Physiognomy
Physiognomy
Physiognomy (pronounced: fiz-ee-og-nuh-mee) is a practice of assessing a person's character or personality from their outer appearance, especially the face. The term can also refer to the general appearance of a person, object, or terrain without reference to its implied characteristics.
Etymology
The term "physiognomy" comes from the Greek words physis meaning "nature" and gnomon meaning "judge" or "interpreter".
History
Physiognomy as a science has its roots in Classical Antiquity. It was then further developed in the Middle Ages by scholars such as Albertus Magnus. The practice was well accepted until the 19th century, when it was largely discredited. However, it has seen a revival in the 21st century with the advent of Artificial Intelligence and Facial Recognition technologies.
Related Terms
- Phrenology: A pseudoscience which involves the measurement of bumps on the skull to predict mental traits.
- Anthropometry: The scientific study of the measurements and proportions of the human body.
- Characterology: The study of character, especially human character.
- Personology: The study of human behavior and personality, often used interchangeably with psychology.
Criticism
Physiognomy has been criticized for its potential to reinforce stereotypes and for its use in justifying discriminatory practices. Despite these criticisms, it continues to be a topic of research in fields such as Psychology and Artificial Intelligence.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Physiognomy
- Wikipedia's article - Physiognomy
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