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Thereisnoreasonthereforetocondemntheothertheoriesentirely。Mostofthemdoubtlesscontainsomethingmorethanaparticleoftruth；inparticular，thegreatquarrelbetweenthesubconsciousschoolandthespiritualistsisbasedonthewholeuponamisunderstanding。Itisquitepossibleandevenveryprobablethatthedeadareallaroundus，sinceitisimpossiblethatthedeaddonotlive。Oursubconsciousnessmustminglewithallthatdoesnotdieinthem；andthatwhichdiesinthemorratherdispersesandlosesallitsimportanceisbutthelittleconsciousnessaccumulatedonthisearthandkeptupuntilthelasthourbythefrailbondsofmemory。Inallthosemanifestationsofourunknownguest，itisourposthumousegothatalreadylivesinuswhilewearestillinthefleshandatmomentsjoinsthatwhichdoesnotdieinthosewhohavequittedtheirbody。Thendoestheexistenceofourunknownguestpresumetheimmortalityofapartofourselves？Canonepossiblydoubtit？Haveyoueverimaginedthatyouwouldperishentirely？Asforme，whatIcannotpictureisthemannerinwhichyouwouldpicturethattotalannihilation。But，ifyoucannotperishentirely，itisnolesscertainthatthosewhocamebeforeyouhavenotperishedeither；andhenceitisnotaltogetherimprobablethatwemaybeabletodiscoverthemandtocommunicatewiththem。Inthiswidersense，thespiritualistictheoryisperfectlyadmissible；butwhatisnotatalladmissibleisthenarrowandpitifulinterpretationwhichitsproponentstoooftengiveit。Theyseethedeadcrowdingarounduslikewretchedpuppetsindissolublyattachedtotheinsignificantsceneoftheirdeathbythethousandlittlethreadsofinsipidmemoriesandinfantilehobbies。Theyaresupposedtobehere，blockingupourhomes，moreabjectlyhumanthaniftheywerestillalive，vague，inconsistent，garrulous，derelict，futileandidle，tossinghitherandthithertheirdesolateshadows，whicharebeingslowlyswallowedupbysilenceandoblivion，busyingthemselvesincessantlywithwhatnolongerconcernsthem，butalmostincapableofdoingusarealservice，somuchsothat，inshort，theywouldendbypersuadingusthatdeathservesnopurpose，thatitneitherpurifiesnorexalts，thatitbringsnodeliveranceandthatitisindeedathingofterroranddespair。
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No，itisnotthedeadwhothusspeakandact。Besides，whybringthemintothematterunnecessarily？Icouldunderstandthatweshouldbeobligedtodosoiftherewerenosimilarphenomenaoutsidethem；butintheintuitionandclairvoyanceofnonspiritualisticmediumsandparticularlyinpsychometryweobtaincommunicationsbetweenonesubconsciousnessandanotherandrevelationsofunknown，forgottenorfutureincidentswhichareequallystriking，thoughstrippedofthevapidgossipandtediumreminiscenceswithwhichweareoverwhelmedbydefunctpersonswhoareallthemorejealoustoprovetheiridentityinasmuchastheyknowthattheydonotexist。
Itisinfinitelymorelikelythatthereisstrangemedleyofheterogeneousforcesintheuncertainregionsintowhichweareventuring。Thewholeofthisambiguousdrama，withitsincoherentcrowds，isprobablyenactedroundaboutthedimestuarywhereournormalconsciousnessflowsintooursubconsciousness。Theconsciousnessofthemedium——forwemustnotforgetthatthereisnecessarilyalwaysamediumatthesourcesofthesephenomena——theconsciousnessofthemedium，obscuredbytheconditionoftrancebutyettheonlyonethatpossessesourhumanspeechandcanmakeitselfheard，takesinfirstandalmostexclusivelywhatitbestunderstandsandwhatmostinterestsitinthestifledandmutilatedrevelationsofourunknownguest，whichforitspartcommunicateswiththedeadandthelivingandeverythingthatexists。