The Power of Thought; what it is and what it does
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| The power of thought; what it is and what it does |
From of old, men have been much given to philosophizing. This spirit of restless inquiry is to be accounted for by the interest we all take in com- prehending phenomena. The present effort is only another attempt in the same direction, differing from others, it may be, in some of its details, if not in conception.
The questions treated are such as a young man may turn over in his mind when engaged in the serious study of mental and moral problems. The plan adopted was to write down my thoughts on any slip of paper found in my pockets, as I was walking, or riding, about the farm, or the neighbourhood, and then wait, often for many days and weeks, or even months, until, after some desultory reading, or else conversation of the ordinary kind, I felt I was in a better mood to deal with some leading problem that was engaging my attention.
After some little time, I found I had a large bundle of these little slips, which I subsequently sorted out and pinned together, as best I could. But when I undertook to compose the present monograph, I soon found that I was committed to the task of throwing away the greater number of my slips; a discovery that surprised, and discouraged, me exceedingly. Such, in brief, is a history of the troubles I encountered when composing these pages; my first, and certainly final, attempt to address the general public.
Many of the conclusions reached were by no means anticipated. Indeed, many of my former views had to be reformed, in part or whole, or else abandoned entirely, as I wrote. And the hesitation with which some friendly psychologists, to whom I handed the manuscript for an opinion, received some of my speculations, admonishes me that they will be seriously challenged. But facts and their significance must control our theories.
The cold gaze of hostile criticism will reveal the truth. In the treatment of sensations, perceptions, and conceptions, much of what I have to say is mainly expository, and in keeping with received teachings. Still, I have not felt bound to follow any authority, however eminent, reserving room for independent judgment, without encumbering the argument with any formal statement of diverging views which I could not stop to refute, in detail.
The attentive reader will remark if I mistake not, that the argument is not without an individuality of its own. Eef erring now to what is said on the subjects of Environment, The Power of Thought, Emotions and Desires, Alternative Choice, The Will, etc., etc., I have to say that I am not aware of anyone prosecuting these studies after the manner in which I have treated them.
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