Manual of the anatomy and physiology of the human mind.

Front matter

From the collection of Julius Doerner, Chicago Purchased, 1918.

C(9m

MANUAL

Contents

Page

The high rank which the human mind holds in creation 1 Essence or substance op the mind altogether unknown 3 The mind has no innate ideas. Its first movements caused by the action of external objects on its ORGANS OF SENSE 4

Book I. Sensation, And The Phenomena Connected With It

Chapter II. General Observations On The Senses

1. Each of the senses yields a variety of sensations . . 14

2. Sensations the only means which the mind possesses of

communicating with the external world . . .14

b

CONTENTS.

Pa?e

3. Sensations form the elements of all thought . . . 15

4. Most or all of the classes of sensation capable of being

excited otherwise than through the organs of sense . 15

5. When different external objects are affecting the organs

of sense at the same time, only one occupies the thoughts, the rest passing unheeded. This attraction of the thoughts to one sensation is called attention, and is not directed by the mind, but by certain qualities in the sensation that arrests its attention . 1 6

6. Many, perhaps all, sensations originally pleasant or

painful. The qualities that render them so. The pleasure and pain fade by repetition, and they become indifferent . . . . . . . . 18

7. None of our sensations nor all of them would of them-

selves convey to the mind any notice of the material world, or of anything external to the mind itself or different from it. A mind supposed to be destitute of all power over the body, and the effects traced.

That the senses give of themselves no notion of external objects, proved especially in regard to sight and touch 24,25

8. The sensations of themselves could convey no notion

of cause and effect . . . . . . . 29

CHAPTEE III.

MEMORY.

Sensations so retained in the mind that they may be recalled, or be again present to the mind. These recallings of sensations regulated by certain laws called 30 Laws of association or suggestion . . . . . 31

Difference between original sensations and the recal or

representation of them by memory .... 32

Importance of this difference to distinguish truth from

falsehood 33

Morbid representations or recal of sensations ... 34

Case of M. Nicholas . . . . . . . . 34

Cases mentioned by Abercrombie and others . . .36

Sensations are recalled with the pleasure or pain which

originally belonged to them, but modified . . . 37

Diversities in different minds in their aptitude for

recalling sensations, germs of diversity of character . 38

CONTENTS. xi

Page

The more frequently sensations are recalled in the same order, they recal one another with the more certainty and rapidity in that order . . . . .39

The will has no direct control over the m_emory . . . 40

Eemembrance of sensations could not give the notion of

cause and effect ....... 41

The mind expects like consequents to follow like

antecedents ........ 42

Proofs that the expectation is intuitive . . . . 43

Memory implies the power of observing similarities and

diversities in sensations ..... 44

In remembered sensations . . . . . . 44

CHAPTER lY.

DISCERNMENT, DISCRIMINATION, OR JUDGMENT AS DEPENDENT ON SENSATION.

Various kinds of differences and similarities discerned

by sensations of different organs . . , .45

Different sensations of same organs . . . . . 46

Long continued from momentary . . . . .47

Number 47

The discernment affords a pleasure different from that of

Different minds have different aptitude for these discernments. . . . . . . . . . 47

Pleasure or pain of sensation, and also of discriminating the germ of the passions or emotions, the power of discriminating the germ of intellectual operations . 48

The pain or pleasure of remembered sensations abates

on every successive remembrance . . . . 48

On every repetition of the remembrance of a sensation the mind becomes more accurate and prompt in discerning its peculiar character . . . . . . 49

The two elements of sensations take different directions by repetition, the pain or pleasure subsides, but the discrimination of them becomes more perfect . . 50

Importance of the phenomena . . . . . . 50

The abating of the pleasure or pain of sensations as of discriminations lies at the foundation of curiosity . . 51

The unlimited power of the mind to discern differences and resemblances occasions one superiority of intellectual over sensual pursuits . . . . . 51

Important division : emotions, and intellectual operations 51

b 2

CONTENTS.

xii

CHAPTEE Y.

EMOTIONS DERIVED FROM SENSATIONS.