Therest，whichistheonlythingthatmatters，butwhichislessclearandlessvividbecauseitcomesfromafar，onlyveryrarelymakesitsdifficultwaythroughaforestofinsignificanttalk。Wemayaddthatoursubconsciousness，asDr。Geleyveryrightlyobserves，isformedofsuperposedelements，beginningwiththeunconsciousnessthatgovernstheinstinctivemovementsoftheorganiclifeofboththespeciesandtheindividualandpassingbyimperceptibledegreestillitrisestothesuperiorpsychismwhosepowerandextentappeartohavenobounds。Thevoiceofthemedium，orthatwhichwehearwithinourselveswhen，atcertainmomentsofexcitementorcrisisinourlives，webecomeourownmedium，hasthereforetotraversethreeworldsorthreeprovinces：thatoftheatavisticinstinctswhichconnectuswiththeanimal；thatofhumanorempiricalconsciousness；andlastlythatofourunknownguestoroursuperiorsubconsciousnesswhichlinksustoimmenseinvisiblerealitiesandwhichwemay，ifwewish，calldivineorsuperhuman。Henceitisnotsurprisingthattheintermediary，behespiritualist，autonomist，palingenesistorwhathewill，shouldlosehimselfinthosewildandtroublededdiesandthatthetruthormessagewhichhebringsus，tossedandtumbledineverydirection，shouldreachusbroken，shatteredandpulverizedbeyondrecognition。
Fortherest，Irepeat，wereitnotfortheabsurdprominencegiventoourdeadinthespiritualisticinterpretation，thisquestionoforiginwouldhavelittleimportance，sincebothlifeanddeathareincessantlyjoiningandunitinginallthings。
Thereareassuredlydeadpeopleinallthesemanifestations，seeingthatwearefullofdeadpeopleandthatthegreaterpartofourselvesisatthismomentsteepedindeath，thatistosay，isalreadylivingtheboundlesslifethatawaitsusonthefarthersideofthegrave。
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Weshouldbewrong，however，tofixallourattentionontheseextraordinaryphenomena，eitherthosewithwhichweundulyconnectthedeceasedorthosenolessstrikingonesinwhichwedonotbelievethattheytakepart。Theyareevidentlypreciouspointsofemergencethatenableusapproximatelytomarktheextent，theformsandthehabitsofourmystery。Butitiswithinourselves，inthesilenceofthedarknessofourbeing，whereitiseverinmotion，guidingourdestiny，thatweshouldstrivetosurprisethatmysteryandtodiscoverit。AndIamnotspeakingonlyofthedreams，thepresumptions，thevagueintuitions，theroomorlessbrilliantinspirationswhicharesomanymoremanifestations，specificasitwereandanalogouswiththosethathaveoccupiedus。Thereisanother，amoresecretandmuchmoreactiveexistencewhichwehavescarcelybeguntostudyandwhichis，ifwedescendtothebed-rockoftruth，ouronlyrealexistence。Fromthedarkestcornersofouregoitdirectsourveritablelife，theonethatisnottodie，andpaysnoheedtoourthoughtortoanythingemanatingfromourreason，whichbelievesthatitguidesnorsteps。Italoneknowsthelongpastthatprecededourbirthandtheendlessfuturethatwillfollowourdeparturefromthisearth。Itisitselfthatfutureandthatpast，allthosefromwhomwehavesprungandallthosewhowillspringfromus。Itrepresentstheindividualnotonlythespeciesbutthatwhichprecededitandthatwhichwillfollowit；andithasneitherbeginningnorend：thatiswhynothingtouchesit，nothingmovesitwhichdoesnotconcernthatwhichitrepresents。
Whenamisfortuneorajoybefallus，itknowstheirvalueinstantly，knowsiftheyaregoingtoopenortodosethewellsoflife。Itistheonethingthatisneverwrong。Invaindoesreasondemonstratetoit，byirresistiblearguments，thatitishopelesslyatfault：silentunderitsimmovablemask，whoseexpressionwehavenotyetbeenabletoreactitpursuesitsway。
