From the Unconscious to the Conscious 



essential dementia, states whose obscure pathology 

 has been the reproach of medical science. 



In the natural sciences it reveals the primordial 

 and essential factor of evolution and relegates to their 

 proper places the classical factors of selection and 

 adaptation. It explains the origin of species and dis- 

 entangles the laws of natural from those of acquired 

 finality. 



In philosophy, it gives an interpretation of the 

 universe and of the individual, of their destiny and 

 their purpose, which covers all the facts, disencumbered 

 of verbalism and abstractions. It sketches out the 

 demonstration of a great metaphysical hypothesis on 

 the nature of things. 



To the problem of evil that stone of stumbling to 

 all theologies it brings a solution which is simple, 

 clear, and fully satisfying. While showing the individual 

 the causes of his sufferings, it warrants his hopes of 

 justice and happiness, and affirms their realisation 

 by the unlimited development of undying conscious- 

 ness. 



Of course in all these explanations and demonstrations 

 only the main outline of a general synthesis is to be 

 looked for. An immense mass of detail remains to be 

 investigated, and the whole of the analytical work still 

 remains to be done. But this analysis, which seems at 

 present to be beyond human powers, will be facilitated 

 by the general ideas laid down. 



Once the general doctrine of the transition from 

 the Unconscious to the Conscious is systematically 

 established, it will be, like the clue of Ariadne, a slender 

 guide but a sure one. 



Doubtless the great metaphysical enigmas still 

 remain unexplained, but at least the illusion of ' the 

 unknowable ' is at an end. 



The human mind knows its weakness, but it also 

 knows its potentialities. It will no longer seek the 



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