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e。 This latter phenomenon is very striking in children； they become fascinated by something they hear or see and project themselves； as it were； into that object； they become the 〃soapiness of soap； or the wetness of water〃 （to use Chesterton's phrase）； and when they listen to a story they hold nothing in reserve。 Consciousness may busy itself with its past phases； with the preceding thought； emotion； sensation how； I do not knowor it may occupy itself mainly with the world of things which are hereby declared to have a reality in our theory。 In the first instances we have introspection and subjectiveness； and in the second we have extroversion and objectivity。 ＇1＇ For discussion of consciousness read Berkeley； Locke； Hume； Spencer； Lotze； Moyan； James； Wundt； Munsterberg and every other philosopher and psychologist。 I have not attempted to discuss the matter from the philosopher's point of view for the very obvious reason that I am no philosopher。
Since consciousness is most intense when the new or unfamiliar is seen； heard； felt or attempted； we may assume it has a chief function in acquainting the individual with the new and unfamiliar and in the establishment of habitual reactions； We are extraordinarily conscious of a queer； unexplainable thing on the horizon； we bring into the limelight （or IT brings into the limelight） all our possible reactions；fear； flight； anger； fight； circumvention； curiosity and the movements of investigation； we are thrown into the maelstrom of choice。 Choice and consciousness； doubt and consciousness； are directly related； it is only when conduct becomes established as habit； with choosing relegated to the background； that consciousness； in so far as the act is concerned； becomes diminished。 A moderate constant sensation tends to disappear from consciousness； as when we keep our hand in warm water。 It then takes a certain increase of the stimulus to keep the sensation from lapsing out of consciousness。 This lapsing out of consciousness of the steady stimulus； in its ramifications； is responsible for a good deal of the activity of man； since sensation is a goal of effort。＇1＇ Under emotion we become aware of two sets of things；the reaction of our body in its sum total of pleasure or the reverse； and second the object that sets up this reaction。 Consciousness fastens itself on the body and on the world； and the bodily reaction becomes a guide for future action。 Extreme bodily reactions are painful and may result in the abolishing of consciousness。 ＇1＇ The physiologists speak of this phenomenon under the heading of the Weber…Fechner law； after the two physiologists who gave it prominence。 James pokes a good deal of fun at the 〃law；〃 which is expressed mathematically。 Perhaps the mathematics should have been eliminated as too 〃scientific〃 for our present attainment； but it does remain true that it is not the ACTUAL stimulus increase that is important in sensation or perception； but the RELATIVE stimulus increase。 This is behind all of 〃getting used to things〃； it removes the pain from humiliation and also the novelty from joy。 It is the reason behind all of the searching for novelty and excitement。
We assume that consciousness is organic； though we concede that it may be true that it is borrowed from a great pool of consciousness＇1＇ out of which we all come。 Consciousness IS organic because a blow on the head may abolish it as may drugs and disease； or a shifting of the blood supply as in emotion or fatigue in the form of sleep； etc。 Where does it go to and how does it come back？ The savage answered that question by building up the idea of a soul； a thing that might migrate； had an independent existence； took journeys in the form of dreams and lived and flourished after death。 Most of these ideas still persist； perhaps as much through the fear of annihilation as anything else； but as to whether or not they are true this book does not concern itself。 We have no proof of these matters； but we can prove that we can play on consciousness as we play on a piano； through the body and brain。 A blow injures groups of nerve cells and consciousness disappears； when they recover； it returns。 Where does any function go when structure is injured？ We have practically the same kind of proof for the position of consciousness as a function of the brain and body that we have for gastric juice as a secretion of gastric cells。 ＇1＇ Even if it were true that consciousness is the only reality； nobody really believes it in that nobody acts as if it were true。 Conversely； everybody acts as if trees； rocks； and people were realities； as if fatigue； sickness； age； etc。； affected consciousness。 That is why； in this book； we are discarding as irrelevant the 〃ultimate〃 truth concerning consciousness。 My humble belief is that the ultimate truth in this matter will never concern us because we shall never know it。
However widely we spread the function of consciousness and its domain； we still leave a large field of activities untouched。 And so we come to the conception of the subconsciousness。 There are two prevailing sets of opinions concerning the subconscious。 The first is quite matter…of…fact。 It states that the movements and activities of a large part of the body are outside of the realm of consciousness； such as the activities of the great visceraheart； lungs； intestines； liver； blood vessels； sex glandsand are largely operated by the vegetative nervous system。＇1＇ There are influences pouring into the brain from these organs； together with influences from muscles； joints； tendons； and these influences； though not consciously itemized； are the subconsciously received stimuli which give us feelings of vigor； energy； courage； hopefulness； or the reverse； according to the state of the organism。 In health the ordinary result of these stimuli is good； though people may have health in that no definite disease is present； and yet there is some deficiency in the energy…arousing viscera which brings a lowered coenesthesia； a lessened vigor and lowered mood。 In youth the state of the organs brings a state of well feeling； in old age there is a constant feeling of a low balance of energy and mood； and the person is always on the verge of unpleasant feeling。 In the great change periods of lifeat puberty and the climacteric （or the menopause）the sudden change in the activity of the sex organs may produce great alterations＇2＇ in the coenaesthesia and therefore in the energy and mood of the individual。 ＇1＇ This is not the place to describe the vegetative nervous system。 （It was formerly called the sympathetic nervous system； but this term is now limited to one part of this system； and the term autonomic to another part； although some writers still use the term sympathetic for the whole； and others ＇the English＇ the term autonomic for the whole。） This system is the nervous mechanism of organic life； regulating heart； lungs； blood vessels； intestines； sex organs； acting together with endocrines； etc。 A huge amount of work has been done of late years on this system and we know definitely that it stimulates； inhibits and regulates these organs； and also that it records their activities。 We are commencing to believe that this system is fully as important； in mental life； as the brain。 See Langley； Schaeffer； Higier； etc。 ＇2＇ This is especially true of the menopause in women； and often enough of each menstrual period。 That there is a climacteric in men is not so clear； but something corresponding to it occurs； at least in the case of some men。
In addition； these activities； which are so all…important； determine the basic conduct by arousing the basic appetites and desires of the individual。 It is the change in the gastro…intestinal tract and in the tissues of the body that starts up the hunger feeling and the impulses which prompt men to seek food； in other words； this type of coenaesthesia has set going all the physical and mental activities relating to food； it is the basic impulse behind agriculture and stock raising； as well as energizing work activities of all kinds。 It is the tension in the seminal vessels of the male that wakes up his passion； if it is not the sole source of that passion。 Sex desire in the adult male has many elements in i