Ittreatsusasinsignificantchildren，voidofunderstanding，neveranswersourobjections，refuseswhatweaskandlavishesuponusthatwhichwerefuse。Ifwegototheright，itreconductsustotheleft。Ifwecultivatethisorthatfacultywhichwethinkthatwepossessorwhichwewouldliketopossess，ithidesitundersomeotherwhichwedidnotexpectanddidnotwishfor。Itsavesusfromadangerbyimpartingtoourlimbsunforeseenandunerringmovementsandactionswhichtheyhadnevermadebeforeandwhicharecontrarytothosewhichtheyhadbeentaughttomake：itknowsthatthehourhasnotyetcomewhenitwillbeuselesstodefendourselves。Itchoosesourloveinspiteoftherevoltofourintelligenceorofourpoor，ephemeralheart。Itsmileswhenwearefrightenedandsometimesitisfrightenedwhenwesmile。Anditisalwaysthewinner，humiliatingourreason，crushingourwisdomandsilencingargumentsandpassionsalikewiththecontemptuoushandofdestiny。Thegreatestdoctorssurroundoursick-bedanddeceivethemselvesandusinforetellingourdeathorourrecovery：italonewhispersinourcarthetruththatwillnotbedenied。A
thousandapparentlymortalblowsfalluponourheadandnotalashofitseyelidsquivers；butsuddenlyatinyshock，whichoursenseshadnoteventransmittedtoourbrain，wakesitwithastart。Itsitsup，looksaroundandunderstands。Ithasseenthecrackinthevaultthatseparatesthetwolives。Itgivesthesignalfordeparture。Forthwithpanicspreadsfromcelltocell；
andtheinnumerouscitythatweareuttersyellsofhorroranddistressandhustlesaroundthegatesofdeath。
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Thatgreatfigure，thatnewbeinghasbeenthere，inourdarkness，fromalltime，thoughitsawkwardandextravagantactions，untilrecentlyattributedtothegods，thedemonsorthedead，amonlynowaskingforourseriousattention。Ithasbeenlikenedtoanimmenseblockofwhichourpersonalityisbutadiminutivefacet；toanicebergofwhichweseeafewglisteningprismsthatrepresentourlife，whilenine-tenthsoftheenormousmassremainburiedintheshadowsofthesea。AccordingtoSirOliverLodge，itisthatpartofourbeingthathasnotbecomecarnate；accordingtoGustaveLeBon，itisthe\"condensed\"soulofourancestors，whichistrue，beyondadoubt，butonlyapartofthetruth，forwefindinitalsothesoulofthefutureandprobablyofmanyotherforceswhicharenotnecessarilyhuman。
WilliamJamessawinitadiffusecosmicconsciousnessandthechanceintrusionintoourscientificallyorganizedworldofremnantsandbestigesoftheprimordialchaos。Hereareanumberofimagesstrivingtogiveusanideaofarealitysovastthatweareunabletograspit。Itiscertainthatwhatweseefromourterrestriallifeisnothingcomparedwithwhatwedonotsee。
Besides，ifwethinkofit，itwouldbemonstrousandinexplicablethatweshouldbeonlywhatweappeartobe，nothingbutourselves，wholeandcompleteinourselves，separated，isolated，circumscribedbyourbody，ourmind，ourconsciousness，ourbirthandourdeath。Webecomepossibleandprobableonlyontheconditionsthatweprojectbeyondourselvesoneverysideandthatwestretchineverydirectionthroughouttimeandspace。
