Historical Data Visualizations: How William James, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Francis Galton Used Diagrams for Thinking
By
benbreen
Pure flour-power. Hearty enough to carry you through lunch.
Summary
The article explores the historical data visualizations and diagrams created by notable figures like William James, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Francis Galton during the Machine Age. It examines how these thinkers used handmade visual representations to process complex information and advance their respective fields in psychology, sociology, and eugenics. The piece highlights the artistic and intellectual value of these early data visualizations, contrasting them with modern digital methods while appreciating their craftsmanship and conceptual sophistication.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledHe was a brilliant, charming, self-defeating, deeply strange man (exhibit A: he believed taking a high dose of nitrous oxide helped him finally understand Hegel).
What doesn't, at least at first, is that he was a talented visual artist. In fact, before he became a psychologist, William James dreamed of being a professional painter.
How William James, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Francis Galton thought with diagrams
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