Mind and Body; or, Mental States and Physical Conditions

The majority of the body's activities are involuntary—meaning they are independent, or mostly independent, of the control of the conscious will. As Dr. Schofield Dr. Alfred Taylor Schofield (1846–1933) was a prominent British physician who wrote extensively on the "unconscious mind" and its role in health before Freudian psychology became the standard. says:

“The unconscious mind shares three qualities with the conscious mind—namely original: "viz.", an abbreviation of the Latin videlicet, will, intellect, and emotion—but it undoubtedly possesses another very important one: nutrition, or the general maintenance of the body.”

As Hudson Thomas Jay Hudson (1834–1903) was an influential American author who popularized the "dual mind" theory, distinguishing between the objective (conscious) and subjective (subconscious) minds. states:

“The subjective mind has absolute control of the functions, conditions, and sensations of the body.”

Despite the debate that is still raging concerning the exact nature of the subconscious mind, the authorities all agree on one fact: whatever else it may be, it can be considered the phase, aspect, part, or field of the mind that is in charge of and controls most of the body's physical functioning.

Von Hartmann Eduard von Hartmann (1842–1906) was a German philosopher whose work, Philosophy of the Unconscious, bridge the gap between biological processes and mental activity. says:

“The explanation that unconscious mental original: "psychical" activity itself properly shapes and maintains the body is not only logically sound, but it is also supported by every possible parallel from the various branches of physical and animal [life]...”