Narrative Summary of Unconscious Memory

Overview:

This book is a fascinating journey into the mind of Samuel Butler, a renowned author and philosopher who challenged conventional scientific thinking. He argues that the mechanism of heredity is not a random process, but rather a form of “unconscious memory” inherited from our ancestors. He presents evidence from a variety of sources, including his own observations, the work of earlier evolutionists like Buffon and Lamarck, and contemporary thinkers like Professor Ewald Hering. He also delves into the philosophical implications of this theory, ultimately suggesting that all matter, including the inorganic, possesses a form of life and memory.

Main Parts:

Part 1: Butler recounts his personal journey towards developing his theory, starting with his early engagement with Darwin’s “Origin of Species” and his dissatisfaction with its lack of explanation for the source of variations. He then details his own exploration of the potential for machines to become animate and the role of “habit” in unconscious actions.
Part 2: Butler highlights the work of Professor Ewald Hering, who proposes a theory of memory based on persistent vibrations of molecular structures. He translates Hering’s lecture, “On Memory as a Universal Function of Organised Matter,” which directly addresses the core principles Butler had already developed in his “Life and Habit.”
Part 3: Butler contrasts his theory of unconscious memory with Von Hartmann’s “Philosophy of the Unconscious,” arguing that Von Hartmann’s concept of an unconscious “clairvoyance” falls short in its lack of a direct link to memory and heredity.
Part 4: Butler addresses the most significant criticism of his theory, which is that if memory is responsible for inherited traits, it should also explain the inheritance of diseases and other traits that seem unrelated to conscious memory. He counters this argument by emphasizing that memory operates on multiple levels, some conscious and others unconscious, and that it can be both a driver and a disruptor of uniformity in action and structure.
Part 5: Butler concludes by reiterating his belief that the Darwinian system of “natural selection” is insufficient to explain the origins of species, and that a return to the earlier theories of Buffon, Lamarck, and Erasmus Darwin, with an added emphasis on the role of memory, is necessary for a more complete understanding of evolution.

View on Life:

Butler’s View: Life is a continuous process of memory, not just of individual experiences, but also of ancestral ones. This inherited memory shapes our instincts, our bodies, and even our species. Life is therefore teleological; it is guided by purpose, not chance.
Hering’s View: Memory is a fundamental function of organized matter, based on persistent vibrations within molecular structures. This continuity of vibrations explains the persistence of personal identity across generations.
Von Hartmann’s View: The universe is driven by an unconscious “clairvoyance,” a powerful force that acts as a kind of unconscious mind behind all living beings. This force shapes our instincts and drives our actions.

Scenarios:

The “Toy Mouse” Analogy: Butler uses this analogy to demonstrate that complex machines, if sufficiently intricate, could appear to be alive, suggesting that life itself may be a form of incredibly complex mechanism.
The “Clerk and the Policeman” Example: Butler uses this example to illustrate how habitual actions can be repeated without conscious memory. The clerk’s routine is driven by needs and circumstances, not by conscious recollection of past events.
The Spider, the Bird, and the Bee: Butler uses these examples to highlight the incredible complexity and adaptability of instinctual behavior, which he argues cannot be explained by simply invoking a fixed mechanism, but rather requires a deeper understanding of unconscious purpose and memory.
The Cuckoo and its Eggs: The cuckoo’s uncanny ability to lay eggs that perfectly mimic those of other species is presented as a prime example of unconscious clairvoyance, a form of inherited knowledge that transcends conscious perception.

Challenges:

The “Unknowable” in the Future: Butler addresses the challenge of explaining how animals can act instinctively based on future events that they cannot consciously perceive. He proposes that unconscious clairvoyance allows animals to “know” things that they cannot directly experience.
The “Missing” Memory: Butler’s theory is challenged by the observation that some inherited traits, like certain diseases, seem unrelated to any conscious memory. He addresses this challenge by arguing that memory operates on multiple levels and that some memories are more deeply ingrained and less accessible to conscious recall.
The “Spurious” Translation: Butler faces a significant challenge when he discovers that Charles Darwin’s published translation of Dr. Krause’s essay on Erasmus Darwin contains spurious material that seems to be a covert attack on Butler’s own work. He publicly exposes this deception, raising issues of scientific and literary integrity.

