Essay on Superstition: Being an Inquiry Into the Effects of Physical Influence on the Mind in the Production of Dreams, Visions, Ghosts, and

Essay on Superstition: Being an Inquiry Into the Effects of Physical Influence on the Mind in the Production of Dreams, Visions, Ghosts, and

This 1830 publication argues against belief in 'supernatural' visions, emphasising the materiality of the brain while affirming Christian principles.

---

Inhaltsangabe

Preface
1. Introductory remarks
2. Division of the subject
3. Materiality of the brain, and its subjection to the agency of physical causes
4. Particular sympathies of the brain
5. Phenomena of disordered brainular function, and its influence on the manifestations of mind
6. The same subject continued
7. Phenomena of sleep, and its morbid states
8. The same subjects continued
9. The same subject continued
10. The same subject continued
11. On presentiments
12. Agency of evil spirits
13. Critical inquiry into the views of a recent writer in The Record, on the subject of apparitions
14. Influence of nitrous-oxyde gas on the brain
15. Influence of brainular disease on the function of volition
16. The same subject continued
17. Summary review of the preceding argument
18. The same subject continued
19. The same subject continued
20. Conclusions arising from a review of the whole subject.