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Buthowshallweexplaintheincrediblecontrastbetweentheimmeasurablegrandeurofourunknownguest，theassurance，thecalmness，thegravityoftheinnerlifewhichitleadsinusandthepuerileandsometimesgrotesqueincongruitiesofwhatonemightcallitspublicexistence？Insideus，itisthesovereignjudge，thesupremearbiter，theprophet，almostthegodomnipotent；outsideus，fromthemomentthatitquitsitsshelterandmanifestsitselfinexternalactions，itisnothingmorethanafortune-teller，abone-setter，asortoffacetiousconjurorortelephone-operator，Iwasonthevergeofsayingamountebankorclown。Atwhatparticularinstantisitreallyitself？Isitseizedwithgiddinesswhenitleavesitslair？Isitwewhonolongerhearit，whonolongerunderstandit，assoonasitceasestospeakinawhisperandtoactinthedarkrecessesofourlife？Areweinregardtoittheterrifiedhiveinvadedbyahugeandinexplicablehand，themaddenedant-hilltrampledbyacolossalandincomprehensiblefoot？Letusnotventureyettosolvethestrangeriddlewiththeaidofthelittlethatweknow。
Letusconfineourselves，forthemoment，tonotingonthewaysomeother，rathereasierquestionswhichwecanatleasttrytoanswer。
Firstofall，arethefactsatissuereallynew？Wasitonlyyesterdaythattheexistenceofourunknownguestanditsexternalmanifestationswererevealedtous？Isitourattentionthatmakesthemappearmorenumerous，orisittheincreaseintheirnumberthatatlastattractsoutattention？
Itdoesindeedseemthat，howeverfarwegobackinhistory，weeverywherefindthesameextraordinaryphenomena，underothernamesandofteninamoreglamoroussetting。Oracles，prophecies，incantations，haruspication，\"possession，\"evocationofthedead，apparitions，ghosts，miraculouscures，levitation，transmissionofthought，apparentresurrectionsandtherestaretheexactequivalent，thoughmagnifiedbytheaidofplentifulandobviousfraudsofourlatter-daysupernaturalism。Turninginanotherdirection，weareabletoseethatpsychicalphenomenaareveryevenlydistributedoverthewholesurfaceoftheglobe。Atallevents，theredoesnotappeartobeanyracethatisabsolutelyorpeculiarlyrefractorytothem。Onewouldbeinclinedtosay，however，thattheymanifestthemselvesbypreferenceamongthemostcivilizednations——perhapsbecausethatiswheretheyaremostcarefullysoughtafter——andamongthemostprimitive。Inshort，itcannotbedeniedthatweareinthepresenceoffacultiesorsenses，moreorlesslatentbutatthesametimeuniversallydistributed，whichformpartofthegeneralandunvaryinginheritanceofmankind。Buthavethesefacultiesorsensesundergoneevolution，likemostoftheothers？And，iftheyhavenotdonesoonourearth，dotheyshowtracesofanextraplanetaryevolution？Isthereprogressorreaction？Aretheywitheredanduselessbranches，orbudsswollenwithsapandpromise？Aretheyretreatingbeforethemarchofintelligenceorinvadingitsdomain？
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M。ErnestBozzano，oneofthemostlearned，mostdaringandmostsubtleexponentsofthenewsciencethatisinprocessofformation，inthecourseofaremarkableessayintheAnnalesdessciencespsychiques，[1]givesitashisopinionthattheyhaveremainedstationaryandunchanged。Heconsidersthattheyhavebecomeinnowaydiffused，generalizedandrefined，likesomanyothersthataremuchlessimportantandusefulfromthepointofviewofthestruggleforlife，suchasthemusicalfaculty，forinstance。Itdoesnotevenseem，saysM。Bozzano，thatitispossibletocultivateordevelopthemsystematically。TheHinduraceinparticular，whoforthousandsofyearshavebeendevotingthemselvestothestudyofthesemanifestations，havearrivedatnothingbutabetterknowledgeoftheempiricalmethodscalculatedtoproducetheminindividualsalreadyendowedwiththesesupernormalfaculties。IdonotknowtowhatextentM。