Conflict:

Butler vs. Darwin: The core conflict in the book is between Butler’s teleological view of evolution, which emphasizes the role of memory and purpose, and Darwin’s more mechanistic view, which emphasizes random variations and natural selection. Butler criticizes Darwin for his lack of attention to earlier evolutionists and for his dismissal of the concept of inherited habit.

Plot:

The book follows a non-linear narrative, weaving together Butler’s personal journey, his analysis of various theories of unconscious action, his defense of his own views, and his critique of Darwin’s work.
The central plot arc is Butler’s growing conviction that memory is the key to understanding heredity, instinct, and even the development of species. This belief is challenged by his discovery of Darwin’s misleading translation of Dr. Krause’s essay, which culminates in a public accusation of dishonesty.

Point of View:

The book is written from a first-person perspective, allowing Butler to share his own thoughts, experiences, and observations.
This point of view allows the reader to engage with Butler’s ideas on a personal level and to understand his motivation for challenging the prevailing scientific theories.

How It’s written:

Butler’s writing style is witty, engaging, and often ironic. He uses vivid examples and analogies to illustrate his arguments, and he is not afraid to be critical of his opponents, including Darwin.
Example: “If Dr. Erasmus Darwin’s name was not mentioned in the first edition of the “Origin of Species,” we should not be surprised at there being no notice taken of Buffon, or at Lamarck’s being referred to only twice—on the first occasion to be serenely waved aside, he and all his works; [9a] on the second, [9b] to be commended on a point of detail.”

Tone:

The tone of the book is serious and analytical, but also passionate and even indignant at times. Butler is clearly committed to his ideas and is willing to defend them against powerful opponents.

Life Choices:

Butler chooses to pursue his own intellectual journey, even though it leads him to challenge established scientific dogma. He is not afraid to be controversial, and he is driven by a desire to understand the world on his own terms.

Lessons:

The Importance of Memory: Butler’s book encourages us to consider the role of memory, not just in our individual lives, but also in shaping the course of evolution.
The Value of Challenging Conventional Wisdom: Butler’s fearless pursuit of his own ideas serves as a reminder that questioning established beliefs can lead to new insights and a deeper understanding of the world.
The Importance of Integrity: Butler’s willingness to expose Darwin’s misleading translation, even at the cost of his own reputation, highlights the importance of integrity in scientific discourse.

Characters:

Samuel Butler: A fiercely independent thinker and writer who challenges conventional scientific views with wit, intelligence, and passion.
Charles Darwin: The renowned naturalist and author of “Origin of Species,” who Butler criticizes for his lack of attention to earlier evolutionists and for his dismissal of the concept of inherited habit.
Professor Ewald Hering: A contemporary physiologist whose theory of memory based on vibrations aligns closely with Butler’s own ideas.
Von Hartmann: A philosopher whose “Philosophy of the Unconscious” Butler analyzes and ultimately criticizes for its lack of a clear connection between unconscious action and memory.

Themes:

The Nature of Memory: The book explores the nature of memory, not just as a personal faculty, but as a fundamental force shaping our lives and the world around us.
The Purposiveness of Life: Butler argues for a teleological view of life, suggesting that living beings are driven by purpose, not chance.
The Importance of History: The book emphasizes the importance of understanding the history of scientific thought and of recognizing the contributions of earlier thinkers who may have been overlooked by later generations.
The Ethics of Scientific Inquiry: Butler’s confrontation with Darwin highlights the importance of integrity and fairness in scientific discourse.

