The first part examines the origins of habits and instincts, contrasting postnatal learning with prenatal dispositions. Butler highlights the distinction between conscious and unconscious knowledge, showing how habits shape identity and conduct. Through examples, he explains how repeated actions transform into unconscious abilities, and argues that personal identity is not singular but composed of subordinate personalities. Instinct is reframed as a continuation of memory rather than an innate element. This section ultimately asks how habits and identity form the foundation of human behavior.
