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]
Catalogue details

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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    more interesting than any for the Psychologist will be, what relationship they bear to each other—in what manner they combine to produce the infinite varieties of character in Man, whether viewed as an individual or as belonging to some race of Man. This involves, not merely the closest observation of character, but the most skilful analysis of it. It is the unfailing charm of this study of Man that it may be best pursued, not in the solitude of the chamber, but in the busiest haunts of Society—wherever men “ most do congregate.” In this the Psychologist possesses a perennial source of enjoyment. Here he finds active employment for all his own faculties. It is a study of which he never •wearies. Think for a moment how vast is the region Psychology thus opens to the intelligent mind. Nor is any profound knowledge of it necessary to its enjoyment. Every step the Student takes is fraught with interesting and attractive obje(^. In trmal, as in the most important, sayings and doings of those about him he recognises a meaning and finds a lesson of value. He asks himself what structure of mind prompted this act, or inspired that speech or writing ? The presence of what faculties do I trace here ? What group of them has combined to create such and such a character ? He cannot read history, or drama, or fiction, without finding in it abundant material for practical application of the principles of his science and ample food for thought. Even the per- sonages of fiction serve to him for illustrations. To analyse any one character of Shakespeare is a ‘psycho- logical study, and no better exercise than this could the Student set before him. The effects of disease upon this marvellous mental mechanism—its action under its many abnormal conditions —supply a new and wide field for examination, knowledge, and reflection. In due course, the Psychologist must investigate the phenomena of sleep and dream, of insanify, .13 3 [247] '