Buchanan's Journal of Man, December 1887 / Volume 1, Number 11

by Unknown

As the faculty of Conscientiousness gives us the control of our impulses and selfish or sensual inclinations to qualify for the performance of duty, its antagonist gives the vigor to the sensual, violent and selfish passions, and prompts to the utter disregard of duty. The one being vertically above the centre of the brain, the other must be vertically below it; one being on the upper the other must be on the basilar surface. This brings it below the margin of the middle lobe, which is above the cavity of the ear. Hence through the cavity of the ear we reach underneath the basis of the middle lobe, where it rests on the petrous ridge of the temporal bone, and the external marking would correspond to the cavity of the ear or meatus auditorius. For this organ and faculty, the name which would express its unrestrained action is Baseness, as it would lead to the commission of many crimes and the violation of all honesty and justice. For its moderate and restrained activity, the term Selfishness would be sufficient as it induces us to heed our selfish appetites, interests, and passions, in opposition to the voice of duty. Its more normal activity is to invigorate our animal life generally and prevent us from going too far in the line of duty, patience, forbearance and benevolence. Let it be marked Ba. Its position will be recognized on the vertical line between the frontal and occipital, as it is not an element of energy and success, nor of debility, but simply an element of debasing animalism, which is not destitute of force.

There are in the human constitution the opposite elements of untiring energy or industry, and of indolent relaxation. To the former we must give an exalted position, as it is the sustaining power of all the virtues; and it must evidently be farther back than conscientiousness as it is of a more vigorous character. It is favorable to health and therefore near that organ, and being free from selfishness it is not far behind Conscientiousness. The letters En. show its location. Energy being thus behind Conscientiousness, its antagonist Relaxation, the source of indolence, must be anterior to Baseness, where we locate the letters Re.

The opposite elements of Serenity or Patience, and Irritability are easily located; the former is obviously entitled to a high position. From its quiet nature it cannot be assigned to the occiput, and from its steady, unyielding and supporting strength, it cannot be assigned to the frontal region. It must, therefore, be in the middle superior region, where the letters Pa. locate it. Irritability must be on the median line of the basilar range (and antagonizes Patience on the middle line above), but not as low as Baseness, for one may be honorable though irritable and high-tempered, but such temper is not compatible with very strict conscientiousness.

In locating organs we are to remember that the brain is not a single but a double apparatus—a right and a left brain, each complete in all the organs; consequently, we are in this instance locating our organs in the left hemisphere alone, in which the median line where it meets the other hemisphere is on its right side, and the exterior surface is on its left. An organ located at the median line, or inner surface, as Patience, must have its antagonist at the external or lateral surface, as Irritability.

The right hemisphere has the organs of the left side along the median line, and the organs of its right side on the exterior surface. The left hemisphere has the reverse arrangement. Consequently, the right side of each hemisphere and the left side of the other are identical in function. How then does the right side of one compare with the right side of the other, and the left side with the left? Dr. Gall and his followers have overlooked these questions, and fallen into very great errors in consequence. Gall, for this reason, was mistaken in the natural language of the organs, as will be hereafter shown, having spoken of it as if we had a single brain, and also mistaken in many of the organs concerning which a knowledge of the relations of the two hemispheres to each other would have corrected the errors. There is a striking analogy, or coincidence of function between the two right sides and between the two left sides never suspected prior to my investigations and experiments.

Let us next look for the sentiment of Pride, or Self-respect, which has been called Self-esteem. It is a sentiment of conscious ability. Its character is dignity, rather than selfishness. We readily perceive that it must be in the upper region, but considerably behind the vertical line, where we place the letters S.R.

The question may now arise whether it should be nearer to the right or the left side of the hemisphere, its inner or outer surface. The law governing this matter is that organs of external manifestation are at the median line, but those of more interior and spiritual character are generally at the lateral or exterior surface. Self-respect, or Pride, is an organ of strong exterior manifestation, and is, therefore, at the median line between the hemispheres. Its antagonist must, therefore, be sought at the external or lateral surface, as far below the horizontal division, as Self-respect is above it, and as far forward as Self-respect is backward. Hence we find Humility where the letters Hu. are located.

The idea of a specific antagonist to Self-esteem was never entertained in the phrenological school, but it is obviously indispensable, for Humility, which gives an humble or servile character, and disqualifies for any high position, is as positive an element as the opposite, and is very common in the dependent and humble classes of society. This organ diminishes our psychic energy in proportion to its distance in front of the ear and qualifies for submission instead of command.

If we look for the seat of Modesty, we should look in front of the ear, but not so far forward as for Intellect. We would look near the horizontal line, not to the upper surface, and would see the propriety of locating it in the temples at the letters Mo. For its antagonism in Ostentation we should look to the occiput. That species of modesty which produces a bashful and yielding character will be found just below the horizontal line, while that form of modest sentiment which produces the highest refinement rises into connection with love at the upper surface. The organ thus runs obliquely upward, corresponding to the position of the convolutions. The antagonist, Ostentation, extends above and below the letters Ost. on the occiput.

If we seek the organs that impel to contention and combat, we would naturally look to the lower posterior region, but not the lowest. We find Combativeness behind the ear, marked Com. Its antagonist, which shuns strife and seeks harmony, must evidently be in the superior anterior region, and near the intellectual organs which it resembles in function by facilitating a mutual understanding, and giving a spirit of concession. The location is marked Har. for Harmony. It embraces a group of organs of harmonious tendency, such as Friendship, Politeness, Imitation, Humor, Pliability and Admiration, as the Combative group is hostile, stubborn, morose and censorious.