According to the phrenological doctrine, as elaborated by Franz Joseph Gall, the shape of the skull reflects the `organs’ or faculties of the brain. Phrenology attained considerable popularity in England: by 1832 there were 29 phrenological societies and an influential journal edited by George Combe. Yet the theory is almost never mentioned by Darwin, who did not [...]
Posts Tagged ‘family’
Darwin and phrenology
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged brain, Darwin, family, phrenology on November 24, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Darwin’s hobby-horse
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Darwin, emotions, expression, family, hobby on October 29, 2010 | 1 Comment »
When does a hobby become a scientific subject ? Thanks to Darwin’s correspondence, we can get an insight into what Darwin called “an uncommonly curious subject” and his very own “hobby-horse”. The “uncommonly curious subject” was the expression of emotions in animals and humans; Darwin spent almost forty years thinking, taking notes and inquiring about [...]
