of the text introduces the author’s intention for the book and outlines the fundamental approach to psychology as a study of states of consciousness based on physiological conditions. James critiques older rational psychology, suggesting a more integrated view where mental states are not isolated from physical conditions, encapsulating the idea that all mental activities are connected with bodily responses. He presents psychology as operating within the framework of natural sciences and provides an overview of its methodological foundations by stressing the importance of examining consciousness through its relationship with neural processes. This introductory portion establishes a framework for the subject matter he will delve into throughout the book. (This is an automatically generated summary.)