From the Unconscious to the Conscious 



evolutionary experiences integrally retained and trans- 

 muted into new capacities, has, as its result, the greater 

 and greater realisation of consciousness which absorbs 

 the primitive unconsciousness. 



In the evolving universe the process is the same. At 

 first it represents a very ocean of unconsciousness; then, 

 from that ocean, there emerge islets or icebergs of 

 consciousness. These are at first very small, very few, 

 and isolated; the waves of unconsciousness frequently 

 submerge them. But the evolutionary impulse con- 

 tinues; the islets grow, are multiplied, and join. They 

 form great continents whose summits shine in full 

 consciousness; but their base and foundations lie deep 

 in the Unconscious whence they arose and of whose 

 nature they partake. 



Later on, in higher evolutionary phases, the domain 

 of consciousness will in turn have absorbed into itself 

 the primitive ocean of unconsciousness whence it was 

 derived. 



That these propositions are of the philosophic order 

 is undeniable; but they are not metaphysical in the 

 proper sense of that word, because their data are 

 scientific and rational. 



When it is said that evolution is the transition of a 

 potential and unconscious dynamo-psychism to a realised 

 and conscious dynamo-psychism, this is not meta- 

 physical : it is only the expression in philosophic language 

 of an obvious scientific truth. It is a general conclusion 

 of a higher order drawn from verified facts. 



3. EVOLUTIONARY LAWS, AND THE PROBLEM OF 



FINALITY 



If we consider the details of evolution we shall see 

 that the transition comes to pass very simply. 



The primitive evolutionary impulse which is manifest 

 in the first appearance of vegetative forms and those of 



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