Charcot: Buddhist Leanings?

Abstract

Jean-Martin Charcot, considered the father of modern neurology, had a complex personality featuring well-defined characteristics of introversion, competitiveness, irony, and skepticism. While biographers have described him as Republican, anticlerical, and agnostic, the literature also presents evidence that he came to admire Buddhism toward the end of his life; Charcot’s involvement with numerous patients suffering from incurable and insidious neurological diseases may have contributed to this change in attitude.

Jean-Martin Charcot: the polymath

“…2,3,6,7,111,112 Some biography data suggest that Charcot, in the final phase of his life, came to admire Buddhism. 113 CHARCOT: THE ARTIST Charcot's inherent artistic abilities were a result of his exceptional visual perception and prodigious memory, as documented in various works throughout his career. 2,3,6,7,[102][103][104][105] Notably, one of his disciples, Henry Meige (1866Meige ( -1940, published a book in 1925 titled "Charcot Artist," wherein he showcased a collection of original drawings by Charcot.…”

“…2 3 6 7 111 112 Some biography data suggest that Charcot, in the final phase of his life, came to admire Buddhism. 113…”

Charcot’s Anglophilia

“…In his later writings on faith-healing and miraculous cures, Charcot gently teases his colleagues’ restricted thinking by quoting again from Hamlet : “There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy” [25-28]. A quotation from King Lear was inscribed in his study at home: “As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods/They kill us for their sport” [25-28].…”

“…In his later writings on faith-healing and miraculous cures, Charcot gently teases his colleagues’ restricted thinking by quoting again from Hamlet : “There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy” [25-28]. A quotation from King Lear was inscribed in his study at home: “As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods/They kill us for their sport” [25-28]. His personal interest was such that his children and pupils regularly prepared and presented on St Martin’s Day (November 11th) a short play based on Shakespeare’s works, staged in Charcot’s study, which he much enjoyed [25].…”