The claims of psychology to a place in the circle of the sciences / sessional address of the President, Mr. Serjeant Cox.

  • Edward William Cox
Date:
[1878]
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The claims of psychology to a place in the circle of the sciences / sessional address of the President, Mr. Serjeant Cox. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    truth which is proverbially said to lie at the bottom of the well. In this sense only has this question been received and so only has it been treated. And here let me throw out a suggestion. There has been, and in spite of experience there still is, much misunderstanding of the true objects of this Society. No small portion of the disadvantage under which it thus labours has been the consequence of an adoption of its title by a considerable number of associations in London and the Provinces who really do what we are supposed to do, that is to say, under the wide name of Psychology conceal a very limited purpose. All or almost all of the numerous Psychological Societies ” that have sprung up since the formation of this, do in fact limit their labours to the one most disputed and disputable class of phenomena, which, if admitting of one explanation, would not be Psycho- logical at all, and in any case are nothing more than one small section of the large range of facts and phenomena which Psychology embraces. This incorrect use of a general title for a particular purpose has doubtless led to a public impres- sion that our aims are only theirs, and that, although we call ourselves students of Psychology, we are merely curiosity- mongers. To remove this misapprehension, which operates against us to no inconsiderable extent, and to make our true design and character plain to all, without liability to the confusion resulting from the like name being adopted with quite different purposes, I would respectfully suggest to the members a slight change in our own name. The term Psychology is now unfairly used, and too often abused. Let us substitute the term “Pneumatology.^^ It is as correct etymologically, logically, and scientifically, although not so familiar. Its meaning is the same, but it has the great recommendation of not being as yet misapplied and mis- appropriated. TheFneumatological Society of Great Britain’* sounds as well and looks as well, and it is free from the cloud of prejudice that has not unnaturally gathered [258]