I02 Unconscious Memory 



not lie within our consciousness ; ^ therefore, if it is to 

 be a mechanism of any kind, it can only be either an un- 

 conscious mechanical induction and metamorphosis of the 

 vibrations of the conceived motive into the vibrations 

 of the conscious action in the brain, or an unconscious 

 spiritual mechanism. 



In the first case, it is surely strange that this process 

 should go on unconsciously, though it is so powerful in 

 its effects that the will resulting from it overpowers every 

 other consideration, every other kind of will, and that 

 vibrations of this kind, when set up in the brain, become 

 always consciously perceived ; nor is it easy to conceive 

 in what way this metamorphosis can take place so that 

 the constant purpose can be attained under varying cir- 

 cumstances by the resulting will in modes that vary with 

 variation of the special features of each individual case. 



But if we take the other alternative, and suppose an 

 unconscious mental mechanism, we cannot legitimately 

 conceive of the process going on in this as other than what 

 prevails in all mental mechanism, namely, than as by 

 way of idea and will. We are, therefore, compelled to 

 imagine a causal connection between the consciously 

 recognised motive and the will to do the instinctive action, 

 through unconscious idea and will ; nor do I know how 

 this connection can be conceived as being brought about 

 more simply than through a conceived and willed pur- 

 pose.^ Arrived at this point, however, we have attained 



' Diese causale Verbindung fallt erfahrungsmassig, wie wir von 

 unsern menschlichen Instincten wissen, nicht in's Be-wusstsein ; 

 folglich kann dieselbe, wenn sie ein Mechanismus sein soil, nur ent- 

 weder ein nicht in's Bewusstsein fallende mechanische Leitung und 

 Umwandlung der Schwingungen des vorgestellten Motivs in die 

 Schwingungen der gewollten Handlung im Gehirn, oder ein unbe- 

 wusster geistiger Mechanismus sein." — Philosophy of the Uncon- 

 scious, 3d ed., p. yy. 



^ " Man hat sich also zwischen dem bewussten Motiv, und dem 

 Willen zur Instincthandlung eine causale Verbindung durch unbe- 

 wusstes Vorstellen und WoUen zu denken, und ich weiss nicht, wie 

 diese ^'erbindung einfacher gedacht werden konnte, als durch den 

 vorgestellten und gewollten Zweck. Damit sind wir aber bei dem 