Bozzano’sassertionsarebeyonddispute。Theyconcernhistoricalorremotefactswhichitisverydifficulttoverify。Inanycase，itissomethingtohaveperfected，ashasbeendoneinIndia，theempiricalmethodsfavourabletotheproductionofsupernormalphenomena。Onemightevensaythatitisaboutallthatwehavetherighttoexpect，seeingthat，bytheauthor’sownadmission，thesefacultiesarelatentineverymanandthat，ashasfrequentlybeenseen，itneedsbutanillness，alesion，orsometimeseventheslightestemotionoramerepassingfaintnesstomakethemsuddenlyrevealthemselvesinanindividualwhoseemedmosthopelesslydevoidofthem。Itisthereforequitepossiblethat，byimprovingthemethods，byattackingthemysteryfromotherquarters，wemightobtainmoredecisiveresultsthantheHindus。WemustrememberthatourwesternsciencehasbutlatelyinteresteditselfintheseproblemsandthatithasmeansofinvestigatingandexperimentingwhichtheAsiaticsneverpossessed。Itmayevenbedeclaredthatatnotimeintheexistenceofourworldhasthescientificmindbeenbetter-equipped，better-suitedtocopewitheverytask，ormoreexact，moreskilfulandmorepenetratingthanitistoday。
Becausetheorientalempiricshavefailed，thereisnoreasontobelievethatitwillnotsucceedinawakeningandcultivatingineverymanthosefacultieswhichwouldoftenbeofgreaterusetohimthanthoseoftheintellectitself。Itisnotoverboldtosuggestthat，fromcertainpointsofview，thetruehistoryofmankindhashardlybegun。
[1]September，1906。
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Nevertheless，insofarasconcernsthenaturalevolutionofthosefaculties，M。Bozzano’sassertionseemfairlywell-
justified。Wedonot，infact，observeastartlingorevenappreciabledifferencebetweenwhattheywereandwhattheyare。
Andthisanomalyisthemoresurprisinginasmuchasitisalmostuniversallyacceptedthatasenseorafacultybecomesdevelopedinproportiontoitsusefulness；andtherearefew，I
think，thatwouldhavebeennotonlymoreusefulbutevenmorenecessarytoman。Hehasalwayshadakeenandprimitiveinterestinknowingwithoutdelaythemostsecretthoughtsofhisfellow-man，whoisoftenhisadversaryandsometimeshismortalenemy。Hehasalwayshadaninterestnolessgreatinimmediatelytransmittingthosethoughtsthroughspace，inseeingbeyondthecontinentsandseas，ingoingbackintothepast，inadvancingintothefuture，inbeingabletofindinhismemoryatwillnotonlyalltheacquirementsofhispersonalexperiencebutalsothoseofhisancestors，incommunicatingwiththedeadandperhapswiththesovereignintelligencediffusedovertheuniverse，indiscoveringhiddenspringsandtreasures，inescapingtheharshanddepressinglawsofmatterandgravity，inrelievingpain，incuringthegreaternumberofhisdisordersandeveninrestoringhislimbs，nottomentionmanyothermiracleswhichhecouldworkifheknewallthemightyforcesthatdoubtlessslumberinthedarkrecessesofhislife。
Isthisoncemoreanunexpectedcharacteroftheeccentricphysiologyofourunknownguest？Herearefacultiesmorepreciousthanthemostpreciousfacultiesthathavemadeuswhatweare，facultieswhosemagicbudssproutoneverysideunderneathourintelligencebuthaveneverburstintoflower，asthoughawindfromanotherspherehadkilledthemwithitsicybreath。Isitbecauseitoccupiesitselffirstandforemostwiththespeciesthatitthusneglectstheindividual？But，afterall，thespeciesisonlyanaggregateofsuccessiveindividuals；anditsevolutionconsequentlydependsupontheirevolution。Therewouldthereforehavebeenanevidentadvantagetothespeciesindevelopingfacultiesthatwouldperhapshavecarrieditmuchfartherandmuchhigherthanhasbeendonebyitsbrain-power，whichalonehasprogressed。Ifthereisnoevolutionforthemhere，dotheydevelopelsewhere？Whatarethosepowerswhichexistoutsideandindependentofthelawsofthisearth？Dotheythenbelongtootherworlds？But，ifso，whataretheydoinginours？Onewouldsometimesthink，atthesightofsomuchneglectfulness，uncertaintyandinconsistency，thatman’sevolutionhadbeenintentionallyretardedbyasuperiorwill，asthoughthatwillfearedthathewasgoingtoofast，thathewasanticipatingsomepreestablishedorderandmovingprematurelyoutofhisappointedplane。
