Philosophy of Mystery

Walter Cooper Dendy

Description

“Philosophy of Mystery” by Walter Cooper Dendy is an 1845 work that looks at such subjects as spiritualism, demonology, telepathy, and prophesy in the light of contemporary science. Contents include: “The Challenge”, “Nature and Motives of Ghosts”, “Prophecy of Spectres”, “Illusion of Spectres”, “Fantasy from Mental Association”, “Fantasy from Cerebral Excitement”, “Poetic Fantasy, or Phrensy”, “Fantasy from Sympathy with the Brain”, “Mysterious Forms and Signs”, “Analysis and Classification of Spectral Illusion”, etc. This fascinating volume offers an insight into the Victorian obsession with the supernatural, and is not to be missed by those with an interest in the paranormal. Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with the original text and artwork.

Sujets

• Transmigration

Informations

• Publié par: Read Books Ltd.
• Date de parution: 22 mars 2021
• Nombre de lectures: 2
• EAN13: 9781528767835
• Langue: English

Extrait

PHILOSOPHY
OF
MYSTERY.
BY
WALTER COOPER DENDY,
FELLOW AND HONORARY LIBRARIAN OF THE MEDICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON; SENIOR SURGEON TO THE ROYAL INFIRMARY FOR CHILDREN, c., c .
Copyright 2018 Read Books Ltd. This book is copyright and may not be reproduced or copied in any way without the express permission of the publisher in writing
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
We so intreateth this serious and terrible matter of Spirites, that now and then inserting some strange stories of counterents, doth both here Inhelp display their falsehood, and also not a little recreate his reader: and pet in the ende be so aptlp concludeth to the purpose, that his upstories seeme not role tales, or impertinent bagaries, but berp truethes, naturally falling under the compasse of his matter.
CONTENTS.

