NATURE 
121 
THURSDAY, DECEMBER io, 1896. 
MODERN PSYCHOLOGY. 
Analytic Psychology. By G. F. Stout. 
Pp. 289, 314. 
Ltd., 1896.) 
An Outline of Psychology. 
Titchener. Pp. vii + 352. 
millan Company, 1896.) 
R. STOUT’S “Analytic Psychology” is a very 
important and valuable contribution to the study 
of mental processes. With the exception of Dr. Ward 
and Prof. James, no other English writer in modern 
times has treated the subject with as much originality 
and freshness as the present editor of Mud. The two 
volumes before us are, however, only introductory to 
further work from the same hand, to which we shall look 
forward with special interest. Problems.of genesis and 
development are not examined in the present work, 
which treats only of fundamental questions connected 
with analysis and definition. Yet the reader who peruses 
Mr. Stout’s powerful criticism of current doctrines will 
at once realise the importance and difficulty of these 
preliminary questions. Unfortunately the science of 
mind is still at an inorganic stage. Its authorities are 
still in conflict on the most elementary questions of 
classification, terminology, method and scope. We are 
bound to say that the author’s method of solving time- 
honoured puzzles, highly suggestive as it is, raises almost 
as many difficulties as it meets. This hardly detracts 
from the merit of the work, which we appreciate un- 
reservedly. Students of psychology need not be re- 
minded ofthe troublesome questions which are inevitably 
thrust into the foreground at the beginning of every 
text-book or treatise. The antithesis between knowing 
and feeling, the limits of consciousness, the conception 
of activity, the function of introspection—these are some 
of the well-known problems which our author handles 
in novel manner. Undoubtedly the most striking in- 
novation in terminology and method is the author’s in- 
troduction and use of the contrast between what he 
terms voefic and amoetic consciousness. Modifications 
or contents of consciousness are broadly contrasted, 
according as they do or do not refer to an odject; the 
former are called woef%c, the latter amoetic. This dis- 
tinction, of course, roughly corresponds to distinctions 
variously formulated by previous writers. What amounts 
to nearly the same as the anoetic consciousness has been 
vaguely and variously styled pure sentience or feeling, 
or has been obscurely relegated to the regions of sub- 
consciousness. But Mr. Stout throws light on many 
obscurities of exposition by his thoroughgoing applica- 
tion of this antithesis between anoetic and _noetic. 
Thus previous writers have identified the odject of 
thought and attention with the presentations entering into 
the current of conscious experience. Mr. Stout definitely 
opposes presentation and object. The object to whichnoetic 
consciousness refers cannot, from the nature of the case, 
be a present modification of individual consciousness. 
All thought and perception involve reference to some- 
thing which, as it is meant or intended, is other than 
NO. 1415, VOL. 55 | 
Two volumes. 
(London: Swan Sonnenschein and Co., 
By Edward Bradford 
(Mew York: The Mac- 
the thinker’s own conscious content. This view connects 
itself with every detail of analysis propounded by the 
author, and can hardly be appreciated without reference 
to his treatment of other topics, such as the conception 
of mental disposition, the relation of apperception to 
noetic synthesis, the interconnections of thought and 
conation, the development of desire and volition. A 
remarkable unity and harmony characterise the treatment 
of all these questions, in consequence of the very careful 
definitions and distinctions given at the outset. The 
chapter on “Relative Suggestion” is, perhaps, the most 
interesting and original in the book. It supplies a much- 
needed corrective of older associationist views, and an 
exposition of the link between mere cohesion of ideas and 
the processes of constructive thought and imagination. 
In another most important chapter, the conception of 
mental activity is very ably defended against Mr. 
Bradley’s attacks, and in opposition to some statements 
of Prof. James and others. Mr. Stout is a champion of 
the doctrine of apperception, as propounded by Herbart 
and his followers. But his own modifications of this 
doctrine are considerable and important. The chapter 
on “Noetic Synthesis” prepares the reader for the 
author’s special views on this point. Noetic synthesis 
involves a distinct content of consciousness, viz. “the 
apprehension of a whole which determines the order 
and connection of the apprehension of the parts.” But 
“when we consider a noetic synthesis not merely as 
involved in this or that conscious process, but as a mode 
of mental grouping which persists as a disposition when 
it has ceased to operate in actual consciousness, we have 
the idea of an apperceptive system.” Under appercep- 
tion we investigate the gradual growth and differentiation 
of new phases of noetic synthesis. Again, the view of 
the relations between apperception and attention is a 
special feature of Mr. Stout’s doctrine : “ Whereas atten- 
tion is an attitude of consciousness towards a presented 
object, apperception is a process of interaction between 
presentations ox datspositions.” Mis position on these 
points is worked out in most instructive detail, which it 
is impossible for the reviewer to indicate. Finally, Mr. 
Stout gives a prominent place to de/zef, as a fundamental 
attitude of consciousness towards its object, and pro- 
pounds an original doctrine of pleasure-pain, which is 
supported by subtle and suggestive reasoning. 
The general treatment is rendered especially instruc- 
tive by the large number of well-chosen illustrations of 
mental processes analysed at first hand. The psycho- 
logical standpoint is perfectly preserved throughout, and 
we do not find a substitution of physiological or physical 
hypotheses for genuine psychological analysis. In spite 
of the marked originality of style and exposition, at no 
point is the tone unnecessarily antagonistic ; and sugges- 
tions are accepted from writers of every school of thought, 
with only such modification as is necessary to adapt them 
to the author’s general scheme. 
Prof. Titchener’s “Outline of Psychology” is written 
with admirable clearness. The results of experimental 
psychology are expounded in a style both attractive 
and simple. The author’s own views are supported 
by careful reasoning, and at the same time the 
beginner is not overwhelmed with any superfluous con- 
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