The Languages of Psyche

Book excerpt: "The Languages of Psyche illuminates principal aspects of eighteenth-century medicine and literature and shows how evolving patterns of thought established continuities that helped shape nineteenth- and twentieth-century conceptions of the mental anatomy. Specialists in the history of ideas, including the history of medical psychology, philosophy, political science, and literature and the arts, should welcome its publication."—Gloria Sybil Gross, California State University, Northridge "This is a splendid anthology, which I read with unflagging interest. . . . The editor has managed an eclecticism that works. It produces rich and fascinating variety rather than chaos."—Henry Abelove, Wesleyan University "A very impressive set of essays dealing with an important topic in eighteenth-century thought . . . written by some of the leading scholars in social history, history of science and medicine, and literary studies."—John Yolton, Rutgers University