Callipedia

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Kallipädie (Greek: kallipaidia from kallós, "beautiful", and paideuein, "educate") describes the teachings, especially popular in the 18th century, of having beautiful children through the conscious use of the imagination.

Basics of Callipedia

In the 18th century, callipedia describes the teaching of producing beautiful children. This was based on the view that the imagination of the fathering couple, and in particular of the pregnant woman , could influence the embryo positively or negatively with regard to its later shape and character. At the time, countless treatises and guides with behavioral tips for couples and pregnant women were circulating on the subject.

The teachings of Callipedia were based on different views. It was sometimes assumed that only the pregnant mother's imagination had the power to influence the child. In part, the theory was that the father also had the opportunity to shape the child at the moment of cohabitation and conception through thought effects. Other authors went even further and ascribed the imagination of every human being to be able to affect adults who may be distant. This influence could cause diseases or changes in shape and nature.

The so-called mistake had an important connection to callipedia. The theory of oversight assumed that the sight of objects or even their mere imagination could have such a strong impression on the imagination of a pregnant woman that in this way attributes of the object seen could be attached to the embryo. In the 18th century, oversight played an important role in explaining embryonic malformations.

Origin and historical development

Even in antiquity, there was a general view that the parents' imagination could influence the unborn child. Pliny can be mentioned as a representative of these theses , who claims that the imagination of a man or a woman can cause the child to resemble one or the other or both. (" Cogitatio utriusque, animum subito transcolans, effingere similitudinem aut miscere existimatur. " ( Naturalis historia , lib. 7, cap.12))

These theses were also taken up in the novel "The Adventures of Beautiful Chariklea" by Heliodorus from the 3rd century, in which the heroine is white while her parents are black. According to her mother, she looked at a white marble statue while she was sleeping, the color of which had rubbed off on the daughter who was conceived at the moment.

Systematic and coherent treatises on callipedia did not emerge until the moral literature of the late Middle Ages. Also in the Middle Ages, the pathological effect attributed to the imagination was a particular theme. It also found approval in medicine, as doctors could neither explain the cause of a large number of diseases nor treat them.

While deliberation in the 16th and 17th centuries focused on the negative influence of the imagination on the unborn child, in the 18th century doctors began to consider the potential healing powers of the imagination. One of the first doctors to deal with the theory of the healing power of the imagination in this way was Ernst Anton Nicolai .

In the 18th century, Alexander Gottlieb Baumgarten's " Aesthetica " from 1750 initiated the upgrading of the lower mental faculties. In addition, the anthropological search for the connection point between body and psyche played an important role in redefining the power of imagination. It was assumed that the imagination produced by the soul was not only able to reproduce sensory impressions, but was also able to capture its own impulses in pictures with the help of the imagination.

In the course of the Enlightenment, the teachings of callipedics and of 'provision' advanced to social knowledge after the elimination of alternative explanatory models for malformations in newborns (e.g. wrath of God, sexual intercourse with the devil, witchcraft). From the second half of the 18th century, however, depending on the region, the callipedia was already on the march among the doctors. The teachings of callipedia were found among the population until well into the 19th century.

Callipedia and oversight

According to the proponents of the theory, in the case of oversight, the imagination or the sight of objects triggers strong emotions in the pregnant woman, which stimulate the imagination. Such a stimulated imagination influences the embryo to which the experience is transferred 'formally'.

There are two formative forces ( vires plasticae ) that are effective during procreation, a biological and a psychological one, a male and a female, a formative and a deforming one.

The basis of this connection is the assumption that passions represent a certain quality of thoughts that one has to imagine as movement in the physical sense. So passions can affect the speed of blood and spirits. The mother's emotions in the form of violent movements of the blood can be passed on to the child via the common blood circulation, and its still soft and easily deformable body can be affected. Limbs can be brought from their original position or torn off and the fetus can change in such a way that it develops animal-like limbs.

The connection between malformations of babies and “oversight” (and the concentration on the beautiful to stimulate “beautiful” human education) was controversially discussed in the 18th century.

Examples

Examples of the influence of callipedia on the unborn child can be found in numerous contemporary documents from the 18th century.

There were vague descriptions. The sight of a mutilated person during pregnancy is said to have caused malformations in the child. Also, various cravings can make their mark. The excessive appetite for peaches left peach-like patches of skin on the child's body. Similarly, the consumption of cherries or strawberries caused numerous red spots on the child's skin. A woman who witnessed a wheeling during pregnancy subsequently gave birth to a child with broken limbs. The excessive appetite for mussels turned the child's head into a mussel fish.

Specific examples were also attested. For example, in “ Experiences and means of fathering beautiful, healthy and talented children ”, Maria Stuart was named as a famous example, who witnessed her secretary being stabbed during pregnancy, whereupon her son Jakob was particularly afraid of swords and blades were born. The same example was given by the opponents of Callipedia to refute the theory of 'oversight'. The fact that this child was born without physical impairments (cuts, wounds) served them as evidence of the unreliability of callipedia.

