A history of intelligence and 'intellectual disability' : the shaping of psychology in early modern Europe

Starting with the controversial hypothesis that not only human intelligence but also its antithesis 'intellectual disability' are nothing more than historical contingencies, C.F. Goodey's paradigm-shifting study traces the rich interplay between human types and the radically changing characteristics attributed to them. From the twelfth-century beginnings of European social administration to the onset of formal human science disciplines in the modern era, "A History of Intelligence and 'Intellectual Disability'" reconstructs the sociopolitical and religious contexts of intellectual ability and disability and demonstrates how these concepts became part of psychology, medicine and biology. Goodey examines a wide array of classical, late medieval and Renaissance texts, from popular guides on conduct and behavior to medical treatises and from religious and philosophical works to poetry and drama. Focusing especially on the period between the Protestant Reformation and 1700, Goodey challenges the accepted wisdom that would have us believe that 'intelligence' and 'disability' describe natural, trans-historical realities. Instead, Goodey argues for a model that views intellectual disability and indeed the intellectually disabled person as temporary cultural creations. His book is destined to become a standard resource for scholars interested in the history of psychology and medicine, the social origins of human self-representation, and current ethical debates about the genetics of intelligence. Starting with the hypothesis that not only human intelligence but also its antithesis'intellectual disability'are nothing more than historical contingencies, C.F. Goodey's paradigm-shifting study traces the rich interplay between labelled human types and the radically changing characteristics attributed to them. From the twelfth-century beginnings of European social administration to the onset of formal human science disciplines in the modern era, A History of Intelligence and'Intellectual Disability'reconstructs the socio-political and religious contexts of intellectual ability and disability, and demonstrates how these concepts became part of psychology, medicine and biology. Goodey examines a wide array of classical, late medieval and Renaissance texts, from popular guides on conduct and behavior to medical treatises and from religious and philosophical works to poetry and drama. Focusing especially on the period between the Protestant Reformation and 1700, Goodey challenges the accepted wisdom that would have us believe that'intelligence'and'disability'describe natural, trans-historical realities. Instead, Goodey argues for a model that views intellectual disability and indeed the intellectually disabled person as recent cultural creations. His book is destined to become a standard resource for scholars interested in the history of psychology and medicine, the social origins of human self-representation, and current ethical debates about the genetics of intelligence. The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9781315564838, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license. Starting with the hypothesis that not only human intelligence but also its antithesis 'intellectual disability' are nothing more than historical contingencies, C.F. Goodey's paradigm-shifting study traces the rich interplay between labelled human types and the radically changing characteristics attributed to them. From the twelfth-century beginnings of European social administration to the onset of formal human science disciplines in the modern era, A History of Intelligence and 'Intellectual Disability' reconstructs the socio-political and religious contexts of intellectual ability and disability, and demonstrates how these concepts became part of psychology, medicine and biology. Goodey examines a wide array of classical, late medieval and Renaissance texts, from popular guides on conduct and behavior to medical treatises and from religious and philosophical works to poetry and drama. Focusing especially on the period between the Protestant Reformation and 1700, Goodey challenges the accepted wisdom that would have us believe that 'intelligence' and 'disability' describe natural, trans-historical realities. Instead, Goodey argues for a model that views intellectual disability and indeed the intellectually disabled person as recent cultural creations. His book is destined to become a standard resource for scholars interested in the history of psychology and medicine, the social origins of human self-representation, and current ethical debates about the genetics of intelligence Autism, Down Syndrome, And Other Such Labels Assume That Intellectual Disability Is A Permanent Aspect Of Human Nature. C.f. Goodey Demonstrates That Intellectual Disability And Even Intelligence Are Instead Historically Contingent Creations, Which Are Rooted In Early Modern Cultural And Religious Matrices And Corresponding Forms Of Social Organisation, And Which Have Subsequently Undergone Continuous Change. This Paradigm-shifting Book Is Also An Urgent And Compassionate Appeal For Us To Consider, Through The Prism Of History, How The Apparent Certainties Of Modern Biology, Medicine And Psychology Came To Question The Ethical Status Of Some Of Us. Introduction -- Problematical Intellects In Ancient Greece -- Intelligence And Disability : Socio-economic Structures -- Intelligence And Disability : Status And Political Power -- Intelligence, Disability And Honour -- Intelligence, Disability And Grace -- Fools And Their Medical Histories -- Psychology, Biology And The Ethics Of Exceptionalism -- John Locke And His Successors : The Historical Contingency Of Disability. C.f. Goodey. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [347]-368) And Index. C.F. Goodey traces the interplay between human types and the changing characteristics attributed to them, from the twelfth-century beginnings of European social administration through to the onset of today's formal human science disciplines. In proposing a theory of intellectual disability as historically contingent, this paradigm-shifting work chronicles the modern concept of human intelligence as a cultural creation with roots in the religious and social matrices of early modern Europe