Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1843, by HARPER & BROTHERS, In the Clerk's Office of the Southern District New York. BI 0670 PREFACE. IN undertaking to prepare the present volume, I was strongly influenced by a conviction of the practical importance of the subject. It is perhaps true, that the public mind is but little informed, certainly much less than it should be, in relation to the true doctrines of regular or normal mental action; but it is, undoubtedly, much more ignorant of the philosophy of defective and disordered mental action. Nor is it surprising that this should be the case, when we consider that but very few writers, even of those who have professedly devoted themselves to mental inquiries, have particularly investigated this portion of the Philosophy of Mind. It has, in fact, been almost totally neglected, except by a few learned and philosophical writers of the medical profession, who, in the discharge of their professional duties, could not well avoid giving some attention to this subject. But the books of these writers, of great value as they undoubtedly are, are for the most part taken up with the consideration of disordered mental action as it is connected particularly with the physical system, and with various practical directions having relation to the treatment of insane persons. These works were not designed for popular circulation; nor, as a matter of fact, has this been the case. Under these circumstances, it naturally suggested ed itself to the proprietors of the Family Library that something might be prepared on this subject which would be both interesting and useful. In undertaking this task, although I had for some time directmy attention to inquiries of this nature, I deeply felt my inability to do justice to a subject hitherto considered so doubtful in its principles, and universally acknowledged to be exceedingly complicated in its relations. Believing, however, that such a work might be practically useful, and that, in fact, it was much needed, I was willing to do what I could in the somewhat narrow limits which the plan of the Family Library allowed me. I have therefore laid down the outlines of this great subject in the manner which facts and nature seemed to me to dictate, and with a sincere regard to what seemed to me to be the truth. As the work is designed for popular reading as much and even more than for men of science, I have endeavoured to be simple and natural in the plan of inquiry as well as in style. I commit it to the reader in the hope that he will accept whatever merit the work has, and regard it leniently in whatever it may fall short of his reasonable expectations. Bowdoin College, Oct., 1839. 1839 THOMAS C. UPHAM. |