Fowler, Orson Squire (1809-1887)

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Orson Squire Fowler was born on 11 October 1809 in Cohocton, New York and died 18 August 1887. The brother-in-law of Lydia Folger Fowler, and a member of the phrenologist Fowler family, he was a doctor, vegetarian, and amateur architect who popularized the "octagon house." As Vice-President of the American Vegetarian Society, he promoted a plant-based diet, opposed the slaughter of animals, and defended animal rights. He edited and published The American Phrenological Journal and Miscellany from 1838 to 1842 and he was a partner in Fowlers & Wells publishers (1846-1854), publishing many veg*n books during this period. In addition to dietary reform, he advocated for equal rights for women, for children's rights, and the end of child labor. Fowler's veg*nism belongs to the school of thought that argues that meat is a “heating” food (like spices), which stimulates “animal propensities” such as depraved sexuality. He argues that diet reflects the character of a species, arguing that, therefore, eating animals results in ferocity in humans. He associates carnism with violence and destructiveness  and explains carnivorism and vegetarianism through the lexicon of phrenology.

 

PUBLICATIONS

Amativeness: Or Evils and Remedies of Excessive and Perverted Sexuality : including warning and advice to the married and single: being a supplement to "Love and parentage." New York: Fowlers and Wells, 1848.
https://archive.org/details/101662777.nlm.nih.gov

Education and Self-improvement, Founded on Physiology and Phrenology: Or, What Constitutes Good Heads and Bodies, and How to Make them Good, by Enlarging Deficiencies and Diminishing Excesses. New York: O. S. & L. N. Fowler, 1844.
https://archive.org/details/educationselfimp00fowl
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=pst.000022890931&view=1up&seq=12

Fowler's Practical Phrenology: Giving a Concise Elementary View of Phrenology; Presenting Some New and Important Remarks an the Temperaments; and Describing the Primary Mental Powers in Seven Different Degrees of Development: The Mental Phenomena Produced by their Combined Action; and the Location of the Organs Amply Illustrated by Cuts. New York: Fowler and Wells, 1850.
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.31175034542467&view=1up&seq=3

Human Science, or, Phrenology: Its Principles, Proofs, Faculties, Organs, Temperaments, Combinations, Conditions, Teachings, Philosophies, Etc., Etc.: As Applied to Health, its Values, Laws, Functions, Organs, Means, Preservation, Restoration, Etc.: Mental Philosophy, Human and Self Improvement, Civilization, Home, Country, Commerce, Rights, Duties, Ethics, Etc.: God, His Existence, Attributes, Laws, Worship, Natural Theology, Etc.: Immortality, its Evidences, Conditions, Relations to Time, Rewards, Punishments, Sin, Faith, Prayer, Etc.: Intellect, Memory, Juvenile and Self Education, Literature, Mental Discipline, the Senses, Sciences, Arts, Avocations, a Perfect Life, Etc., Etc., Etc. Philadelphia, PA: National Pub. Co., 1873.
https://archive.org/details/humanscienceorph00fowluoft

Life: Its Science, Laws, Faculties, Function, Organs, Conditions, Philosophy, and Improvement: Including the Organism, Health, Social Affections,- Moral Sentiments, Intellect, Memory, Self-Education, Autobiography, Miscellany, &C., as Taught by Phrenology. Boston: O. S. Fowler, 1871.
https://archive.org/details/lifeitssciencel00fowlgoog

Physiology, Animal and Mental: Applied to the Preservation and Restoration of Health of Body, and Power of Mind. 1842; New York, Fowler and Wells, 1847.
https://archive.org/details/physiologyanima00fowl

 

Last updated on September 19th, 2024

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