Page

Desire and aversion 52

Expectation^ hope or fear . . . . . . .52,53

Disappointment and sorrow, joy, perplexity . . . 53

Hope overcoming pain ; dread overcoming pleasure . . 53

Admiration, wonder, amazement, astonishment . . , 54

Astonishment with horror ...... 54

Melancholy, cheerfulness . . . . . . . 54

No emotion yet detected dependent on the perception of

any being external to the mind .... 54

Nor dependent on the will 55

CHAPTEE YI.

INTELLECTUAL POWERS, OR PHENOMENA DEPENDENT ON SENSATION.

Sensation, memory, attention, and discrimination belong

both to emotions and to intellect .... 57

Not repeat what said already ...... 58

Classing sensations, by organs of sense, by pleasure or pain 59 Drawing inferences and reasoning . . . . . 60,61

The human mind in the elements of its faculties deeply

interesting 62

Book II. Peeception, And The Phenomena Dependent On It

The power op the mind over the body .... 63

An infant moves its limbs, wittingly . . . . 63

Eesults of this power ....... 64

CHAPTEE I.

PERCEPTION.

Perception of material world not intuitive . . . . 64

Not species or images entering the brain ... 65

Not by sense of touch . . . . . . . 65

Necessarily obtained by voluntary motion combined with

sense of touch 65

CONTENTS. xiii

Page

Notion of space necessarily connected with that of matter 66 Progress of the knowledge of material objects . . . 66

Aided by sense of sight ...... 67

Knowledge of distances . . . . . . . 67

Other sensations traced to external objects, as of sounds,

smells, tastes .68

Cognition of the material world through sensation called

Other theories noticed . . . . . . .69

CHAPTER II.

NOTION OF SELF, OK PERSONAL IDENTITY.

Two views ; personal identity as distinguished from other beings, and personal identity with regard to continued duration . . . . . . - . . 71

Identification of myself as distinguished from others . 71

Identification of myself at difierent periods of my existence.

Consciousness, remembrances .... . 72,73

Prolonged identity in the view of other persons . . 73

CHAPTER HI.

THE WILL.

No will without voluntary motion of the body ... 74

The only dominion of the will is the body . . . . 75

The will does not acquire direct power over the mind by / its powers over the body ..... 75

The most despotic monarch deprived of will if deprived

of voluntary motion of the body . . . . . 76

Willing operations through the medium of others explained 76

What is it that moves the will % Question answered . 77

Is the will necessarily swayed by motives? Question

answered . . . 78

Motives are not external to the mind, but in the mind.

Moral character determined, not by acts of the will, but by motives. The acts of the will only indicate the moral character, not form it . . . . . 79

The will moved by desire, variously excited . . .81

Theological argument irrelevant . . . . . 81

Question of merit also irrelevant ..... 81

XIV

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER lY.

OBIGIN OF OUR NOTIONS OF CAUSE AND EFFECT.

Page

No notion of cause and effect from sequence of sensations 82 Nor from constant succession of events among external

Derived from the mind’s consciousness of its being the

cause of the movements of the body . . .83

Extended to changes in external bodies, effected by the

members of its own body . . . . . . 84

If I intend and produce a movement by the intervention

of media I am the conscious cause .... 84

Notion extended to cases in which the mind is passive,

being acted on from without . . . . . 85

Still further to regular succession of phenomena among

external objects . . . . . . .86

The theory that cause and effect are merely regular antecedents and consequents groundless . . . . 87

CHAPTER Y.

SENSATION, AS MODIFIED BY PERCEPTION.

1. By its power over the body, the mind acquires a certain

power over its sensations . . . . .88

2. Sensations come to be regarded usually as the signs of

the powers and qualities of external objects . . . 89

CHAPTER YI.

THE REVIVING OF SENSATIONS, OR MEMORY, AS CONNECTED WITH PERCEPTIONS.

Laws of suggestion extended by perception . . .90

Principal laws, resemblance, contrariety, contiguity of time

or place, comprehension, cause and effect . * . 91

Different minds differently affected by laws of suggestion. 91 Objects recalled by suggestion, recalled with the original

pain or pleasure connected with the perception of them 93 The more frequently objects recalled in any order, the more promptly and certainly they recur in that order, illustrated by acquiring language . . . . 94

Indirect power of the will over suggestions, acquired by its

power over the body . . . , . . » 95

CONTENTS.