Principles:

Like Antecedents, Like Consequents: This fundamental principle of causality underlies all action, both in the inorganic and organic world.
Memory as a Driving Force of Evolution: Butler argues that memory, not just of individual experiences, but of ancestral ones, is the key driver of evolution, shaping our instincts, our bodies, and even our species.

Intentions:

Butler’s Intentions: To defend his theory of unconscious memory and to challenge the prevailing scientific theories of his day. He is also driven by a desire to vindicate earlier evolutionists like Buffon and Lamarck.
Reader’s Intentions: To gain a deeper understanding of Butler’s ideas, to explore the role of memory in heredity and evolution, and to consider the potential for new perspectives in scientific inquiry.

Unique Vocabulary:

“Cyclonic memory”: Butler uses this term to describe the spiral nature of memory, which is always changing and accumulating new information, yet still retaining elements of past experiences.
“Unconscious clairvoyance”: Von Hartmann’s concept of an unconscious force that guides instincts and actions.
“Mental anachronism”: A phrase used by Darwin to dismiss Butler’s work, which Butler turns around to highlight Darwin’s own “anachronism” in ignoring earlier evolutionists.

Anecdotes:

The “Toy Mouse” Analogy: This thought experiment highlights Butler’s central argument that even complex machines, if sufficiently intricate, could appear to be alive, suggesting that life itself may be a form of complex mechanism.
The “Clerk and the Policeman” Example: This relatable scenario illustrates how habitual actions can be repeated without conscious memory, providing evidence for Butler’s theory of “unconscious memory.”
The Wryneck and the Stolen Eggs: The story of the wryneck that lays 29 eggs before dying shows that instincts can drive animals to self-sacrifice, challenging the notion that instincts are simply driven by pleasure and self-interest.
The Stag-Beetle Larva: This example illustrates how animals can act instinctively based on future events they cannot consciously perceive, suggesting a form of “unconscious clairvoyance.”

Ideas:

The Oneness of Personality: Butler argues that each individual is not only connected to its parents, but to all its ancestors, forming a continuous line of personal identity.
The “Unconscious” as a Source of Knowledge: Butler and Hering argue that much of our knowledge, including instincts and the development of our bodies, comes from an unconscious realm of inherited memories and experiences.
The Limits of Mechanistic Explanation: Butler criticizes Darwin for relying too heavily on a mechanistic explanation of evolution, and he argues that a teleological perspective, incorporating the role of purpose and memory, is necessary for a more complete understanding of life.

Facts and Findings:

The Work of Earlier Evolutionists: Butler highlights the contributions of Buffon, Erasmus Darwin, and Lamarck, arguing that their theories were more comprehensive and insightful than Darwin’s.
The Adaptability of Instinct: Butler provides numerous examples of how animals can modify their instinctive behavior based on changing circumstances, demonstrating the limitations of a purely mechanistic explanation of instinct.
The Existence of “Unconscious Memory”: Butler argues that the ability of living beings to inherit traits and instincts, including those that seem unrelated to conscious memory, is strong evidence for the existence of “unconscious memory.”

Statistics:

The Speed of Light Vibrations: Butler uses this example to illustrate how humans can be aware of processes that occur at incredibly rapid rates, arguing that the complexity of molecular vibrations within a germ is not beyond our capacity to comprehend.

Points of View:

First-Person Perspective: The book is written from Butler’s first-person perspective, allowing the reader to directly engage with his ideas and experiences.
Teleological vs. Mechanistic: The book presents a clear contrast between Butler’s teleological view of evolution, which emphasizes purpose and memory, and Darwin’s more mechanistic view, which emphasizes random variations and natural selection.

Perspective:

Butler’s Perspective: Butler challenges the prevailing scientific perspective of his day by arguing for a more holistic and teleological view of life, emphasizing the importance of memory and purpose in shaping the development of both individuals and species.
The Perspective of the “Man in the Street”: Butler often takes the perspective of the layperson, making his arguments accessible and relatable to a wider audience. He is critical of the jargon and obscurantism often found in scientific discourse.

Learn more