Table Of ContentA History of Intelligence
and “Intellectual Disability”
The Shaping of Psychology in
Early Modern Europe
C.F. Goodey
A History of intelligence
And “intellectuAl disAbility”
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.
c.f. goodey has researched and published on the history of “intellectual disability,” including
the ethical and social implications of the concept, for more than 20 years. His articles have
appeared in a number of scholarly journals, including History of Science, Medical History,
History of the Human Sciences, Political Theory and Ancient Philosophy. He formerly
held teaching and research posts at ruskin college, oxford, the open university and the
university of london institute of education, and is currently an independent consultant
working for national and local government services on learning disability in the uK.
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A History of intelligence
and “intellectual disability”
the shaping of Psychology in early Modern europe
c.f. goodey
© c.f. goodey 2011
All rights reserved. no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior
permission of the publisher.
C.F. Goodey has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the
author of this work.
Published by
Ashgate Publishing limited Ashgate Publishing company
Wey court east suite 420
union road 101 cherry street
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www.ashgate.com
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
goodey, c.f.
A conceptual history of intelligence and “intellectual disability”: the shaping of psychology in early modern
europe.
1. intellect. 2. intellect – social aspects. 3. intellect – religious aspects. 4. intellect – early works to 1800.
5. Mental retardation. 6. Mental retardation – social aspects. 7. Mental retardation – religious aspects.
8. Mental retardation – early works to 1800. 9. stereotypes (social psychology) – europe – History.
10. Psychology – europe – History.
i. title
153.9’09–dc22
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
goodey, c.f.
A history of intelligence and “intellectual disability”: the shaping of psychology in early modern europe /
c.f. goodey.
p. cm.
includes bibliographical references and index.
1. thought and thinking—europe—History. 2. intellect—europe—History. 3. Psychology—europe—
History. i. title.
bf441.g656 2011
153.909—dc22
2011001042
isbn 9781409420217 (hbk)
isbn 9781409420224 (ebk)
III
contents
Acknowledgements vii
introduction 1
Part 1 Problematical Intellects in Ancient Greece
1 Ancient Philosophy and the “Worst disability” 15
2 Aristotle and the slave’s intellect 25
Part 2 Intelligence and Disability: Socio-economic Structures
3 the speed of intelligence: fast, slow and Mean 39
4 Quick Wit and the ingenious gentleman 49
Part 3 Intelligence and Disability: Status and Power
5 in-group, out-group: the Place of intelligence in Anthropology 63
6 Honour, grace and intelligence: the Historical interplay 77
7 “souls drowned in a lump of flesh”: the excluded 93
Part 4 Intelligence, Disability and Honour
8 Virtue, blood, Wit: from lineage to learning 103
9 “dead in the Very Midst of life”: the dishonourable and the idiotic 125
Part 5 Intelligence, Disability and Grace
10 from Pilgrim’s Progress to developmental Psychology 151
11 the science of damnation: from reprobate to idiot 179
Part 6 Fools and Their Medical Histories
12 the long Historical context of cognitive genetics 207
13 the brain of a fool 219
14 A first diagnosis? the Problem with Pioneers 235
Part 7 Psychology, Biology and the Ethics of Exceptionalism
16 the Wrong child: changelings and the bereavement Analogy 261
17 Testing the Rule of Human Nature: Classification and Abnormality 281
Part 8 John Locke and His Successors
18 John locke and His successors: the Historical contingency of disability 313
Works Cited 347
Index 369
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Acknowledgements
this book would not have been possible without all those people and their families who, by swapping
experiences and ideas with me in the course of applied research and practice, have encouraged my
belief in the practical applicability of history. direct support came from Priscilla Alderson, istvan
Hont, linda Jordan, Patrick Mcdonagh, the late roy Porter, lynn rose, roger smith, richard
sorabji and tim stainton. i would like to thank the many others who have contributed along the
way: students, friends, colleagues and those in the medical and psychological professions who
have discussed these topics openly and without fear. The Leverhulme Trust financed the first stages
of research. Parts of the book exist in more primitive form in articles written for various journals to
whose editors and referees i am also indebted (details are in the list of Works cited).
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Historians should know that freaks, if tolerated – and even flattered and fed – can show
astonishing influence and longevity. After all, to any rational mind, the greater part of the
history of ideas is a history of freaks.
—e.P. thompson, The Poverty of Theory
