We soon become wearied of a true philosophy, because it is true; because the search after truth, of whatsoever kind, requires strenuous and continual efforts. It is impossible, moreover, always to have the very same philosophy: even the same philosopher cannot be always approved of. Approbation must change its object, especially in France.
It was for the French that Fontenelle wrote these words: “The approbation of mankind is a sort of forced state, which seeks nothing so much as to come to an end.”[122]
Descartes goes off to die in Sweden, and Gall comes to reign in France.
IV.
OF SPURZHEIM.
Spurzheim published two works; the first of which is entitled, “Observations sur la Phrénologie, ou la connaissance de l’homme moral et intellectuel, fondée sur les fonctions du système nerveux:”[123] the title of the second is, “Essai philosophique sur la nature morâle et intellectuelle de l’homme;”[124] and these two works are merely a reproduction of the doctrine of Gall. Spurzheim makes Gall’s book over again—the same book that they commenced together—and abridges it.
Spurzheim tells us how he heard Gall, and having heard him, felt himself drawn to participate in his labours, and propagate his doctrine.
“In 1800, I attended for the first time a course of lectures which M. Gall had from time to time repeated at Vienna for four years. He spoke then of the necessity there was for a brain to give out the manifestations of the soul; and of the plurality of organs; ... but he had not as yet begun to examine into the structure of the brain.[125] From the very first, I found myself much attracted by the doctrine of the brain; and from the period of my first attention to that subject to the present moment, I have never lost sight of it as an object of study. After finishing my studies in 1800, I joined M. Gall, in order to pursue in a special manner the anatomical part of the researches.[126] In 1805, we left Vienna for the purpose of travelling together; from which time, up to the year 1813, we made our observations in common,” &c.[127]
In fact, the two authors, uniting their labours, first published, in 1808, their fine memoir upon the anatomy of the brain,[128] and subsequently, in 1810 and 1812, the two first volumes of Gall’s great work.[129]
In the year 1813 they separated, and that separation even proved useful. Gall, when writing independently, has a freer movement. Had he continued united with Spurzheim, he either would not have written the last chapter of his fourth volume, or he would have written it very differently, and we should not have obtained the definite expression of his doctrine.