Related Experiment Videos
Benjamin Franklin and Mesmerism, revisited.
Kevin M McConkey1, Campbell Perry
1School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. k.mcconkey@unsw.edu.au
The International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis
|October 5, 2002
Summary
This study updates research on Benjamin Franklin's engagement with animal magnetism (mesmerism). It reveals Franklin had a deeper personal involvement and a more detailed opinion on mesmerism than previously understood.
Area of Science:
- History of Science
- Medical History
- Psychology
Background:
- This work revisits and updates a 1985 historiographical note concerning Benjamin Franklin's engagement with animal magnetism, also known as mesmerism.
- The study incorporates recent literature to provide a more comprehensive understanding of Franklin's historical role and perspectives.
Discussion:
- Benjamin Franklin's personal involvement with mesmerism was more significant than previously documented.
- Franklin's opinions and detailed views on mesmerism have been historically underestimated.
Key Insights:
- Re-evaluation of Benjamin Franklin's historical contributions to the understanding of mesmerism.
- New perspectives on Franklin's personal investigations and detailed opinions regarding animal magnetism.
Outlook:
- Further research into the influence of mesmerism on 18th-century scientific and philosophical thought.
- Exploring the broader historical context of early psychological and neurological investigations.