XV

Page

The remembrance of objects by suggestion implies the power of discerning resemblances and differences among them ........ 96

Importance of this discrimination . . . . . 97

The pain or pleasure attending the perception of external objects subsides by repetition^, while the power of discerning their resemblances and differences becomes more perfect ........ 98

CHAPTER YII.

EMOTIONS DEPENDING ON PERCEPTION.

Refer to emotions depending on sensation . . . . 100

Emotions now directed to external objects, desire, aversion, hope, fear, disappointment, sadness, agreeable disappointment, joy, surprise, wonder, painful perplexity ........ lOl, 102

Hew emotions caused by the power of the mind over the body, patience, fortitude, resolution, determination, or impatience, timidity, cowardice . . . . 102

From the notion of cause and effect, self-gratulation,

regret, self-upbraiding . . . . . 102, 103

THE INFLUENCE OF LANGUAGE ON THE EMOTIONS CONNECTED WITH PEECEPTION.

Not treating the influence of language historically . .103

Influence of language on the succession of our thoughts . 104

Extended by written language . . . . .105

CHAPTER YIII.

INTELLECTUAL POWERS OR OPERATIONS DEPENDING ON PERCEPTION.

Discrimination now chiefly employed about external

objects; causes of this . . . . . . 106

§ 1. — Classification of external material objects.

Classed by observed resemblances . . . . .107

Thoughts, or mental operations founded on perception,

classed on the same principle . . . . . 108

§ 2. — Induction, as exercised on external material objects.

Founded on expectation of same consequents to same

antecedents ........ 108

Inductive philosophy adds to this classification ; illustrations . . 109

XVI

CONTENTS.

§ 3 — Keasoning, as employed about external material

Keasoning the discovering of resemblances and differences, by employing media . . . . . . .Ill

Illustrated : lightning and magnetism, mathematics . . 112

§ 4. — Syllogistic reasoning.

Explained 113

Illustrations . . . . . . . . .115

§ 5. — The use op language in intellectual operations

RESPECTING EXTERNAL MATERIAL OBJECTS.

In classification ..117

In induction and reasoning 118

§ 6. — The influence op language on imagination or

CONCEPTION.

Reason of introduction of imagination here . . .119

Much depends on the use of language. Proof . . . 120

1. Imagination introduces no new thought , . .120

2. Without language remembrances would recur in the

original connection of the objects remembered . .121

3. Descriptions of scenes call up images already retained

4. Paintings furnish perceptions capable of being recalled

as real scenes 122

5. Paintings, like real scenes, capable of being broken

up in recalling them, and formed into new combinations . . . . . . . . . 122

6. A scene thus constructed in the mind may itself

become an object of memory ..... 122

7. Power of combining qualities of different objects in the

mind, dependent chiefly on language . . . . 123

Book III. Recognition, And The Phenomena Dependent On It

Recognition the discernment op the presence and

MOVEMENTS OP THE MIND ..... 125

This by consciousness 125

CONTENTS. xvii

CHAPTER I.

CONSCIOUSNESS.

Page

As applied to sensation, is nothing more than sensation ; as applied to perception, includes knowledge of the external cause of sensation ..... 126

Extends to the notion of self, to emotions influencing

recognition of the cause of them . . . . 126

Hypothetically extended to the future . . . .126

CHAPTER II.

DISCOVERY OF THE PRESENCE AND EMOTIONS OF OTHER MINDS.

1. Discovers by perception bodies like its own, and infers

from its movements, a governing mind . . . 127

2. Conscious that it exhibits mental states by movements

of the body. Infers like causes from like efiects . 127

Chapter III. Attention Drawn From Bodies Of Men To Their Minds

Because the body controlled by the mind . . .129

Our chief attention from childhood directed to the mental

character of others . . . . . . . 129

Two elements of character, power and disposition . . 129

The study of these continues through life . . . . 130

Elements of character, as they appear to children . . 131

Power, to give pleasure or pain . . . . . . 131

Strength of body, till weakness discovered, or

discovers that he is controlled by others . 131

To give or withhold money, or other enjoyment . 132

To communicate information . . . .132

To please by wit or drollery, music, &c. . . . 132

Disposition .132

Aspect of countenance and manners . . . 133

Afterwards by acts . . . . . .133

Similar estimate of character by men . . . 133

Power, bodily strength, to command others . . .133

To inflict pain . 133

To provide food . . . . . . .134

Military power 134

Official rank 134

Property . 135

Learning, and other mental acquirements . . 135

Poetical and oratorical power,, wit, music, mimicry. 135

CONTENTS.

xviii

Meu seek to possess some of these kinds of power to give value to character .... ...

