Error and Eccentricity in Human Belief

Joseph Jastrow (1/30/1863–1/8/44) was an American psychologist, noted for inventions in experimental psychology, experimental design & psychophysics. He was one of the 1st scientists to study language evolution, publishing an article on the topic in 1886. He also worked on the phenomena of optical illusions. A number of well-known optical illusions (such as the Jastrow) were either discovered or popularized by him. This an unabridged republication of Wish & Wisdom, Episodes in the Vagaries of Belief published by D. Appleton-Century Company. Foreword The Ways of Belief An Ancient Miracle-monger: Lucian's Alexander A Modern Exploiter: 'Leo Taxil' 'The Enigma of His Time': Kaspar Hauser Sermons in Stones: The Fossils of Prof. Beringer The Return of the Fairies, via Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Our Credulous Heritage The Devil in His Prime The Cult of the Magnet Marvelous Madame Blavatsky Ouija & Family Paldino's Table Psychic Adventures in Retro-history The Strange Case of Helene Smith Patience Worth: An Alter Ego The Puppets of Dr. Luys Animal Geniuses: As Made in Germany Thought-forms & Beyond Unwisdom about the Body Signs & Lines of Head & Hand Numerology: Old & New The Skull Science of Dr. Gall Why Prof. Jaeger Made Woolens Pwychometry: A Modern Philosopher's Stone Eccentric Theorems: A Clinic of Irrationality From 'Od' to 'N-rays' Auras & Vibrations Ectoplasm & Psychic Structures Afterword Index