THE CHALLENGE.
Scenery on the Wye.-A Ghost Seer.-Tintern Abbey.-Faith and Skepticism in the Reality of Phantoms
NATURE AND MOTIVES OF GHOSTS.
Notions of the Ancients regarding the Nature of Ghoats.-Confidence of the Ancients in their Appearance.-Modern Incidents in illustration of real Appearance.-Qualities of Ghosts.-Motives of Apparitions.-Ancient and modern Stories
PROPHECY OF SPECTRES.
Ancient spectral Prophecy.-Modern Stories in Illustration of prophetic Spectres.-Philosophy and Poesy of Shakspeare.-Holy Influence of Spectral Visitations.-Stories of apparently special Influence of the Deity
ILLUSION OF SPECTRES.
Reasons for early Faith in Phantoms.-Modern Errors regarding classic Superstitions.-Shallowness and Fallacy of modern Incidents.-Explanation of Ghost Stories by Coincidence.-Incidents in proof of Coincidence.-Proneness of intellectual Minds to credulity and Exaggeration.-Innocent Invention of an Incident at Bowood
FANTASY FROM MENTAL ASSOCIATION.
Influence of interesting Localities.-Definition of a Phantom.-An intense Idea.-Demonomania.-Stings of Conscience.-Curious Effect of peculiar Study or intense Thought.-Darkness and Obscurity.-Romance of Reality.-A mysterious Incident
FANTASY FROM CEREBRAL EXCITEMENT.
Second Sight.-National Propensity to the Sight.-Romance and Poetry of the Mountains.- Morbid Predisposition to Second Sight.-Unearthly Visions on the eve of Dissolution.-Glimpses of Reason in dying Maniacs
FANTASY FROM CEREBRAL CONGESTION.
Phantoms of intellectual Minds.-Illusion of Opium.-Illustrations of Narcotic Influence
POETIC FANTASY, OR PHRENSY.
Inspiration of Poesy and Painting.-Skakspeare.-Fuseli.-Blake.-Philosophy and Madness.-Illusion of Tasso.-Truth of Poesy.-Splendid Illusions at the onset of Mania.-Melancholy Constitution and Decay of Poetic Minds.-Letter of a Cheromaniac.-Sensibility.-Unhappy Consequences of cherishing Romance.-Fragment of John Keats
FANTASY FROM SYMPATHY WITH THE BRAIN.
Philosophy of Moral Causes.-Effect of Thought and of the Function of the Stomach in producing physical Changes in the Brain.-Stories in Proof of this Influence.-Illusions from Derangements of Vision.-Curious Cases of ocular Spectra from peculiar Conditions of the Eye
MYSTERIOUS FORMS AND SIGNS.
Stories of Supernatural Appearances
ANALYSIS AND CLASSIFICATION OF SPECTRAL ILLUSION.
Credulity.-Arrangement of Causes of Spectral Illusion.-Illustration of Atmospheric Illusions.-Natural Phenomena.-Fata Morgana.-Schattenman of the Brocken.-Romance of unlettered Minds
ILLUSIONS OF ART.
Monkish Impostures.-Optical Toys.-Spontaneous Combustion
ILLUSTRATION OF MYSTERIOUS SOUNDS.
Elemental Causes.-Impositions at Woodstock.-Tedworth.-Cock Lane.-Subterranean Sounds.-Currents of Air.-Memnon.-Phonic Instruments.-Vocal Curiosity in young Richmond
FAIRY MYTHOLOGY.
Origin of Fa ry.-Legends of the Mythology of various Climes.-Cauld Lad of Hilton
DEMONOLOGY.
Classic and Indian Mythology.-Imbodying of a Demon.-Stories Illustrative of the Superstitions of Ireland and Cornwall.-Legend of the Changelings.-Poetry of Nature.-Preadamite Beings
NATURE OF SOUL AND MIND
Psychology of the Greeks and of the Moderns.-Essence of Phrenology.-Lord Brougham.-Priestley.-Paley.-Johnson.-Modes of Sepulture.-Paradise.-Atheism.-Deity.-Hindoo Mythology.-Senile Intellect
NATURE OF SLEEP.
Unconsciousness of Sleep.-Necessity of Slumber.-Malady of Collins.-Somnolency of the Brute and of Savages.-Periods of Sleep.-Sleeplessness and its Antidotes
SUBLIMITY AND IMPERFECTION OF DREAMING.
Unconsciousness of the Dream.-Arguments on this Question.-Episode of a dreaming Life
PROPHECY OF DREAMS.
Ancient Prophetic Dreams.-Stories of modern Prophecies in Dreaming
MORAL CAUSES OF DREAMING.
Associations of Dreaming.-Incongruous Combinations.-Source of Ideas in Dreams.-Innate Idea.-Undreaming Minds.-Flitting of the Spirit.-Fallacy of Mental Energy in the Dream.-Illusion of Dreams.-Marmontel
ANACHRONISM AND COINCIDENCE OF DREAMS.
Celerity of Ideas in the Dream.-Sacred Records of Dreams.-Danger of profane Discussion of Scripture.-Fallacy of Dreams.-Consequences of Credulity in Dreams
MATERIAL CAUSES OF DREAMS.
Blending of Metaphysics and Philosophy.-Confusion of ancient and modern Classifications of Dreams.-Curious Cases of suspended Memory.-Anecdotes of Tenacity of Memory.-Physiology of Memory.-Ghost of an amputated Limb
INTENSE IMPRESSION.-MEMORY.
Curious Cases of Associations.-Deranged Memory.-Dreams of Animals.-Poetic Illustrations
INFLUENCE OF DARK BLOOD IN THE BRAIN.
Conditions of the Brain.-Analogy of Dreaming and Mania.-Sympathetic Causes of Dreaming.-Repletion.-Effects of Posture in inducing Dreams.-Phrenological Illustrations
INCUBUS, OR NIGHTMARE.
Illustrative Incidents.-Nightmare of the Mind
SOMNILOQUENCE.-SOMNAMBULISM.
Stories of Sleep-talking.-Stories of Sleep-walking.-Changes of Disposition in Somnambulism.-Abeyance of Memory during the Interval.-Exactness and Energy during Somnambulism.-Concentration of Power.-Unconsciousness.-Analysis of Sleep-waking.-Theory of Reflex Action of the Nervous System.-Irresistibility.-Disease of the Brain in Somnambulists
IMITATIVE MONOMANIA.
Dance of the Middle Ages.-Tarantulism.-Saint Vitus s Dance.-Tigretier.-Lycanthropy.-Fanaticism during the Commonwealth.-Moravians.-The Kent Tragedy.-Stories of Imitative Suicide.-Effects of Stramonium, and of Gaseous Inhalation
REVERY.
Abstraction of Idiocy.-Cretinism.-Wandering of the Mind.-Concentrativeness.-Anecdotes Illustrative of Illusive Abstraction
ABSTRACTION OF INTELLECT.
Anecdotes in Illustration.-Brown Study.-Apathy.-Heroism.-Revery of Philosophy.-Sonata di Diavolo.-Revery at Caerphilly.-Intense Impression.-Abstraction of Deep Study.-Revery of the Dying
SOMNOLENCE.-TRANCE.-CATALEPSY
Description of Trance.-Legends of Deep Sleepers.-Stories of Modern Trances.-Analogies from Intense Impression.-Periodical Catalepsy
PREMATURE INTERMENT.-RESUSCITATION.
Stories in Illustration.-Romance, Life in Death.-Causes of Resuscitation.-Disunian of Mind and Body.-Insensibility of the Decollated Head.-Sensations during Hanging and Drowning.-Case of Dr. Adam Clarke
TRANSMIGRATION.-ANALYSIS OF TRANCE.
State of the Spirit after Death.-Fables of Transmigration.-Superstition in India and England.-Tenacity of Life.-Hybernation.-Sleep of Plants.-Physiology of Trance
MESMERISM.
Its Origin.-Commissions for its Investigation.-Caspar Hauser.-Sensations of Magnetism.-Magnetized Trees.-Operations during Magnetic Trance.-Transference of Senses.-Mineral Traction.-Clairvoyance.-Trance of Santa Theresa.-Prophetess of Prevorst.-Magnetic Aura.-Personal Sympathy.-Socrates.-Fascino.-Prince Hohenlohe
SIBYLLINE INFLUENCE.
Occult Science.-A Gipsy.-Spells and Charms.-Relics.-Ordeals.-Philosophy of Prophetic Fulfilment.-Melancholy Effects of Prophecy.-Astrology.-Conclusion
THE
PHILOSOPHY OF MYSTERY.

