GENIUS AND
DEGENERATION
_A PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDY_
BY
DR. WILLIAM HIRSCH
Translated from the Second Edition of
the German Work
LONDON
WILLIAM HEINEMANN
1897
[_All rights reserved_]
Dedicated,
WITH THE AUTHOR’S AFFECTIONATE ESTEEM, TO
DR. E. MENDEL,
PROFESSOR OF NERVOUS AND MENTAL DISEASES AT
THE ROYAL UNIVERSITY OF BERLIN.
PREFACE.
It is a special trait of recent times that science, particularly
the natural sciences, have assumed an international character. All
civilized nations are equally interested in the great problems of
the day, and they all contribute in greater or less degree to the
mighty structure of modern science. Nevertheless, the mutual exchange
of ideas is sometimes impeded by differences of language, and this
difficulty is increased when not only the external form but also the
presentation of the subject bears the stamp of a peculiarly national
characteristic. I felt myself confronted by such a difficulty when I
concluded to place the present work before an English-speaking public.
The anthropological questions treated here have made it necessary to
undertake a psychological analysis of certain individuals, and to
attempt to penetrate as far as possible to the depths of their mental
processes. It was natural that in the original production of this
work the intellectual heroes of the German people should have been
selected, and it is evident that the appreciation of their traits and
work is more perfect among their own people than among foreign nations.
Nevertheless, I am sure that the characters selected for analysis, from
whose life and works I have attempted to arrive at a correct conception
of both genius and degeneration, are sufficiently well known to the
English reader.
The purpose of this publication was to aid in the elucidation of
certain anthropological moot-questions and to clear up certain notions
that were apt to create confusion not only in medical circles but also
in the wider field of the cultured laity. It can hardly be necessary to
disclaim any personal motives in my criticisms of the views of other
writers on this subject. Nor was it my object to enter into a critique
of the artistic value of the productions of those whose works I have
examined, and I trust the reader will bear these facts in mind while
perusing the polemical portions of the book. If I have contributed in
some measure to a clearer view of the truth of the questions discussed,
the purpose of this work will be fulfilled.