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Andtheriddlesaccumulatewhichwecannothopetosolve。Ithasbeensaidthattheseabnormalfacultiesarecommunicationsorinfiltrations，themselvesabnormal，whichhavefoundtheirwaythroughthepartitionsthatseparateourconsciousnessfromoursubconsciousness。Thisisverylikely，butitisonlyaminorsideofthequestion。Itwouldbeimportantbeforealltoknowwhatthatsubconsciousnessrepresents，whitherittendsandwithwhatititselfiscommunicating。Istheimpersonalformofknowledgeanecessaryoranaccidentalstage？Istheimpersonalformwhichittakesinthesubconsciousnesstheonlytrueone？Istherereally，aseverythingseemstoprove，ahopelessincompatibilitybetweenourintellectualfacultiesandthosefamiliesofuncertainorigin，tosuchanextentthatthelatterareunabletomanifestthemselvesexceptwhentheformerareweakenedortemporarilysuspended？Ithas，atanyrate，beenobservedthattheyarehardlyeverexercisedsimultaneously。Arewetobelievethat，atagivenmoment，mankindorthegeniusthatpresidesoveritsdestinieshadtomakeanexclusiveandawfulchoicebetweencerebralenergyandthemysteriousforcesofthesubconsciousnessandthatwestillfindtracesofitshesitationsinourorganism？Whatwouldhavebecomeofaraceofmaninwhichthesubconsciousnesshadtriumphedoverthebrain？Isnotthisthecasewithanimals；andwouldnottheracehaveremainedpurelyanimal？Orelsewouldnotthispreponderanceofasubconsciousmorepowerfulthanthatoftheanimalsandalmostindependentofourbodyhaveresultedinthedisappearanceoflifeasweknowit；andshouldwenotevennowbetradingthelifewhichweshallprobablyleadwhenwearedead？Hereareanumberofquestionstowhichtherearenoanswersandwhichareneverthelessperhapsnotsoidleasonemightatfirstbelieve。
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Amidstthisantagonism，whosetriumpharewetohopefor？Isanyalliancebetweenthetwoopposingforcesforeverimpossiblesolongasweareintheflesh？Whatarewetodomeanwhile？Ifachoicebeinevitable，whichwaywillourchoiceincline；andwhichvictimshallwesacrifice？Shallwelistentothosewhotellusthatthereisnothingmoretobegainedorlearntinthoseinhospitableregionswhereallourbewilderingphenomenahavebeenknownsincemanfirstwasman？Isittruethatoccultism——asitisveryimproperlycalled，fortheknowledgewhichitseeksisnomoreoccultthananyother——isittruethatoccultismismarkingtime，thatitisbecominghopelesslyentangledinthesamedoubtfulfactsandthatithasnottakenasinglestepforwardsinceitsrenaissancemorethanfiftyyearsago？Onemustbeentirelyignorantofthewonderfuleffortsofthosefruitfulyearstoventureuponsuchanassertion。Thisisnottheplacetodiscussthequestion，whichwouldrequirefullandcarefultreatment；butwemaysafelysaythatuntilnowthereisnosciencewhichinsoshortatimehasbroughtorderoutofsuchachaos，ascertained，checkedandclassifiedsuchaquantityoffacts，ormorerapidlyawakened，cultivatedandtrainedinmancertainfacultieswhichhehadneverseriouslybeenbelievedtopossess；andfurthermorenonewhichhascausedtoberecognizedasincontestableandthusintroducedintothecircleoftherealitieswhereonwebaseourlivesanumberofunlikelyphenomenawhichhadhithertobeencontemptuouslypassedover。