A 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. This page has been left blank intentionally 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 farnham burlington surrey, gu9 7Pt Vt 05401-4405 england usA 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 This page has been left blank intentionally 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). This page has been left blank intentionally 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