International photographer (Jan-Dec 1935)

/ wenty T h INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER January, 1935 WHAT IS THE HUNCH? By Geoffrey Hodson Author of The Science of Seership, Some Experiments in Fourth Dimensional Consciousness, Etc. (Written for The International Photographer ) The sudden flash of an idea into the mind, the instantaneous perception of a principle, a truth, or of the solution to a problem, whether of science, mechanics, business, or of personal conduct, is popularly called a "hunch." Since this faculty bestows enhanced power upon those who possess it, an article on the subject has a logical place in the series of those contributed by the author to this magazine. Psychologically speaking, the "hunch" is an intuition, and intuition has been defined as follows: "Intuition is primary knowledge, antecedent to all teaching or reasoning." — Practical Standard Dictionary. "There is an intuition which is verily the Voice of the Spirit." "Intuition is a recognition of truth at first sight." — Annie Bcsant. "Intuition soars above ratiocinative thought; changeless, infinite; Jthat absolute wisdom' which transcends the ideas of time and space. It is the 'eye' of the seer; a faculty through which direct and certain knowledge is obtained. It is 'in the sanctuary of the heart'; does not waver between right and wrong; it is clear vision in a region -where truth dominates, as if all knowledge was brought to a head. 'By will he collects his mind into itself; it seems to act 'in a vertical manner.' "• — H. P. Blavatsky. "To know consists rather in opening out a way whence the im-prisoned splendor may escape, than in effecting an entry for a light supposed to be without." — Browning. Examples of true intuitive vision are provided by Emerson in such striking sentences, as: "Our globe, seen by God, is a transparent law, not a mass of facts." — (Circles.) "And this, because the heart in thee is the heart of all ; not a wall, not an intersection, is there anything in Nature, but one blood rolls uninterruptedly, an endless circulation through all men, as the -water of the globe is all one sea, and, truly seen, its tide is one." — (The Over-Soul.) A report on this subject was recently made by Processor R. A. Baker, of the College of the City of New York, who, with Dr. Washington Piatt, of Syracuse, has sent questionnaires to 1,450 scientists, inquiring into their experience with "hunches," as applied to their work. Of the 232 who replied, only 17 per cent had never experienced the phenomenon, 50 per cent had done so •occasionally, and the remaining 33 per cent, frequently. The "hunch" as defined by Professor Baker, is a unifying or clarifying idea which springs into consciousness suddenly as a solution to a problem in which we are intensely interested. "In typical cases," he adds, "it follows a long period of study, but comes into consciousness at a time when we are not consciously working on the problem. It springs from a wide knowledge of facts, but is essentially a leap of the imagination, in that it goes beyond a mere necessary conclusion which any reasonable man might draw from the data at hand. It is a process of creative thought." Hunches vary in their degree of completeness or accuracy. The overwhelming majority who reported having had them, said that the revelations came as a central idea only. Several stated that when the central idea presented itself, their minds then with great rapidity, filled in the details. A small but notable minority, said that the hunch presented the plan complete in all details. Only 7 per cent reported that their hunches always turned out to be correct. The rest gave figures of correctness, varying from 90 to 10 per cent. Nineteen per cent said that their minds were fully conscious when the hunch came along ; twenty-eight per cent said they were "on the margin of consciousness," and thirteen per cent said that they were unconscious. Forty per cent were not clear in regard to this, or gave no answers. Fifty-three per cent of the scientists answering the questionnaire said that they deliberately used devices to create conditions favorable to the hunch. The commonest of these devices was "temporarily abandoning the problem and taking up other work." Others included a period of idleness and complete relaxation not spent in attacking any other problem ; going over the problem just before retiring for the night; physical occupation or exercise," and the use of stimulants. Professor Baker, discussing the conditions for helpful action of the mind on the margin of consciousness and beyond, says: "We must have a great interest in the problem and a desire for its solution. Material should be stored in the mind in a systematic fashion, and it should be well digested so as to be useful. There must be a sense of well being and a sense of freedom from interruption. There should be an absence of obstacles to the proper functioning of the mind. And, finally, there are certain types of direct positive stimuli to mental activity. The last includes some form of contact with other scientific minds, either through reading or discussion." The value of temporary abandonment of a problem is greater than that of mere rest, Professor Baker believes. Intuition is regarded by certain schools of thought, particularly those founded upon the principles of occult science, as the sixth sense, eventually to be fully developed and added to the present five. Occult physiologists state that these have developed successively through long evolutionary periods. The first sense was hearing ; then came touch, sight, taste and smell. All of these were doubtless present embryonically in the earliest races, but have gradually developed increase of range, accuracy and sensitivity. That taste and smell, for example, are still but partially developed is shown by the wide variations of sensitivity in the different races. The more primitive peoples still bury their meat in order that it may "mature" ! Whilst among those apparently more civilized the custom remains of hanging game until it becomes "high" and of maturing cheese to strengthen the taste. The use of peppers, chiles and other strong seasoning by certain peoples, whilst others cannot endure their pungency is an example of varied degrees of taste development. Whilst the five senses are still being refined and perfected, the sixth sense is beginning to show itself, to be recognized and, as Professor Baker's report shows, in some measure to be used. Many physicians employ it almost unconsciously in the sudden flashes of diagnostic insight of which doctors give testimony. Later races will employ it with the same certainty and accuracy as are now obtained from normal sensory perceptions and modes of feeling and thought. It allows the scientist to attack his work again from a new intellectual standpoint, especially if he has not worked on the matter for some time. "A problem unsolved remains in the mind as a challenge to its ability," he says. "Again and again, semi-consciously, unconsciously, the mind attacks the problem. While we are constantly at work on something else, this process continues. When finally we take up the problem anew, the mind has made actual progress toward its solution. Please mention The International Photographer when corresponding with advertisers.