EMANUEL SWEDENBORG’S INVESTIGATIONS IN NATURAL SCIENCE AND THE BASIS FOR
HIS STATEMENTS CONCERNING THE FUNCTIONS OF THE BRAIN
In recent times Emanuel Swedenborg has, on many sides, been the object of
a continually increasing interest, and year after year has attention been
called to the manysided works of his life. In former times he was known
almost exclusively through his religious writings. But it has gradually
come to light that he was also an investigating genius of the first rank,
who opened new paths in several branches of the natural sciences and made
wonderful discoveries.
Thus, by way of illustration, Professor ANDERS RETZIUS has drawn forth
from oblivion his _anatomical_ and _physiological_ works and shown
that there is to be found in them (especially in ›Regnum Animale›)
›ideas belonging to the most recent times, and a scope, induction and
tendency which can only be compared to that of Aristotle.›[1] And since
then several authors have expressed themselves in a similar manner,
as Professor CHRISTIAN LOVÉN,[2] Professor MAX NEUBURGER (Vienna),[3]
Professor C. G. SANTESSON,[4] and above all Professor GUSTAF RETZIUS[5]
on repeated occasions.
The case is also similar with respect to SWEDENBORG’s _geological_
researches. Here J. J. BERZELIUS[6] has sought to direct the attention of
the learned to his penetrating observations and ingenious conclusions;
and the opinions of such men as Professor A. E. NORDENSKIÖLD,[7]
Professor A. G. NATHORST,[8] and others, have also tended in the same
direction in regard to SWEDENBORG.
Within the realms of _astronomy_ and _cosmology_ Professor M. NYRÉN[9]
and later Professor S. ARRHENIUS[10] have pointed out the grand
hypotheses of the creation of the worlds, etc. etc., which SWEDENBORG had
erected in advance of all other authors in cosmology.
A number of societies and associations have also been formed whose
purpose it is to spread a knowledge of SWEDENBORG’s works concerning
natural science. The oldest of these is the Swedenborg Society of
London, which absorbed the purely scientific Swedenborg Association
half a century ago, and which this year celebrated the centenary of its
foundation. In 1898 there was founded in the United States of America
the Swedenborg Scientific Association. In Sweden the Royal Academy of
Sciences appointed in 1902 a committee to investigate the contents of
SWEDENBORG’s manuscripts and to publish selected works.
A number of individuals besides those already mentioned have devoted much
labour and care to the translating and editing of SWEDENBORG’s scientific
works, among whom we may mention the Englishmen J. J. GARTH WILKINSON, M.
D., and the Rev. A. CLISSOLD, the German Prof. Dr. IMMANUEL TAFEL, the
German-American Dr. RUDOLF TAFEL, and the American Mr. ALFRED H. STROH,
M. A.[11]
The strongest expression of this interest in SWEDENBORG’s scientific work
in the most recent times, was that manifested during the International
Swedenborg Congress, held this summer in London. On that occasion were
gathered there representatives for numerous branches of the natural
sciences, medicine, philosophy and theology, each one of whom contributed
his account of the discoveries, inventions, and far-sighted utterances
which SWEDENBORG had made within these several departments of knowledge.
And imposing indeed was the homage which was as a consequence paid to the
ingenious investigator as well as to the Country and the University which
had produced him.