The opening of the text includes a translator's preface that outlines the aims and structure of the book, emphasizing its utility as an introductory resource in psychology. The introduction presents a historical overview of psychology, discussing its development from ancient philosophical thought to modern scientific approaches. Ebbinghaus addresses the challenges faced in the scientific study of psychology, highlighting the complexity of mental processes and their intricate connection to the nervous system. This sets the stage for an in-depth discussion of general psychology, including the anatomy of the nervous system and its correlation to consciousness and mental functions. (This is an automatically generated summary.)