[Sidenote:  Dependence of the Subconscious]

All these automatic parts of the bodily mechanism are dominated by departments of the mind entirely distinct from ordinary consciousness.  In fact, ordinary consciousness has no knowledge of their existence excepting what is learned from outward bodily manifestations.

All these different organic ganglia constitute together the sympathetic nerve system, organ of that part of the mind which directs the vital operations of the body in apparent independence of the intelligence commonly called “the mind,” an intelligence which acts through the cerebro-spinal system.

Yet this independence is far from being absolute.  For, as we have seen, not only is the cerebro-spinal system, which is the organ of consciousness, the abode of all the special senses, such as sight, hearing, etc., and therefore our only source of information of the external world, but many organs of the body are under the joint control of both systems.

So it comes about that these individual intelligences governing different organs of the body, with their intercommunications, are dependent upon consciousness for their knowledge of such facts of the outer world as have a bearing on their individual operations, and they are subject to the influence of consciousness as the medium that interprets these facts.

It is unnecessary for us to go into this matter deeply.  It is enough if you clearly understand that, in addition to consciousness, the department of mind that knows and directly deals with the facts of the outer world, there is also a deep-seated and seemingly unconscious department of mind consisting of individual organic intelligences capable of receiving, understanding and acting upon such information as consciousness transmits.

[Sidenote:  Unconsciousness and Subconsciousness]

We have spoken of conscious and “seemingly unconscious” departments of the mind.  In doing so we have used the word “seemingly” advisedly.  Obviously we have no right to apply the term “unconscious” without qualification to an intelligent mentality such as we have described.

“Unconscious” simply means “not conscious.”  In its common acceptation, it denotes, in fact, an absence of all mental action.  It is in no sense descriptive.  It is merely negative.  Death is unconscious; but unconsciousness is no attribute of a mental state that is living and impellent and constantly manifests its active energy and power in the maintenance of the vital functions of the body.

Hereafter, then, we shall continue to use the term consciousness as descriptive of that part of our mentality which constitutes what is commonly known as the “mind”; while that mental force, which, so far as our animal life is concerned, operates through the sympathetic nerve system, we shall hereafter describe as “subconscious.”

[Sidenote:  Synthesis of the Man-Machine]