Constructive Conscious Control of the Individual

Beschreibung

Constructive Conscious Control of the Individual was Alexander’s second book: it was published in 1923 in the USA and in 1924 in England. It was reprinted several times in England and the USA. The present edition consists of Alexander’s authorised 1946 edition with additional material from earlier editions. It contains two prefaces by Alexander, an introduction by the educational philosopher John Dewey, and appendices with reviews of the early editions. Constructive Conscious Control of the Individual develops the argument set forth in Man’s Supreme Inheritance. Alexander shows that most of our movements, thoughts, and actions are dictated more by our feelings than by reasoning and that we can develop a reasoning consciousness. Instead of relying on subconscious guidance and control Alexander offers a practical remedy in the resumption of the conscious control of our whole activities. The famous chapter “Illustration” includes a comprehensive description how to apply his method of conscious control to a simple activity. Throughout he explains the importance of sensory appreciation and discusses it in relation to a number of themes, including education, the pursuit of happiness, and the fulfillment of our needs. The Alexander Technique is a method for developing conscious use of oneself in all activities of living. F. Matthias Alexander (1869–1955) started to develop the Technique in the early 1890s in Australia. Alexander had discovered that there exists a primary control which conditions the use of the self. He showed how this control can be employed in order to develop conscious control of one’s use in daily life. He began to teach his technique in Australia in 1894, and then moved to London where he taught from 1904. In 1931 he established a course for training teachers in his technique. He wrote four books on his technique.

Autor*in

F. Matthias Alexander
F. Matthias Alexander (1869–1955) began to evolve his technique in the early 1890s in Australia. ­Encouraged by doctors, Alexander moved in 1904 to London where he settled. It was with Man’s Supreme Inheritance (1910) that he first presented his evolutionary hypothesis developed from his practical experience. In Constructive Conscious Control of the ­Individual (1923) he developed and expanded his theme, including examples and case histories as ­illustrations. In The Use of the Self (1932) he described in detail how he evolved his technique. During the 1920s and 1930s Alexander’s pupils included Bernard Shaw, Aldous Huxley, Leonard Wolf, Sir Stafford Cripps, William Temple (the Archbishop of Canterbury), the Earl of Lytton and doctors, scientists and performers. In 1931 ­Alexander started a three-year course to train ­teachers in his technique, which ensured its ­survival and continual expansion. In 1941 Alexander finished his last book, The Universal Constant in Living, reminding us all that we are constantly using ourselves, that our use continually affects our functioning, and that we can coordinate and control that use to great advantage. In 1947, after his return to London from the USA, Alexander suffered a stroke which paralysed his left side. He used his technique to fully recover from his stroke and continued to teach to within a few days of his death in 1955.

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