Abstract
(1) A READABLE volume, with many apt quotations for which Emersonians in particular will be thankful. Motives may be classified as, on the one hand, due to sense of obligations (virtually religious), and on the other to self-regarding, emotional impulses which are the outcome of biological evolution. Prof. Putnam emphasises and supports the rationality of religious ideals, remarking that, “in so far as religion is the expression of the truth, it expresses the most important aspect of the truth”—a pregnant phrase; and he advances weighty philosophical arguments in favour of Theism. On the biological side he follows Freud very largely in tracing many motives and ideas to repressed desires. He wisely realises that Freud goes rather far in pushing his theory, but argues that it is based on a large accumulation of data. A hostile critic might say with some justification that Freud came to conclusions and then interpreted all new data in terms of those conclusions; moreover—this is usually not sufficiently recognised—the data themselves are untrustworthy when accumulated by a theorist with an already elaborated system, for they will inevitably be influenced by his conscious or unconscious suggestion.
(1) Human Motives.
By Prof. J. J. Putnam. Pp. xvii + 179. (London: W. Heinemann, 1915.) Price 5s. net.
(2) Sleep and Sleeplessness.
By H. A. Bruce. Pp. ix + 219. (London: W. Heinemann, 1915.) Price 5s. net.
(3) The Meaning of Dreams.
By Dr. I. H. Coriat. Pp. xiv + 194. (London: W. Heinemann, 1915.) Price 5s. net. (Mind and Health Series.)
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(1) Human Motives (2) Sleep and Sleeplessness (3) The Meaning of Dreams. Nature 97, 498 (1916). https://doi.org/10.1038/097498a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/097498a0