This is a quote from Rich Cohen's book, "The Last Pirate of New York" about Albert W. Hicks and the horrific crimes for which he was tried, convicted, and hanged on Friday the 13th of July, 1860.
This particular passage was about phrenology -- the pseudo science popular around that time about psychology and the shape of the skull.
Fowler fell for phrenology for the reason confused people tend to fall for ideas that make too much sense. It explained everything. No more mystery or confusion. No more sin or redemption. No more free will or guilt. Who could be condemned for committing even the worst crime if it was preordained in the frontal lobe?
It would do us all well to be aware that scientists can be wrong, even if there seems to be a consensus.
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2:46 PM 11/2/2019
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