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Cover of The Law of Psychic Phenomena: A working hypothesis for the systematic study of hypnotism, spiritism, mental therapeutics, etc.

The Law of Psychic Phenomena: A working hypothesis for the systematic study of hypnotism, spiritism, mental therapeutics, etc.

Written by Thomson Jay Hudson

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Parapsychology

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About this book

"The Law of Psychic Phenomena" by Thomson Jay Hudson is a scientific publication written in the late 19th century. The book seeks to establish a comprehensive working hypothesis to analyze and classify various psychic phenomena, including hypnotism, spiritism, and mental therapeutics. Hudson aims to bridge the gaps in psychological science by proposing that many seemingly disparate psychic manifestations are connected through a general principle that can be understood and studied systematically. The opening of the work lays the groundwork for this ambitious project by articulating the necessity for a unifying hypothesis in psychology, akin to those in other scientific domains like physics and chemistry. Hudson argues that without such a framework, psychological phenomena remain chaotic and misunderstood. He quickly introduces the concept of duality in human mental processes, positing the existence of an "objective mind" that interacts with the physical world through the senses, and a "subjective mind" that operates outside of these constraints, particularly when in states of hypnosis. This duality is central to understanding the book’s deeper exploration of how the human mind navigates and comprehends psychic phenomena.

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Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in The Law of Psychic Phenomena: A working hypothesis for the systematic study of hypnotism, spiritism, mental therapeutics, etc., written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 15 hours
  • advanced
  • academic
  • investigative
  • speculative

Thomson Jay Hudson's "The Law of Psychic Phenomena" is a seminal late 19th-century scientific publication proposing a comprehensive working hypothesis to systematically study diverse psychic manifestations. Central to his theory is the concept of a dual human mind: an "objective mind" interacting with the physical world through senses, and a "subjective mind" operating independently, particularly susceptible to suggestion in altered states. The book meticulously applies this duality to explain phenomena such as hypnotism, spiritism, and mental therapeutics, aiming to bridge existing gaps in psychological science. Hudson's work sought to demystify these occurrences by presenting a unified, albeit speculative, naturalistic framework. It significantly influenced early psychological thought and popular understanding of the mind's hidden powers.

“The necessity of a working hypothesis for the systematic study of psychic phenomena is the fundamental proposition of this work.”

Key themes

The Duality of Mind
The foundational theme of the book, positing the existence of two distinct mental entities within every individual: the objective mind (conscious, rational, sensory-based) and the subjective mind (unconscious, intuitive, highly suggestible, operating independently of physical senses). Hudson argues this duality is the key to understanding all psychic phenomena, as their interplay dictates human experience and extraordinary mental feats.
The Power of Suggestion
Hudson asserts that the subjective mind is supremely amenable to suggestion, and this power is the primary mechanism behind hypnotism, mental therapeutics, and even some aspects of spiritism. He details how suggestions, whether self-imposed (auto-suggestion) or from an external source (hetero-suggestion), can profoundly influence mental states, physical health, and behavior, bypassing the objective mind's critical faculties.
Scientific Method and Psychic Phenomena
Hudson's overarching goal is to bring a systematic, scientific approach to phenomena often dismissed as supernatural, chaotic, or fraudulent. He argues for the necessity of a 'working hypothesis' to classify, analyze, and understand these events, akin to methodologies in other scientific disciplines like physics or chemistry, asserting that only through such a framework can true knowledge be gained and charlatanism exposed.

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To what extent does Hudson's concept of the 'subjective mind' prefigure later psychological theories of the unconscious or subconscious?

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