L’opera è stata pubblicata per la prima volta, in lingua francese, a Parigi nel novembre del 1819 (Chez Mme Horiac). A tutt’oggi non esiste una versione italiana di questo trattato e la ristampa della prima edizione parigina risale soltanto al 2005 (Parigi, Harmattan). Il Sonno lucido è suddiviso in XIV sedute (séances). Nella storia dell’ipnotismo questo libro occupa un posto fondamentale: l’autore è un personaggio storico di cui la leggenda popolare e la fantasia degli scrittori si sono impadroniti facendone un mito (è il personaggio del Conte di Montecristo di Alexandre Dumas padre). Con questo libro, frazionato in quattordici capitoli, l’Abate Faria ci dà conto del fenomeno dell’ipnosi – da lui definito sonno lucido – e del risultato dei suoi esperimenti condotti su oltre cinquemila individui. Si determina a smontare l’allora diffusa teoria di Mesmer del “fluido magnetico”, opinando che le improvvise “crisi magnetiche” di risa o di pianto non soltanto non servano a guarire, ma che siano perfino dannose e contravvengano al normale corso della natura. Nel rileggere i suoi predecessori come una sfida, anziché un conforto, l’approccio dell’autore è quello di tenere i propri pazienti in uno stato di calma. Secondo il suo originale punto di vista, contrastato duramente da mesmeriani e da oppositori religiosi, l’ipnosi non è dovuta al magnetismo, bensì è indotta dalle aspettative e dalla disposizione dell’epopte. In seguito a questi convincimenti, scopre in chiave moderna l’antico metodo di suggestione mediante induzione o interruzione della trance, con una semplice parola: dormite! Nel registrare e descrivere una vasta gamma di fenomeni ipnotici, oggi ben noti, fornisce una spiegazione psicologica di ciascuno di essi. Ha presupposto, per esempio, che il sonno normale e lo stato ipnotico siano di natura simile; teoria che, per quanto oggi sia considerata erronea, dopo gli studi dell’Abate Faria è stata adottata anche dalla Scuola di Nancy. *** [ENGLISH] The work was first published, in French, in Paris in November 1819 (Chez Mme Horiac). To date, no Italian version of this treatise exists and it was not until 2005 that the initial Paris edition was reprinted (Paris, Harmattan). The Sonno lucido is subdivided into XIV séances. This book occupies a strategic place in the history of hypnotism: the author is a historical personage who soon became part of popular legend and captured writers’ imagination, to the extent of becoming a myth (he features in Alexandre Dumas Père’s Le Comte de Monte-Cristo). In this book, divided into fourteen chapters, Abbé Faria illustrates the phenomenon of hypnosis – which he defines as lucid sleep – together with the results of his experiments conducted on over five thousand people. He is intent on dismantling the then widespread theory of Mesmer of “magnetic fluid”, being of the opinion that sudden “magnetic crises” of laughter or tears are not only therapeutically ineffective, but they are even detrimental and hinder the normal course of nature. In reinterpreting his predecessors in terms of a challenge, as opposed to a substantiation of his own theories, the author adopts the approach of maintaining his patients in a state of serenity. According to his original point of view – fiercely contested by the Mesmerians and by his religious opponents - hypnosis is not to be attributed to magnetism, but it is induced by the epopt’s expectations and disposition. In the light of these convictions, he unveils a modern interpretation of the ancient method of suggestion via induction or interruption of the trance, with a simple word: sleep! In recording and describing a vast range of hypnotic phenomena – currently widely known – he advances an explanation of each of these in psychological terms. He assumes, for instance, that normal sleep and the state of hypnosis partake of a similar nature. While being judged as erroneous nowadays, this theory, in the wake of Abbé Faria’s studies, has been adopted also by the School of Nancy.
The work was first published, in French, in Paris in November 1819 (Chez Mme Horiac). To date, no Italian version of this treatise exists and it was not until 2005 that the initial Paris edition was reprinted (Paris, Harmattan). The Sonno lucido is subdivided into XIV séances. This book occupies a strategic place in the history of hypnotism: the author is a historical personage who soon became part of popular legend and captured writers’ imagination, to the extent of becoming a myth (he features in Alexandre Dumas Père’s Le Comte de Monte-Cristo). In this book, divided into fourteen chapters, Abbé Faria illustrates the phenomenon of hypnosis – which he defines as lucid sleep – together with the results of his experiments conducted on over five thousand people. He is intent on dismantling the then widespread theory of Mesmer of “magnetic fluid”, being of the opinion that sudden “magnetic crises” of laughter or tears are not only therapeutically ineffective, but they are even detrimental and hinder the normal course of nature. In reinterpreting his predecessors in terms of a challenge, as opposed to a substantiation of his own theories, the author adopts the approach of maintaining his patients in a state of serenity. According to his original point of view – fiercely contested by the Mesmerians and by his religious opponents - hypnosis is not to be attributed to magnetism, but it is induced by the epopt’s expectations and disposition. In the light of these convictions, he unveils a modern interpretation of the ancient method of suggestion via induction or interruption of the trance, with a simple word: sleep! In recording and describing a vast range of hypnotic phenomena – currently widely known – he advances an explanation of each of these in psychological terms. He assumes, for instance, that normal sleep and the state of hypnosis partake of a similar nature. While being judged as erroneous nowadays, this theory, in the wake of Abbé Faria’s studies, has been adopted also by the School of Nancy.
