William B. Carpenter · 1874
Principles of Mental Physiology
- Language
- English
- Form
- Treatise
- Text
- Full text
- English
- English original
- Source text
- archive.org
- Selected
- Ben Breen, 2026-09-29; suggested by Claude research agents, 29 Sep 2026
- Status
- Arguments unverified; quotations chosen by machine, unchecked
Q04AUTOMATON
Does conscious intention help cause bodily action?Yes. will directs bodily and mental action. Much mental activity is automatic and physically caused, but the Will is an independent power that controls and directs that activity.
It will, I doubt not, be considered by many, that there is a palpable inconsistency between the two fundamental doctrines which are here upheld ; — that of the dependence of the Automatic activity of the Mind upon conditions which bring it within the nexus of Physical Causation ; and that of the existence of an independent Power, controlling and directing that activity, which we call Will. I can only say that both are equally true to my own consciousness ; as I believe they are to the common consciousness of Mankind. I cannot regard myself, either Intellectually or Morally, as a mere puppet, pulled by suggesting-strings ; any more than I can disregard that vast body of Physiological evidence, which proves the direct and immediate relation between Mental and Corporeal agency.
OCR corrected
Archive.org record (1876 printing); 1874 Spectator reviews and summaries confirm the automatism-plus-Will position. Did not read the text.