Wearestill，itistrue，waitingforthedomesticationofthenewforce，itspracticalapplicationtodailyuse。Wearewaitingfortheall-revealing，decisivemanifestationwhichwillremoveourlastdoubtsandthrowlightupontheproblemdowntoitsverysource。Butletusadmitthatwearelikewisewaitingforthismanifestationinthegreatmajorityofsciences。Inmycase，wearealreadyinthepresenceofanastonishingmassofwell-weighedandverifiedmaterialswhich，untilnow，hadbeentakenfortherefuseofdreams，fragmentsofwildlegends，meaninglessandunimportant。Formorethanthreecenturies，thescienceofelectricityremainedatverymuchthesamepointatwhichourpsychicalsciencesstandto-day。Menwererecording，accumulating，tryingtointerpretahostofoddandfutilephenomena，toyingwithRamsden’smachine，withLeydenjars，withVolta’sroughbattery。Theythoughtthattheyhaddiscoveredanagreeablepastime，aningeniousplaythingforthelaboratoryorstudy；andtheyhadnottheslightestsuspicionthattheyweretouchingthesourcesofanuniversal，irresistible，inexhaustiblepower，invisiblypresentandactiveinallthings，thatwouldsooninvadethesurfaceofourglobe。Nothingtellsusthatthepsychicforcesofwhichwearebeginningtocatchaglimpsehavenotsimilarsurprisesinstoreforus，withthisdifference，thatwearehereconcernedwithenergiesandmysterieswhichareloftier，granderanddoubtlessfraughtwithgraverconsequences，sincetheyaffectoureternaldestinies，traversealikeourlifeandourdeathandextendbeyondourplanet。
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Itisnottruethereforethatthepsychicalscienceshavesaidtheirlastwordandthatwehavenothingmoretoexpectfromthem。Theyhavebutjustawakenedorreawakened；and，topostdateGuyau’spredictionbyahundredyears，wemightsay，withtheminourminds，thatthetwentiethcentury\"willendwithdiscoveriesasill-formulatedbutperhapsasimportantinthemoralworldasthoseofNewtonandLaplaceintheastronomicalworld。\"But，thoughwehavemuchtohopefromthem，thatisnoreasonwhyweshouldlooktothemforeverythingandabandonintheirfavourthatwhichhasbroughtuswhereweare。Thechoiceofwhichwespoke，betweenthebrainandthesubconsciousness，hasbeenmadelongago；anditisnotourparttomakeitoveragain。Wearecarriedalongbyaforceacquiredinthecourseoftwoorthreethousandyears；andourmethods，likeourintellectualhabits，haveofthemselvesbecometransformedintosortofminorsubconsciousnesssuperposeduponthemajorsubconsciousnessandsometimesminglingwithit。HenriBergson，inhisveryfinepresidentialaddresstotheSocietyforPsychicalResearchonthe28thofMay，1913，saidthathehadsometimeswonderedwhatwouldhavehappenedifmodernscience，insteadofsettingoutfrommathematics，insteadofbringingallitsforcestoconvergeonthestudyofmatter，hadbegunbytheconsiderationofmind；ifKepler，GalileoandNewton，forinstance，hadbeenpsychologists：
\"Weshouldcertainly，\"saidhe，\"havehadapsychologyofwhichto-daywecanformnoidea，anymorethanbeforeGalileowecouldhaveimaginedwhatourphysicswouldbe；apsychologythatprobablywouldhavebeentoourpresentpsychologywhatourphysicsistoAristotle’s。Foreigntoeverymechanisticidea，notevenconceivingthepossibilityofanexplanation，sciencewouldhaveenquiredinto，insteadofdismissingapriorifacts，suchasthosewhichyoustudy；perhaps’psychicalresearch’wouldhavestoodoutasitsprincipalpreoccupation。Themostgenerallawsofmentalactivityoncediscovered（as，infact，thefundamentallawsofmechanicswerediscovered），weshouldhavepassedfrommind，properlyso-called，tolife；biologywouldhavebeenconstituted，butavitalistbiology，quitedifferentfromours，whichwouldhavesoughtbehindthesensibleformsoflivingbeingstheinward，invisibleforceofwhichthesensibleformsarethemanifestations。\"