José Custódio de Faria (Abate Faria). Della causa del sonno lucido, o Studio sulla natura dell’uomo
Tuccini G
2018-01-01
Abstract
L’opera è stata pubblicata per la prima volta, in lingua francese, a Parigi nel novembre del 1819 (Chez Mme Horiac). A tutt’oggi non esiste una versione italiana di questo trattato e la ristampa della prima edizione parigina risale soltanto al 2005 (Parigi, Harmattan). Il Sonno lucido è suddiviso in XIV sedute (séances). Nella storia dell’ipnotismo questo libro occupa un posto fondamentale: l’autore è un personaggio storico di cui la leggenda popolare e la fantasia degli scrittori si sono impadroniti facendone un mito (è il personaggio del Conte di Montecristo di Alexandre Dumas padre). Con questo libro, frazionato in quattordici capitoli, l’Abate Faria ci dà conto del fenomeno dell’ipnosi – da lui definito sonno lucido – e del risultato dei suoi esperimenti condotti su oltre cinquemila individui. Si determina a smontare l’allora diffusa teoria di Mesmer del “fluido magnetico”, opinando che le improvvise “crisi magnetiche” di risa o di pianto non soltanto non servano a guarire, ma che siano perfino dannose e contravvengano al normale corso della natura. Nel rileggere i suoi predecessori come una sfida, anziché un conforto, l’approccio dell’autore è quello di tenere i propri pazienti in uno stato di calma. Secondo il suo originale punto di vista, contrastato duramente da mesmeriani e da oppositori religiosi, l’ipnosi non è dovuta al magnetismo, bensì è indotta dalle aspettative e dalla disposizione dell’epopte. In seguito a questi convincimenti, scopre in chiave moderna l’antico metodo di suggestione mediante induzione o interruzione della trance, con una semplice parola: dormite! Nel registrare e descrivere una vasta gamma di fenomeni ipnotici, oggi ben noti, fornisce una spiegazione psicologica di ciascuno di essi. Ha presupposto, per esempio, che il sonno normale e lo stato ipnotico siano di natura simile; teoria che, per quanto oggi sia considerata erronea, dopo gli studi dell’Abate Faria è stata adottata anche dalla Scuola di Nancy. *** [ENGLISH] The work was first published, in French, in Paris in November 1819 (Chez Mme Horiac). To date, no Italian version of this treatise exists and it was not until 2005 that the initial Paris edition was reprinted (Paris, Harmattan). The Sonno lucido is subdivided into XIV séances. This book occupies a strategic place in the history of hypnotism: the author is a historical personage who soon became part of popular legend and captured writers’ imagination, to the extent of becoming a myth (he features in Alexandre Dumas Père’s Le Comte de Monte-Cristo). In this book, divided into fourteen chapters, Abbé Faria illustrates the phenomenon of hypnosis – which he defines as lucid sleep – together with the results of his experiments conducted on over five thousand people. He is intent on dismantling the then widespread theory of Mesmer of “magnetic fluid”, being of the opinion that sudden “magnetic crises” of laughter or tears are not only therapeutically ineffective, but they are even detrimental and hinder the normal course of nature. In reinterpreting his predecessors in terms of a challenge, as opposed to a substantiation of his own theories, the author adopts the approach of maintaining his patients in a state of serenity. According to his original point of view – fiercely contested by the Mesmerians and by his religious opponents - hypnosis is not to be attributed to magnetism, but it is induced by the epopt’s expectations and disposition. In the light of these convictions, he unveils a modern interpretation of the ancient method of suggestion via induction or interruption of the trance, with a simple word: sleep! In recording and describing a vast range of hypnotic phenomena – currently widely known – he advances an explanation of each of these in psychological terms. He assumes, for instance, that normal sleep and the state of hypnosis partake of a similar nature. While being judged as erroneous nowadays, this theory, in the wake of Abbé Faria’s studies, has been adopted also by the School of Nancy.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.