Paul Bouts
Encyclopedia
Paul Bouts was a Belgian phrenologist
and pedagogue
. Born in the province of Limburg
, he was ordained as a Catholic
priest in 1926.
In the pedagogic environment of the Normal School (pedagogic academy) of Tienen, Belgium, where he taught from 1924, he specialised in characterological studies and devised a new method of characterological analysis, which he coined Psychognomy
and which was largely based on phrenology
, combined with typology
and graphology
. This led to his life-work, La Psychognomie, initially published in Paris by the "Librairie philosophique Alcan". It was subsequently translated in Dutch and Portuguese.
The theories of Bouts were further developed in specialised institutes which were founded in Rio de Janeiro
, Brazil
, and Chicoutimi, Québec
.
Bouts continued his research in the field with the paleo-anthropological
work Les Grandioses Destinées Individuelle et Humaine dans la Lumière de la Caractérologie et de l'Evolution cérébro-cranienne. In this work he developed a teleological
and orthogenetical
view on a perfecting evolution, from the paleo-encephalical skull shapes of prehistoric man
, which he considered still prevalent in criminals and savages, towards future perfection.
After the Second World War, Bouts experienced serious health problems, due to overburdening. These enticed him to study a healthy lifestyle, which he described in his work Modern Hygiene of Intellectuals (published in French as Hygiène Moderne des Intellectuels, and in Dutch under the title Ik ben nooit moe, i.e. I am never tired). He underlined the importance of wholesome, healthy food and of the maintenance of respiratory capacity through exercise. The adoption of this healthy lifestyle allowed him to regain full strength and to lead a productive life until age 99.
In 1967 he established himself on the woody Middelberg hill in Rotselaar
, Belgium (in Flemish Brabant
, 35 km east of Brussels
), where he built the St. Paul's Home, as well as a reform shop called Sol & Vita. He continued to publish a number of spiritual works, like Onze overheerlijke lotsbestemming, het Paradijs (Paradise, our marvellous destiny, in Dutch).
Paul Bouts is also keeper of several inventor's patents.
Phrenology
Phrenology is a pseudoscience primarily focused on measurements of the human skull, based on the concept that the brain is the organ of the mind, and that certain brain areas have localized, specific functions or modules...
and pedagogue
Pedagogy
Pedagogy is the study of being a teacher or the process of teaching. The term generally refers to strategies of instruction, or a style of instruction....
. Born in the province of Limburg
Limburg (Belgium)
Limburg is the easternmost province of modern Flanders, which is one of the three main political and cultural sub-divisions of modern Belgium. It is located west of the river Meuse . It borders on the Dutch provinces of North Brabant and Limburg and the Belgian provinces of Liège, Flemish Brabant...
, he was ordained as a Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
priest in 1926.
In the pedagogic environment of the Normal School (pedagogic academy) of Tienen, Belgium, where he taught from 1924, he specialised in characterological studies and devised a new method of characterological analysis, which he coined Psychognomy
Psychognomy
Psychognomy is a theory to describe human character defined by the twentieth-century teacher Belgian Paul Bouts.It is based on phrenology and incorporates elements of typology and graphology....
and which was largely based on phrenology
Phrenology
Phrenology is a pseudoscience primarily focused on measurements of the human skull, based on the concept that the brain is the organ of the mind, and that certain brain areas have localized, specific functions or modules...
, combined with typology
Personality type
Personality type refers to the psychological classification of different types of individuals. Personality types are sometimes distinguished from personality traits, with the latter embodying a smaller grouping of behavioral tendencies. Types are sometimes said to involve qualitative differences...
and graphology
Graphology
Graphology is the pseudoscientific study and analysis of handwriting, especially in relation to human psychology. In the medical field, it can be used to refer to the study of handwriting as an aid in diagnosis and tracking of diseases of the brain and nervous system...
. This led to his life-work, La Psychognomie, initially published in Paris by the "Librairie philosophique Alcan". It was subsequently translated in Dutch and Portuguese.
The theories of Bouts were further developed in specialised institutes which were founded in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, and Chicoutimi, Québec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
.
Bouts continued his research in the field with the paleo-anthropological
Paleoanthropology
Paleoanthropology, which combines the disciplines of paleontology and physical anthropology, is the study of ancient humans as found in fossil hominid evidence such as petrifacted bones and footprints.-19th century:...
work Les Grandioses Destinées Individuelle et Humaine dans la Lumière de la Caractérologie et de l'Evolution cérébro-cranienne. In this work he developed a teleological
Teleology
A teleology is any philosophical account which holds that final causes exist in nature, meaning that design and purpose analogous to that found in human actions are inherent also in the rest of nature. The word comes from the Greek τέλος, telos; root: τελε-, "end, purpose...
and orthogenetical
Orthogenesis
Orthogenesis, orthogenetic evolution, progressive evolution or autogenesis, is the hypothesis that life has an innate tendency to evolve in a unilinear fashion due to some internal or external "driving force". The hypothesis is based on essentialism and cosmic teleology and proposes an intrinsic...
view on a perfecting evolution, from the paleo-encephalical skull shapes of prehistoric man
Prehistory
Prehistory is the span of time before recorded history. Prehistory can refer to the period of human existence before the availability of those written records with which recorded history begins. More broadly, it refers to all the time preceding human existence and the invention of writing...
, which he considered still prevalent in criminals and savages, towards future perfection.
After the Second World War, Bouts experienced serious health problems, due to overburdening. These enticed him to study a healthy lifestyle, which he described in his work Modern Hygiene of Intellectuals (published in French as Hygiène Moderne des Intellectuels, and in Dutch under the title Ik ben nooit moe, i.e. I am never tired). He underlined the importance of wholesome, healthy food and of the maintenance of respiratory capacity through exercise. The adoption of this healthy lifestyle allowed him to regain full strength and to lead a productive life until age 99.
In 1967 he established himself on the woody Middelberg hill in Rotselaar
Rotselaar
Rotselaar is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish-Brabant, near the convergence of the Demer and the Dijle. Since January 1, 1977 the municipality comprises the towns of Rotselaar proper, Werchter and Wezemaal. On January 1, 2006 Rotselaar had a total population of 15,068...
, Belgium (in Flemish Brabant
Flemish Brabant
Flemish Brabant is a province of Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on the Belgian provinces of Antwerp, Limburg, Liège, Walloon Brabant, Hainaut and East Flanders. Flemish Brabant also completely surrounds the Brussels-Capital Region. Its capital is Leuven...
, 35 km east of Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
), where he built the St. Paul's Home, as well as a reform shop called Sol & Vita. He continued to publish a number of spiritual works, like Onze overheerlijke lotsbestemming, het Paradijs (Paradise, our marvellous destiny, in Dutch).
Paul Bouts is also keeper of several inventor's patents.