THE CHALLENGE.

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. - Hamlet .
T HERE was a shallop floating on the Wye, among the gray rocks and leafy woods of Chepstow. Within it were two fair girls reclining: the one blending the romantic wildness of a maid of Italy with the exquisite purity of English nature; the other illuming with the devotion of a vestal the classic beauty of a Greek.
There was a young and learned bachelor sitting at the helm. Study had stamped an air of thoughtfulness on his brow; yet a smile was ever playing on his lips, as his heart felt the truth and influence of the beautiful life around him.
Listen, gentle reader, we pray thy courtesy and thy patience, as a rude, unskilful pen traces the breathed thoughts of these wanderers of the Wye.
C ASTALY . We have roamed, dear Ida, among the classic lands of the far-off Mediterranean: we have looked from her pinnacles of snow on the silvery gleaminess of Switzerland, and from purple sierras on the sunny splendour of Spain; yet these English meadows, with their fringes of wild bloom, come o er the heart with all the freshness of an infant s dream. Yon majestic crag of Wyndcliff is flinging its purple shadows athwart the water, and floods of golden glory are streaming through the beech-woods of Piercefield; and see, our little sail, white as the wing of a swan, is wafting us towards Abbey Tintern, along this beautiful valley, where the river almost doubles on itself; meandering among its mead-flowers and its mosses, as loth to leave its luxuriant bed. Listen! the breath of evening is among the trees that dip in the ripple of the Wye their leaves of shivering gold. What a scene for minions of