The figure of the goldsmith René Cardillac from ETA Hoffmann's “ Das Fräulein von Scuderi ” can be named as a literary example . Cardillac's mother develops an almost insane desire for gold jewelry during pregnancy, which has an immense impact on the unborn son. He sells jewelry, but is then caught by the irrepressible desire to own this lost piece and steals the jewelry back, murdering the buyer.

Influence of the imagination

The following emotions are attributed to influencing the womb: On the one hand, a strong desire for a thing (whether it can be fulfilled or not), on the other hand, strong fright, the sight of an ugly or terrifying object and generally negative emotions such as fear, worry, dismay, anger and Annoyance. Any object that is viewed with interest or pleasure for a long time can also have an impact on the child.

Pliny names the moment of conception or cohabitation as the point in time for possible influencing of the embryo (" Similitudinem quidem in mente reputatio est, et in qua creduntur multa fortuita pollere, visus, auditus, memoria, haustaeque imagines sub ipso conceptu. "). The 18th century conception extended this period from conception to birth.

There is a possibility to protect the unborn child from bad effects. A proponent of callipedia, Nicolas Malebranche , is quoted as saying that even a movement of the hand at the right time can in part stop some evil influences. This idea is illustrated by the comparison with a loop, which can stop the impetuous flow of restless spirits and direct them to a place in the body where they can work without causing damage.

Instructions for callipedia

In the 18th century there are numerous guides and treatises dealing with methods for perfecting the human race. The goals are an increase in beauty, wisdom, health and nobility. These guides mainly concern the sexual act. For the conception of a beautiful child, among other things, hygienic regulations, speed, time, frequency, type of sexual act, diet, age, climate and moon position are important.

The callipedic guidebook “ Experiences and means on how to have beautiful, healthy and talented children ” names the love of the spouse as the most important requirement. The spouses should mentally imagine the desired ideal image of their child while they are sleeping and suppress negative affects. During the act of procreation, the imagination of both parents is necessary; in retrospect, only the mother's imagination can further influence the embryo. In order to give birth to healthy children, it is necessary that both parents are healthy. It is advantageous if the mother is still a virgin before marriage and the father remains faithful. The marriage should not take place too young either. Sexual intercourse should not be practiced excessively, not in a bad mood or after heavy eating. It is advisable to have sexual intercourse in the morning, as the couple is not yet tired from the day's events at this point. Good news, nice thoughts, dealing with cheerful people, seeing you again after a long separation, reconciliation after disputes and good deeds are beneficial. The determination of the child's sex can also be influenced by special practices. Thus, for the birth of a son, the woman has to orgasm before the man during sexual intercourse. This thesis is based on the assumption that the seed that emerges first contributes the matter for the child about to conceive, while the seed of the other is responsible for the form, which ultimately also determines the gender.

A few pointers are also given to women about pregnancy. She should continue to direct her imagination towards the ideal image of her child, observe and protect her body and avoid overexertion. Dealing with beautiful and cheerful people is also beneficial. The mother-to-be should renounce excessive lust, should eat appropriately, shouldn't lift a lot and bend over little. She should not move violently (no rolling, no riding), take walks in nature, as these can lead to a flourishing development of the child. She should avoid bad sights and, in the event of a harmful impression or negative emotion, immediately provide distraction and distraction. As recently as 1708, the city of Nuremberg banned the public display of deformed people in order to prevent the pregnant woman from "overseeing". The mother-to-be should also not be afraid of seeing objects that could harm her child. The husband must not treat the pregnant woman badly and must protect her from disputes.

Claude Quillet , a callipedic advocate, doctor and poet from the 17th century, gave explanations of the teachings of astrology in his didactic poem "Callipaedia", as well as advice on favorable sexual practices and rules for cohabitation. He only emphasizes the woman's imagination at the moment of fertilization, which is particularly encouraged by looking at works of art, such as paintings or sculptures. According to Quillet, the power of the imagination has a similarly formative effect on the unborn as the male semen. While this contains the life force, the power of the images gives form and shape. Quillet gives a special warning about the harmful effects of ugly pictures. Women would have to try not to have any unpleasant visual impressions that could have a negative impact on the embryo.

Debate 18th century

In the 18th century there was massive criticism of the theory of "oversight" from doctors and anatomists, among others. Their most important argument against the influence of the imagination was based on the realization that there are no nerve connections between mother and child that could guarantee such an effect of the imagination. The opposing party replied that mother and child form an organism between which there is a kind of 'sympathy', so that no nerve cords are necessary for the imagination to influence. The malformations of the infants continue to be seldom observable resemblance to the object on which the pregnant woman thinks she has provided. Malformations could also be observed in animals and fruits, which criticized the fact that imagination could hardly have a formative effect here.

