Heredity: a Psychological Study of its Phenomena, Laws, Causes, and Consequences

Abstract

IF M. Ribot intended this work to be regarded as an original contribution to the philosophy of evolution, is impossible to consider his efforts successful. He styles the book a “Psychological Study,” and he shows therein an intimate acquaintance with the writings of all the principal authors who have created the new philosophy. Darwin, Spencer, Bain, Galton, Lucas, and some others are constantly appealed to, or made to contribute to his pages. M. Ribot has further collected from older writers, and from medical works, a great number of facts, often more curious than authentic, bearing upon the question of heredity. He has composed a very readable and interesting essay on the subject, of a semi-popular character, and no doubt theie is plenty of room for such a work, epitomising and presenting in a connected form the great abundance of facts and generalisations already accumulated upon this subject. But it is difficult to regard the work as more than a compilation, and there are several important deficiencies which may be pointed out.

Heredity: a Psychological Study of its Phenomena, Laws, Causes, and Consequences.

From the French of Th. Ribot. (Henry S. King and Co., 1875)