Die Geschichte der Seele

This is the fourth, revised and expanded 1850 edition of an influential two-volume work originally published in 1830 by the German scientist and philosopher Gotthilf Heinrich von Schubert (1780-1860). Schubert studied theology and medicine, and taught natural history at Erlangen and Munich, specialising in botany, forestry and mineralogy. He also lectured on topics including animal magnetism, clairvoyance and dreams, and attempted to reconcile Enlightenment philosophy with Christian faith. This book sets out Schubert's views on human nature as body, soul and spirit, and on humankind's place in the natural order. Volume 2 focuses mainly on the 'soul', which Schubert differentiates from the 'spirit' that clothes and feeds it. The discussion ranges from hypnosis and clairvoyance to moods and feelings, passions and affects, the unconscious and personality disorders. Schubert refers frequently to Classical and early Christian philosophers as he probes phenomena now assigned to psychology, including cognition and discernment.