criminals, and
the description of imbeciles and criminals coincides as completely in
this respect as if the same individual had sat for both pictures. The
conclusions that follow from this can only enlist new adherents in the
ranks of the anthropological school, and this result also I should place
to the profit-account of the present book.”
However profitable and necessary employment with the diseased states of
the human soul may be, personally at least it is an unpleasant subject
for us, and we are glad therefore that we may abandon this domain for the
present letter.
The occasion of this is afforded by a valuable gift from Prof. W. PREYER,
formerly of Jena, now of Berlin. Professor Preyer has presented us with
a rather large volume bearing the title _Wissenschaftliche Briefe von
Gustav Theodor Fechner und W. Preyer. Nebst einem Briefweschsel zwischen
K. von Vierordt und Fechner sewie mehreren Beilagen. Mit dem Bildnisse
Fechner’s und vier Holzschnitten_. Hamburg und Leipsic, 1890. Verlag
von Leopold Voss. The work contains a correspondence extending from the
year 1873 to the year 1883, in which the two distinguished scientists
discuss (chiefly) myo-physical and psycho-physical questions, and will
be of great interest to many readers of _The Monist_, especially as it
makes its appearance simultaneously with the issuing of a new edition of
Fechner’s _Elemente der Psychophysik_ by Wilhelm Wundt.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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