SELF 225 



one case, and "goes off" and never returns in the case 

 of no returning consciousness; or that consciousness is 

 the physical process of molecular motion in the brain 

 tissue? It ceases, as long as the motion of molecules 

 ceases, and is "restored" when such motion is resumed. 

 But if the molecular motion never resumes, then there is 

 no restoration of consciousness. "Dual consciousness," 

 ' ' bodily illness, ' ' as mental stimulant, ' ' somnambulism, ' ' 

 "hypnotism," "dreams," all subjects of abnormal psy- 

 chology, can be scientifically explained by knowing the 

 exact facts of each case, on the theory that psychic 

 phenomena are the products of physiological function 

 that consciousness is the result of molecular nerve 

 action. On any other theory, they are inexplainable. 

 The things we see do not exist in consciousness. They 

 exist only where we perceive them to be. The experi- 

 ence, or image is in the brain, but the reality producing 

 the impression is not. 



Descartes' expression "I think therefore I am" is 

 therefore a description of a process of imaging objec- 

 tive things, by molecular motion, and the fusing of 

 images, by a change of molecular patterns, on the brain. 

 It is. a passing phase of function of matter. Those 

 immediate experiences that the individual cannot share 

 with others, such as the voices heard by Joan of Arc, 

 or the dreams one has, may be called subjective condi- 

 tions, because if they were objective, others would also 

 experience them. But these are mostly abnormal. 

 "Immediate experience" is a condition in which the 

 only conscious thing is that which is objective to con- 

 sciousness. It is the constant awareness from moment 

 to moment. The working of the device which is pro- 

 ducing consciousness is not in the immediate expe- 

 rience of the thinker, but only something outside of it. 



