ABSTRACT
As everyone knows, the conception of the 'unconscious', while not entirely novel, is supposed to have effected a revolution in 'modern' psychology. In consequence, it is often stated that the psychology of all previous moralists, together with the opinion of responsibility held by lawyers and by the man in the street, must be radically revised. It seems important, therefore, to consider this question in so far as it affects the argument. This new-fangled revolution is very heedless of its logic, as the term 'unconscious' shows. Our laws, institutions and social behaviour are based upon the orthodox opinion, and our ideas of our own selves are very largely a reflection of this circumstance. In the ordinary way, again, we are pretty modest in our claims concerning the immediate control of our thought by express intention. Certainly we claim, and with reason, a more remote and indirect control over our mental processes.
