"That Imperfect Instrument": Galton's Whistle, Bierce's Damned Thing, and the Phenomenon of Superior Nonhuman Sensory Range

When the Galton whistle was introduced in the 1870s, it was the first demonstration many had encountered of the phenomenon that nonhumans sometimes exceed humans in sensory range, for example perceiving ultraviolet light and ultrasonic signals. While some empirical research had explored this possibi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:History of psychology 2023-05, Vol.26 (2), p.107-121
Main Author: Burton, Gregory
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal
Color Perception
Concepts
Data Management
Databases, Factual
Hearing Tests - history
Hearing Tests - instrumentation
Humans
Intersensory Processes
Literature
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Summary:When the Galton whistle was introduced in the 1870s, it was the first demonstration many had encountered of the phenomenon that nonhumans sometimes exceed humans in sensory range, for example perceiving ultraviolet light and ultrasonic signals. While some empirical research had explored this possibility beforehand, this area of perceptual research progressed slowly. A horror short story by Ambrose Bierce in 1893, "The Damned Thing," used the concept of superior nonhuman sensory range as a twist ending, seemingly anticipating scientific discoveries to come or at least understanding the implications of the early findings well in advance of the field. This article analyzes Bierce's possible sources, with Bierce representing the general educated nonscientist and providing insights into the spread of this concept into public and scientific awareness.
ISSN:1093-4510
1939-0610
DOI:10.1037/hop0000230