Nervous Fictions: Literary Form and the Enlightenment Origins of Neuroscience

In the late 17th century, scientists freed the soft tissues of the brain and nerves from the skull, leading to modern neuroscience and the promise of understanding the mind through empirical study. Jess Keiser's book "Nervous Fictions" explores the literary forms that emerged from this period, such as scientific work, poetry, narrative, philosophy, satire, and medicine, which dissect the brain through metaphor, personification, and other figurative language. These texts address the central Enlightenment problematic of the clash between mind and body.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 324 pages
Publication date: 30 September 2020
Publisher: University of Virginia Press

In the late seventeenth century, a remarkable team of scientists achieved a groundbreaking feat that would forever change the field of neuroscience and unlock the secrets of the human mind. Through their tireless efforts, they successfully liberated the soft tissues of the brain and nerves from the rigid confines of the skull, paving the way for the birth of modern neuroscience. This groundbreaking discovery not only opened up a new avenue for understanding the intricate workings of the mind but also sparked a multitude of intriguing questions, perplexing problems, paradoxical situations, and, perhaps most peculiar of all, a unique literary genre that continues to influence our world today.

Nervous Fictions, a groundbreaking work, is the first to explore the early origins of neuroscience and the peculiar literary forms it inspired. By challenging the traditional boundaries between science, literature, philosophy, and fiction, Jess Keiser sheds light on a distinctive yet overlooked mode of writing prevalent in a wide range of late seventeenth and eighteenth-century texts. This literary genre, known as nervous fiction, manifests itself in various forms, including scientific works, poetry, narrative, philosophy, satire, and medicine. What sets nervous fictions apart is their use of metaphor, personification, and other figurative language to dissect the brain and explore the complex interplay between mind and body.

At the heart of nervous fictions lies a central Enlightenment dilemma: the clash between our introspective sense of self as beings endowed with thinking, sensing, believing, and willing minds and the scientific study of our brains as mere complex physical systems. These texts engage in a profound exploration of the human condition, challenging our assumptions about the nature of consciousness, identity, and the relationship between the mind and the body. Through their vivid metaphors and imaginative narratives, nervous fictions offer a fresh perspective on the human experience, challenging us to reevaluate our understanding of what it means to be human.

In addition to their intellectual significance, nervous fictions also have a rich literary heritage. They have inspired countless writers, artists, and thinkers throughout history, shaping the development of literature and the arts. From the vivid descriptions of brain anatomy in scientific works to the poetic portrayal of the mind's inner workings in poetry, from the philosophical debates in narrative to the satirical commentary in satire, nervous fictions have played a vital role in shaping our cultural and intellectual landscape.

Today, as we continue to grapple with the complexities of the human mind and seek to unravel the mysteries of consciousness, nervous fictions remain an important source of inspiration and inquiry. They remind us of the enduring power of literature to explore the deepest recesses of the human psyche, to challenge our assumptions, and to inspire us to think critically and creatively about the world around us. By studying the nervous fictions of the past, we can gain a deeper understanding of the origins of neuroscience and the evolution of our understanding of the mind, and continue to push the boundaries of knowledge and understanding in this fascinating and ever-evolving field.

Weight: 520g
Dimension: 157 x 234 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780813944784