Fowler, Orson Squire (1809-1887)
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Orson Squire Fowler was born on 11 October 1809 in Cohocton, New York and died 18 August 1887. The brother-in-law of Lydia Folger Fowler, and a member of the phrenologist Fowler family, he was a doctor, vegetarian, and amateur architect who popularized the "octagon house." As Vice-President of the American Vegetarian Society, he promoted a plant-based diet, opposed the slaughter of animals, and defended animal rights. He edited and published The American Phrenological Journal and Miscellany from 1838 to 1842 and he was a partner in Fowlers & Wells publishers (1846-1854), publishing many veg*n books during this period. In addition to dietary reform, he advocated for equal rights for women, for children's rights, and the end of child labor. Fowler's veganism belongs to the school of thought that argues that meat is a “heating” food (like spices), which stimulates “animal propensities” such as depraved sexuality. He argues that diet reflects the character of a species, arguing that, therefore, eating animals results in ferocity in humans. He associates carnism with violence and destructiveness and explains carnivorism and vegetarianism through the lexicon of phrenology.
PUBLICATIONS
Amativeness: Or Evils and Remedies of Excessive and Perverted Sexuality : including warning and advice to the married and single: being a supplement to "Love and parentage." New York: Fowlers and Wells, 1848.
https://archive.org/details/101662777.nlm.nih.gov
Education and Self-improvement, Founded on Physiology and Phrenology: Or, What Constitutes Good Heads and Bodies, and How to Make them Good, by Enlarging Deficiencies and Diminishing Excesses. New York: O. S. & L. N. Fowler, 1844.
https://archive.org/details/educationselfimp00fowl
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=pst.000022890931&view=1up&seq=12
Fowler's Practical Phrenology: Giving a Concise Elementary View of Phrenology; Presenting Some New and Important Remarks an the Temperaments; and Describing the Primary Mental Powers in Seven Different Degrees of Development: The Mental Phenomena Produced by their Combined Action; and the Location of the Organs Amply Illustrated by Cuts. New York: Fowler and Wells, 1850.
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.31175034542467&view=1up&seq=3
Human Science, or, Phrenology: Its Principles, Proofs, Faculties, Organs, Temperaments, Combinations, Conditions, Teachings, Philosophies, Etc., Etc.: As Applied to Health, its Values, Laws, Functions, Organs, Means, Preservation, Restoration, Etc.: Mental Philosophy, Human and Self Improvement, Civilization, Home, Country, Commerce, Rights, Duties, Ethics, Etc.: God, His Existence, Attributes, Laws, Worship, Natural Theology, Etc.: Immortality, its Evidences, Conditions, Relations to Time, Rewards, Punishments, Sin, Faith, Prayer, Etc.: Intellect, Memory, Juvenile and Self Education, Literature, Mental Discipline, the Senses, Sciences, Arts, Avocations, a Perfect Life, Etc., Etc., Etc. Philadelphia, PA: National Pub. Co., 1873.
https://archive.org/details/humanscienceorph00fowluoft
Life: Its Science, Laws, Faculties, Function, Organs, Conditions, Philosophy, and Improvement: Including the Organism, Health, Social Affections,- Moral Sentiments, Intellect, Memory, Self-Education, Autobiography, Miscellany, &C., as Taught by Phrenology. Boston: O. S. Fowler, 1871.
https://archive.org/details/lifeitssciencel00fowlgoog
Physiology, Animal and Mental: Applied to the Preservation and Restoration of Health of Body, and Power of Mind. 1842; New York, Fowler and Wells, 1847.
https://archive.org/details/physiologyanima00fowl