Man's Supreme Inheritance: Conscious Guidance and Control in Relation to Human Evolution in Civilization

Mouritz has published scholarly editions of Alexander's books with the copyright permissions of the Estate of F. M. Alexander since 1995. This is the first book on Alexander's technique. It was first published in 1910 and subsequently revised and enlarged. The present edition consists of Alexander's authorized 1946 edition. This new edition contains two prefaces by Alexander, an introduction by John Dewey, and the section "To My Reader" with appreciations which were included in the 1918 Methuen edition but accidentally left out of later editions. Our ‘supreme inheritance’ is our potential to develop conscious use of ourselves in all activities of living. With reference to and examples from his experience of teaching the Technique, Alexander argues for the development and evolution of consciousness, in keeping with the increased pace of civilization. He exposes the dangers of the subconscious approach in suggested remedies like faith-healing, ‘concentration’ and physical exercises. Though some of the contemporary concerns which he addresses may appear dated, the underlying issues are still the same: our health and well-being are being undermined by too much tension, unconscious attitudes, and lack of physical and mental coordination. Alexander’s practical technique unifies mind and body in activity, thereby avoiding the unnecessary fatigue and pain which result from the internal strife between the ‘physical’ and the ‘mental’. He shows how his technique transcends the curative, is not merely a treatment, and how, by establishing prevention as a principle of life, a whole new way of living becomes available to us. Disclaimer: This book contains outdated attitudes, language and cultural depictions which may cause offence today. The white-cover paperback books of Alexander's books contain the essential texts: they are almost identical to the last editions Alexander was responsible for in 1945–46: the complete text of the books with the forewords and introductions published at the time (for example containing Dewey’s introductions, and Alexander’s forewords and Alexander’s new forewords). 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.