Itwouldthereforeintheveryfirstdaysofitsactivityhaveencounteredallthesestrangeproblems：telepathy，materializations，clairvoyance，miraculouscures，knowledgeofthefuture，thepossibilityofsurvival，interplanetaryintelligenceandmanyothers，whichithasneglectedhithertoandwhich，thankstoitsneglect，arestillintheirinfancy。But，asthehumanmindisnotabletofollowtwodiametricallyoppositedirectionsatthesametime，itwouldnecessarilyhaverejectedthemathematicalsciences。Asteamshipcomingfromanotherhemisphere，oneinwhichmen’smindshadtaken，unknowntoourselves，theroadwhichourownhasactuallytaken，wouldhaveseemedtousaswonderful，asincredibleasthephenomenaofoursubconsciousnessseemtousto-day。Weshouldhavegoneveryfarinwhatatpresentwecalltheunknownortheoccult；butweshouldhaveknownhardlyanythingofphysics，chemistryormechanics，unless，whichisveryprobable，wehadcomeuponthembyanotherroadaswetravelledroundtheoccult。Itistruethatcertainnations，theHindusparticularly，theEgyptiansandperhapstheIncas，aswellasothers，inallprobability，whohavenotleftsufficienttraces，thuswenttoworktheotherwayandobtainednothingdecisive。Isthisagainaconsequenceofthehopelessincompatibilitybetweenthefacultiesofthebrainandthoseofthesubconsciousness？Possibly；butwemustnotforgetthatwearespeakingofnationswhichneverpossessedourintellectualhabits，ourpassionforprecision，forverification，forexperimentalcertainty；indeed，thispassionhasonlybeenfullydevelopedinourselveswithinthelasttwoorthreecenturies。ItistobepresumedthereforethattheEuropeanwouldhavegonemuchfartherintheotherdirectionthantheOriental。
Wherewouldhehavearrived？Endowedwithadifferentbrain，naturallyclearer，moreexacting，morelogical，lesscredulous，morepractical，closertorealities，moreattentivetodetails，butwiththescientificsideofhisintelligenceuncultivated，wouldhehavegoneastrayorwouldhehavemetthetruthswhichwearestillseekingandwhichmaywellbemoreimportantthanallourmaterialconquests。Ill-prepared，ill-equipped，ill-balanced，lackingthenecessaryballastofexperimentsandproofs，wouldhehavebeenexposedtothedangersfamiliartoallthetoo-mysticalnations？Itisverydifficulttoimagineso。Butthehourhasnowperhapscometotrywithoutriskwhathecouldnothavedonewithoutgraveperil。Whileabandoningnowhitofhisunderstanding，whichissmallcomparedwiththeboundlessscopeofthesubconsciousness，butwhichissure，triedanddocile，hecannowembarkuponthegreatadventureandtrytodothatwhichhasnotbeendonebefore。Itisamatterofdiscoveringtheconnectinglinkbetweenthetwoforces。Wearestillignorantofthemeansofaiding，encouraging，developingandtamingthegreaterofthetwoandofbringingitclosertous；thequestwillbethemostdifficult，themostmysteriousand，incertainrespects，themostdangerousthatmankindhaseverundertaken。Butwecansaytoourselves，withoutfearofbeingveryfarwrong，thatitisthebesttaskatthemoment。Inanycase，thisisthefirsttimesincemanhasexistedthathewillbefrontingtheunknownwithsuchgoodweapons，evenasitisalsothefirsttimesinceitsawakeningthathisintelligence，whichhasreachedasummitfromwhichitcanunderstandalmosteverything，willatlastreceivehelpfromoutsideandhearavoicethatissomethingmorethantheechoofitsown。