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Human Personality and Its Survival of Bodily Death

Written by F. W. H. (Frederic William Henry) Myers

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ImmortalityParapsychologyPersonality

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About this book

"Human Personality and Its Survival of Bodily Death" by F. W. H. Myers is a scientific publication written in the late 19th century. The text delves into the profound questions surrounding human existence, particularly focusing on whether human personality can exist beyond physical death. Myers aims to explore and systematically analyze phenomena related to this topic, advocating for a scientific approach to studying the human soul and consciousness. At the start of the work, Myers introduces the paradox that humanity has not applied modern scientific inquiry to the crucial question of the soul's survival after death, a topic vital to understanding human existence. He particularly emphasizes the need for a rigorous examination of the nature of personality, suggesting that traditional beliefs and superstitions have kept this inquiry separate from the scientific realm. Through his exploration, Myers sets the stage for a detailed discussion on how different aspects of human experience—like dreams, hypnosis, and psychic phenomena—may point to a deeper understanding of consciousness that transcends physical reality.

Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in Human Personality and Its Survival of Bodily Death, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 50 hours
  • advanced
  • Intellectual
  • Investigative
  • Profound

F. W. H. Myers's monumental work, "Human Personality and Its Survival of Bodily Death," is a pioneering late 19th-century scientific inquiry into the nature of human consciousness and its potential persistence beyond physical demise. Myers systematically challenges the prevailing scientific materialism of his era, arguing for the necessity of applying rigorous empirical methods to phenomena traditionally relegated to superstition or religion. He introduces the groundbreaking concept of the 'subliminal self,' a vast reservoir of consciousness beyond our everyday awareness, as the true seat of personality. Through extensive analysis of dreams, hypnosis, automatism, and purported psychic phenomena, the book posits that these experiences offer evidence for a more expansive understanding of consciousness that could transcend bodily death, thus laying the groundwork for psychical research.

“The subliminal self is the true self, or at least the true self in its earliest stages, of the developing personality.”

Key themes

Survival of Personality/Consciousness after Death
This is the overarching theme of the entire work. Myers meticulously gathers and analyzes evidence from various phenomena (automatism, apparitions, trance states) to build a case for the persistence of human personality beyond the physical death of the body. He attempts to provide a scientific, rather than merely theological or superstitious, foundation for this belief, arguing that an expanded view of consciousness makes survival plausible.
The Subliminal Self and the Unconscious Mind
Myers introduced the concept of the 'subliminal self' as a vast, deeper stratum of consciousness operating beneath our everyday waking awareness. This concept is crucial to his arguments, as he attributes to it various faculties, including extraordinary memory, latent talents, and psychic abilities. It is presented as a more comprehensive and enduring aspect of personality than the 'supraliminal' self, influencing later theories of the unconscious.
Scientific Inquiry into Metaphysical Questions
Myers passionately argues for the application of rigorous scientific methods to questions traditionally considered beyond the purview of science, specifically those concerning the 'soul' and post-mortem existence. He criticizes the scientific establishment for its dogmatic materialism and its refusal to investigate phenomena simply because they challenge existing paradigms, advocating for an open-minded, empirical approach to all aspects of human experience.

Worth discussing

How does Myers's concept of the 'subliminal self' compare to later psychological theories of the unconscious (e.g., Freud, Jung)?

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