Diseases of memory : an essay in the positive psychology / by Th. Ribot.

  • Ribot, Th. (Théodule), 1839-1916.
Date:
1885
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Diseases of memory : an essay in the positive psychology / by Th. Ribot. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    tliey ali’eady existed, but in an undeveloped form. Tliis nnderstood, everytliing tliat pertains to iinconscioiis activity loses its mysterious cliarac- ter and is explained v.dtli tlie greatest ease; for instance, tlie spontaneoiis acts of memory, wliicli apjiear to be incited by no association, and wbich are experienced daily by every one ; a stndent's lessons, read at niglit and foimd to be fully mas- tered tlie following day ; problenis long pondered over, wliose solution suddenly flaslies on tlie con- sciousness ; poetic, scientific, and meclianical in- ventions ; strange feelings of symxiatby or antipa- thy, etc. Unconscious cerebration does its work noiselessly, and sets obscure ideas in order. In a curions case related by Dr. Holmes * and cited by Carpenter, a nian liad a vague knowledge of the work going on in bis brain, ivitbout attaining to the State of distinct consciousness : “A busi- ness man in Boston, . . . liaving an important question under considération, liad given it up for the time as too much for him. But he was conscious of an action going on in his brain which was so unusual and jiainful as to excite his appréhensions that he was threatened with palsy, or something of that sort. After some hours of tins uneasiness, his perplexity was aU at once cleared up by the natural solution of his * “ Mechaniam ia ThotJght and Mornls,” p. 47.