Disposition, first impression, manners, profession, afterward acts .........

CHAPTEE lY.

MEMORY, AS EXERCISED ON RECOGNITION. Additions to the laws of suggestion. Extended to mental character .........

Eesemblances or analogies discovered between matter and mind ; these mutually suggest each other Manifested in forms of speech . . . . .

Important operation of laws of suggestion .

Any work of man suggests the qualities of his mind ; machinery, painting, music . . .

CHAPTEE Y.’

EMOTIONS, AS CONNECTED WITH RECOGNITION.

1. From our consciousness we learn that other men may

be and are causes of pain or pleasure to others or to ourselves ........

2. From the same source we learn that other men may be

influenced by such passions towards others as love, hatred, gratitude, &c., and often infer that they are the subjects of such emotions . . . . .

3. Having discovered that the character of others is of

more importance than individual acts, our emotions towards them are often influenced by our estimate of their character .......

Eespect and esteem . . . ' . . .

Contempt ........

Gratitude ........

Hatred of another, often excited by our having injured him, and why .....

Love. The love of parents and children . . *

Anger and hatred

Desire to injure the object of it . . .147,

Gratitude excites desire to give him pleasure

Self-love

Selfishness ........

Page

CONTENTS.

XIX

Page

Generosity 150

Covetousness . . . . . . . . 151

Self-approbation, self-gratulation . . . . 152

CHAPTER YI.

SYMPATHY.

Regarded by some as an original faculty of tbe mind.

Operation of laws of suggestion . . . .154

Proved and illustrated . . . . . . . 154

We sympathise with persons of whom we know nothing, but the emotions in which we sympathise. Sympathy, therefore, not with the persons, but with their emotions ........ 155

Sympathy with happiness or joy. . . . . . 158

infectious sympathy : examples . . . . .158

CHAPTER YH.

INTELLECTUAL OPERATIONS AS CONNECTED WITH RECOGNITION.

§ 1. — Classification.

The characters of men classed . . . . . . 161

Nature of intercourse of man with man another ground of

classification . . . . . . . .161

§ 2. — Induction.

The difficulty in the induction to ascertain the real

antecedents 161

§ 3. — Reasoning.

Moral reasoning liable to the same uncertainties and

difficulties . . . . . . . .162

Different exercises of mind called by this name . ..164

Yivid images called up by suggestion .... 164

Superstitious terrors . . . . - . . 165

XX

CONTENTS.

Page

Objects that never existed, impossible . . . . 165

Ascribing mental qualities to inanimate objects and

inferior animals . . . . . . , . 166

Ascribing to the mind qualities of matter . . .166

Both of these exercises the discerning of resemblances

and differences ........ 166

Inventing characters and incidents . . . .167

Dramatic imagination perhaps mimicry . . . . 168

CHAPTEK VIII.

TASTE, OR THE APPRECIATION OF BEAUTY AND SUBLIMITY.

Why introduced here 171

No mere suggestion could create the appreciation of beauty

or sublimity ........ 171

Distinctions to be observed . . . . . .172

I.— Material objects.

Supposed that no beauty or sublimity in material objects . 173 Reasons against this notion . . . . . .173

Beauty in material objects,

1. Musical scale "and chords . . . . . . 174

2. Colours of prismatic spectrum . . . . .175

3. Order and symmetry. Kaleidoscope , . . . 175

4. Variety combined with order and symmetry . .177

Sublimity in material objects.

Different from beauty. Causes different ; nay, opposite . 177

Energy 178

Both increased by obscurity . . . . . . 178

A certain degree of fear .179

II. — Mental qualities.

1. Beauty.

Analogous to material beauty, more diversified . . . 179

2. Sublimity.

Vastness, as of understanding, power . . , .180

CONTENTS.

