Philosopher Jeremy Bentham in his will made the request that his corpse to be publicly dissected during am anatomy lecture, after his death. This was duly done when he died in 1832 and afterwards, his skeleton and head were preserved and stored in a maple glass-fronted, wooden cabinet called the "Auto-icon", which Bentham had helped to make before his death.
Bentham's skeleton was padded with straw and he was decked out in a rather dapper outfit. Bentham’s head, however, was mummified and looked very macabre. With hard, stretched, leathery skin and vacant looking glass eyes, it is a horrifying sight; not one that you would expect to see when you enter the corridor, of University College London.
Bentham was actually way ahead of his time, in so many ways. For example, he argued for things that we now take for granted, like women's rights, the separation between church and state, the abolition of slavery and the decriminalising of homosexuality. He also believed in animal rights and argued that the ability to suffer rather than the ability to reason (Rousseau), should be the benchmark, for determining who or what deserved rights.
Bentham’s underpants are over 250 years old and they are believed to be one of the oldest undies in all of England. If you wish to take a peek, you can visit him in the Wilkins Building at University College London.
Books To Read
How Philosophy Can Save Your Life: 10 Ideas That Matter Most, by Marietta McCarty.
Bentham’s underpants are over 250 years old and they are believed to be one of the oldest undies in all of England. If you wish to take a peek, you can visit him in the Wilkins Building at University College London.
Books To Read
How Philosophy Can Save Your Life: 10 Ideas That Matter Most, by Marietta McCarty.