The assumption that the mother's psyche could influence the unborn child was only supported by critics insofar as it was physically explainable. Annoyance can reduce the mother's appetite and harm the child due to this deficiency. The mother's anger could cause a stroke or a premature birth. The explanation for malformations after a violent fright of the mother explained by critics, for example, by sudden shock movements that can exert intrauterine pressure on the child. All in all, the thesis was that everything that harms the child had previously also harmed the mother.

literature

  • By mistake (to something) In: Johann Heinrich Zedler (Hrsg.) Grosses Complete Universal Lexicon of all Sciences and Arts , Halle and Leipzig 1732.
  • Versehen In: Johann Georg Krünitz (Hrsg.) Oekonomische Encyklopädie, or general system of state, city, house and agriculture in alphabetical order , 1773.
  • Kallipädie In: Wilhelm Traugott Krug (Hrsg.) Krug's Encyklopädisch-philosophisches Lexikon. General concise dictionary of the philosophical sciences, along with their literature and history . Brockhaus, Leipzig 1838.
  • Samuel Thomas Soemmering : Illustrations and descriptions of some miscarriages that were formerly at the anatomical theater in Cassel: with twelve copper plates. , Mainz 1791.
  • Jean Astruc and Christian Friedrich Otto: Drey strange physical treatises on the imagination of pregnant women and the same effect on their womb , Strasbourg 1756.
  • Claude Quillet: Callipaedie Or, An art how to have handsome children , 1708.
  • CB Schöne: Experiences and means, how one can produce beautiful, healthy and talented children , Berlin 1795.
  • Daniela Watzke: Anatomical structure of the imagination and its change of function in modern medical thinking . In: Thomas Dewender and Thomas Welt (eds.): Imagination - Fiktion - Kreation . The culture-creating assets of fantasy , KG Saur Verlag , Munich and Leipzig 2003, pp. 229–242.
  • Ruth Berger: Sexuality, Marriage and Family Life in Jewish Moral Literature (900-1900) , Harrassowitz Verlag , Wiesbaden 2003, pp. 250–269.
  • Moritz Wullen : Pygmalion . In: Moritz Wullen (Ed.): From more than one world. The arts of the Enlightenment , Michael Imhof Verlag, Berlin 2012, pp. 91-109.
  • Britta Herrmann: Prometheus and Pygmalion as translators. Production myths between science and art in the 18th century . In: Caroline Welsh and Stefan Willer (eds.): Interest in conditional knowledge. Interrelationships between the cultures of knowledge , Wilhelm Fink Verlag, Munich 2008, pp. 109–129.
  • Britta Herrmann: The sex of the imagination: anthropoplasty around 1800 . In: Eva Kormann, Anke Gilleir and Angelika Schlimmer: Text machine body. Gender-Oriented Readings of the Androids , Rodopi, New York 2006, pp. 47–72.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Amand König: Drey strange physical treatises on the imagination of pregnant women and the same effect on their womb , p. 33.
  2. ↑ Britta Herrmann: The sex of the imagination: Anthropoplastik around 1800 , p. 49.
  3. ^ Samuel Thomas Sömmering: Illustrations and descriptions of some miscarriages that were formerly at the anatomical theater in Cassel , Mainz 1791.
  4. ↑ Britta Herrmann: The sex of the imagination: Anthropoplastik around 1800 , p. 50.
  5. ↑ Britta Herrmann: Prometheus and Pygmalion as translators , p. 116.
  6. ↑ Amand König: Drey strange physical treatises on the imagination of pregnant women and the same effect on their womb. , P. 11.
  7. ^ Daniela Watzke: Anatomical structure of the imagination and its change of function in medical thinking of the modern age , p. 235.
  8. ↑ CB Schöne: Experiences and means on how to have beautiful, healthy and talented children.
  9. ↑ Amand König: Drey strange physical treatises on the imagination of pregnant women and the same effect on their womb. , P. 14.
  10. ↑ a b Amand König: Drey remarkable physical treatises on the imagination of pregnant women and the same effect on their womb. , P. 19.
  11. ↑ Britta Herrmann: Prometheus and Pygmalion as translators , pp. 113–114
  12. ↑ Ruth Berger: Sexuality, Marriage and Family Life in Jewish Moral Literature (900-1900) , p. 253.
  13. ^ Moritz Wullen: Pygmalion , p. 102.
  14. ↑ Wolfgang Ullrich: The dream of beautiful people. A lesson on the power of images .
  15. ↑ JG Krünitz: Economic Encyclopedia Versehen
  16. ^ Samuel Thomas Sömmering: Illustrations and descriptions of some miscarriages that were formerly at the anatomical theater in Cassel .
  17. ↑ Amand König: Drey strange physical treatises on the imagination of pregnant women and the same effect on the fruit of the womb , p. 15.