Edinburgh Phrenological Society

The Edinburgh Phrenological Society was a voluntary association established in 1820 to support phrenology, at the time controversially claimed to be a science, though now regarded as a classic example of pseudoscience. Founded by George Combe, his brother Andrew and a close circle of friends, it was the first phrenological society in Britain. The society was strongly influenced by the ideas of Johann Spurzheim, who raised phrenology from a study of the mind to an intellectual and moral basis for improving humanity. Many of the early members were lawyers or doctors with an interest in reforming prisons and mental asylums.

Background

Phrenology emerged from the views of the physiologist Franz Joseph Gall in the early 19th century. Gall suggested that facets of the mind corresponded to regions of the brain, and it was possible that to determine character traits by examining the shape of a person's skull. This aspect was greatly expanded by his one-time disciple, Johann Spurzheim, who coined the term 'phrenology' and saw it as a means to facilitate the advance of human society.

In 1815, a hostile article by the anatomist John Gordon was published in the "Edinburgh Review", calling phrenology a "mixture of gross errors and extravagant absurdities". [p268, John Gordon, "Edinburgh Review 25", 1815 cited in:
p115, Thomas F. Gieryn, "Cultural Boundaries of Science: Credibility on the Line", University of Chicago Press, 1999] In response, Spurzheim went to Edinburgh to take part in public debates and perform brain dissections. Whilst he was received sympathetically by the scientific and medical community there, many had doubts about the philosophical basis of phrenology.p2, Matthew H. Kaufman, "Edinburgh Phrenological Society: A History", William Ramsay Henderson Trust, 2005, Edinburgh] George Combe, a lawyer, who had previously been sceptical, became convinced of the truth of phrenology after seeing Spurzheim perform a dissection. [p118, Thomas F. Gieryn, "Cultural Boundaries of Science: Credibility on the Line"] [p34, Matthew H. Kaufman, "Edinburgh Phrenological Society: A History"]

The society

The Edinburgh Phrenological Society was founded on 22 February, 1820, by the Combe brothers on the suggestion of the Evangelical minister David Welsh. [p56, John Van Whye, "Phrenology and the Origins of Victorian Scientific Naturalism", Ashgate Publishing Limited, 2004] The society grew rapidly, publishing articles, giving lectures and defending phrenology from critics such as the philosopher Sir William Hamilton and the editor of the "Edinburgh Review", Francis Jeffrey. The society acquired large numbers of phrenological artefacts, such as marked porcelain heads indicating the placement of phrenological organs, and head casts of individuals with extreme characteristics. In 1823, Andrew Combe, a surgeon, addressed the Royal Medical Society, arguing that phrenology explained the intellectual and moral abilities of mankind. Both sides claimed victory after the lengthy debate, but the Medical Society refused to publish it, [M. H. Kaufman , "The Edinburgh phrenological debate of 1823 held in the Royal Medical Society", "Journal of Neurolinguistics" 11.4, (October 1998:377-389).] prompting the Phrenological Society to establish its own journal in 1824, "Phrenological Journal and Miscellany", later re-named "Phrenological Journal and Magazine of Moral Science".p19-20, Frank N Egerton, "Hewett Cottrell Watson: Victorian Plant Ecologist and Evolutionist", Ashgate Publishing, 2003]

In the late 1820s, a split emerged between George Combe and evangelical Christian members of the society. Combe outlined a naturalistic morality underpinned by phrenology in his book, "The Constitution of Man". This appalled the Christian phrenologists, who saw it as undermining the revealed morality of the Bible and placed science on an equal footing to religion. Matters came to a head when Combe and his supporters successfully passed a motion banning the discussion of theology in the society, effectively silencing his critics. This prompted the evangelical members, including David Welsh, to leave. [p93, Matthew H. Kaufman, "Edinburgh Phrenological Society: A History"]

The society was given a financial boost by the death of a wealthy supporter in 1832, William Ramsay Henderson, who left them a large bequest to promote phrenology as they saw fit. This enabled them to publish a cheap version of "The Constitution of Man", which went on to become one of the best selling books of the 19th Century. [p1, Matthew H. Kaufman, "Edinburgh Phrenological Society: A History"]

Interest in phrenology in Edinburgh dwindled in the 1830s, though worldwide interest remained high, with both "The Constitution of Man" and George Combe's lectures being much in demand. The last recorded meeting of the society took place in 1870. [p86, Matthew H. Kaufman, "Edinburgh Phrenological Society: A History"] Much of the society's collection of phrenological artefacts survives today.

References

External links

* [http://amapedia.amazon.com/view/Phrenology+Button/id=667883.htm History of the Phrenology Bust as developed by Spurzheim.]
* [http://amapedia.amazon.com/view/Elements+of+Phrenology/id=809849 George Combe's "Elements of Phrenology".]