XXI

HI. — The artificial excitement op the sublime and

BEAUTIFUL.

1. The Beautiful.

Page

1. Artists have wider range than objects in themselves

Suggest pleasant thoughts . . . . . . 181

2. Artists must avail themselves of the natural sources of

Musicians — pleasing tones, scale, chords, rhythm, symmetry of composition . . . . . . 181

Painters — harmony of colouring, variety . . .182

Sculptors — mental beauty, symmetry, variety . . . 182

Architects — symmetry, proportion .... 183

Poets — order, and symmetry in rhythm and plan, variety 183

2. The Sublime. \

Also a wider range than objects . . . . . . 184

Architecture . . . . . . . .185

Sculpture . ..186

3. Truthfulness necessary to all . . . . . . 187

Musician, painter . . . . . . .187

Architect, poet . . . . . . . . 188

Conclusion . .189

CHAPTER IX.

THE RECOGNITION OF MENTAL STATES AND OPERATIONS IN THE INFERIOR ANIMALS.

Mental states and operations of inferior animals recognised, on the same principle with those of men. . 190

§ 1. — Emotions of the inferior animals.

Hunger and thirst, fear, anger, revenge, complicated

emotions. Examples . . . . . . 191

Expression of emotions .192

§ 2. — Intellectual operations op inferior animals.

Laws of suggestion . . . . . . . , 193

Exact discrimination . . . . . . .193

Chiefly employed in obtaining food ; skill and foresight . 193

Their skill and foresight have a difiereiit origin from that

Proofs of this. Instinct . . . . . .,194

XXll

CONTENTS.

Page

Mental states excited in us by inferior animals . . 195

E motions f — fear, anger, revenge, hatred, admiration,

affection, &c 195

Inferences and reasonings about inferior animals have more of precision and certainty, than inferences and reasonings about inanimate objects . . .195

CHAPTER X.

THE KECOGNITION OF THE DEITY.

We have not precisely the same means of recognising the

presence and mental movements of the Deity as of men 196 We have such indications of him by the objects around.

as we have of an artist in his absence . . .196

Can recognise design in creation as in the works of man . 198

We have this evidence of the mental states of the Deity more perfect and more powerful than we have of the

mental states of man . . . . . . . . 199

1. See his designs executed under our eye . .199

2. Proof stronger ; accumulated proof . . . 200

May not these evidences of design and power indicate

the design and power of many minds ] Xo ! for — . 202

1. Different departments of material objects melt

into one another ... . . . 203

2. All parts of the universe mutually dependent

on one another . . . . . . 203

Indications of character or disposition .... 206

Love of order, beauty, elegance . . . . . . 206

Beneficence ; arrangements for comfort of all . . .206

Visit to an armory ; all for destruction . . . . 207

Provision for comfort of sensitive creatures . . .210

Destructive creatures. Uses of them . . . . . 211

Has the Deity contrived and constructed his machine, and

then left it to work out its principles ] . . .212

This notion founded on fallacy . . . . . . 213

If cause and effect be only sequence, this impossible . . 213

One efficient cause known, and only one, and that is, the

power and design of the Deity known by recognition. 213

Illustrations . .214

Have the different grades of organic nature originated in

any effort of plants and animals themselves ] . . 216

Xo evidence of any such efforts . . . . .216

Xor that such efforts would be successful. Xotion

absurd 217

Emotions produced by the recognition of the Deity . .218

CONTENTS.

xxiii

Book IV. 0^ The Means Which The Mind Possesses Of Affecting Other Minds

Page

Two ELEMENTS . . . . . . . .219

Causing pain or pleasure . . . . . . . 219

Or communicating thought ...... 219

These intermingled and modified . . . . . 220

Chapter I

OF THOSE ATTEMPTS TO INFLUENCE THE MINDS OF OTHERS IN WHICH WE INTENTIONALLY CAUSE PAIN OR PLEASURE, FOR THE PURPOSE OF STRENGTHENING THE EXPRESSIONS OF OUR OWN STATES OF MIND.

1. The means of causing pain or pleasure resorted to . 220

2. The purposes for which pain or pleasure are caused . . 221

Used by parents with children . . . .221

Used for upholding or diffusing opinions or principles 221

3. The communication of pleasure . . . . .222