Elements of Mental Philosophy

Front Cover
Harper, 1845 - Intellect - 480 pages

From inside the book

Contents

Relation between the sensation and what is outwardly signified
32
Of the organ of sight and the uses or benefits of that sense
33
Statement of the mode or process in visual perception
34
Of the original and acquired perceptions of sight
35
The idea of extension not originally from sight
36
Of the knowledge of the figure of bodies by the sight
37
Illustration of the subject from the blind
38
Measurements of magnitude by the
39
Of objects seen in a mist
40
Of the sun and moon when seen in the horizon
41
Of the estimation of distances by sight
42
Signs by means of which we estimate distance by sight
43
Estimation of distance when unaided by intermediate objects 45 Of objects seen on the ocean
44
CHAPTER VI
46
Organ of the sense of hearing
48
ib
54
CHAPTER VII
58
Application of habit to the touch
64
Other striking instances of habits of touch
65
Habits considered in relation to the sight
66
Sensations may possess a relative as well as positive increase of power
68
Notice of some facts which favour the above doctrine 58 Additional illustrations of Mr Stewarts doctrine 56 The law of habit considered in reference ...
70
Of habits as modified by particular callings and arts 59 Meaning and characteristics of conceptions
73
Of conceptions of objects of sight
74
Of the influence of habit on our conceptions
76
Influence of habit on conceptions of sight 63 Of the subserviency of our conceptions to description
77
Of conceptions attended with a momentary belief
78
Conceptions which are joined with perceptions
81
Conceptions as connected with fictitious representations
82
CHAPTER IX
83
Simple mental states not susceptible of definition
84
Supposed complexness without the antecedence of simple feelings
87
73
88
74
89
Complex notions of external origin
90
76
91
77
92
ib 78
93
Mental process in separating and abstracting them
94
General abstract notions the same with genera and species
95
81
96
Early classifications sometimes incorrect 83 Illustrations of our earliest classifications
97
Of the nature of general abstract ideas 88
98
The power of general abstraction in connexion with numbers c
99
Of the speculations of philosophers and others
100
CHAPTER XI
101
Of different degrees of attention
102
Dependence of memory on attention
103
Of exercising attention in reading
104
Alleged inability to command the attention
105
Instances of notions which have an internal origin
106
CHAPTER XII
107
Dreams are often caused by our sensations
108
Ideas of existence mind selfexistence and personal identity
109
Explanation of the incoherency of dreams 1st cause 98 Apparent reality of dreams 1st cause 97 Second cause of the incoherency of dreams
110
Nature of succession and origin of the idea of succession
111
Apparent reality of dreams 2d cause
112
Of our estimate of time in dreaming
113
Explanation of the preceding statements
114
The idea of space not of external origin
115
The idea of space has its origin in suggestion
116
PART II
117
Occasions of the origin of the idea of power
118
CHAPTER I
119
Declaration of Locke that the soul has knowledge in itself
120
105
121
107
122
108
123
110
126
111
127
112
128
114
129
ib
133
135
135
CHAPTER III
136
Further remarks on the proper objects of consciousness
137
Consciousnes a ground or law of belief 126 Instances of knowledge developed in consciousness
138
CHAPTER IV
140
Occasions on which feelings of relation may arise
141
Of the use of correlative terms 130 Of relations of identity and diversity
142
11 Relations of degree and names expressive of them
143
111 Of relations of proportion
144
v Of relations of time 133 v Of relations of place or position 144
145
vķ Of ideas of possession
147
VII Of relations of cause and effect
148
Of complex terms involving the relation of cause and effect
149
Connexion of relative suggestion with reasoning 148 149
150
CHAPTER V
151
Of the general laws of association
152
Resemblance the first general law of association
153
Of resemblance in the effects produced
154
Contrast the second general or primary
155
Of circumstantial memory or that species of memory which is based on the relations of contiguity in time and place
156
Contiguity the third general or primary
157
Cause and effect the fourth primary
158
Illustrations of philosophic memory 160 Of that species of memory called intentional recollection 161 Nature of intentional recollection 162 Instance...
159
1168
167
Restoration of thoughts and feelings supposed to be forgotten
181
Mental action quickened by influence on the physical system
183
Other instances of quickened mental action and of a restoration of thoughts 170 Effect on the memory of a severe attack of fever
184
Approval and illustrations of these views from Coleridge
185
Application of the principles of this chapter to education
187
Connexion of this doctrine with the final judgment and a future life
189
177
193
179
195
180
196
181
197
183
199
184
200
ib 185
201
Use of definitions and axioms in demonstrative reasoning
202
187
203
Demonstrations do not admit of different degrees of belief
204
189
205
CHAPTER IX
206
191
207
192
208
193
209
194
210
Further considerations on this subject 181 Of differences in the power of reasoning 195 196
211
197
212
Of habits of reasoning
213
Fallacia equivocationis or the use of equivocal terms and phrases
215
Grounds of the preference of one conception to another
224
Illustration of the subject from Milton
225
Illustration of the statements of the preceding section
227
On the utility of the faculty of the imagination
228
Importance of the imagination in connexion with reasoning
229
CHAPTER XIV
231
Of excited conceptions and of apparitions in general
232
Of the less permament excited conceptions of sound
234
First cause of permanently vivid conceptions or apparitions Morbid sensibility of the retina of the eye
235
Second cause of permanently excited conceptions or apparitions Neglect of periodical bloodletting
237
Methods of relief adopted in this case
239
Third cause of excited conceptions Attacks of fever
240
Fourth cause of apparitions and other excited conceptions In flammation of the brain Page
241
Facts having relation to the fourth cause of excited conceptions
242
Fifth cause of apparitions Hysteria
243
CHAPTER XV
244
Of disordered or alienated sensations
245
Of disordered or alienated external perception
246
Disordered state or insanity of original suggestion
247
Unsoundness or insanity of consciousness
248
Insanity of the judgment or relative suggestion
249
Disordered or alienated association Lightheadedness
250
Illustrations of this mental disorder 235 Of partial insanity or alienation of the memory
251
Characteristics of emotions of beauty
252
Of the power of reasoning in the partially insane
253
Instance of the above form of insanity of reasoning
254
Partial mental alienation by means of the imagination
255
Insanity or alienation of the power of belief
256
DIVISION II
259
INTRODUCTION CLASSIFICATION OF THE SENSIBILITIES 240 Reference to the general division of the whole mind 244 245 246
261
Division of the sensibilities into natural or pathematic and moral
262
The moral and natural sensibilities have different objects
263
The moral sensibilities higher in rank than the natural 245 The moral sensibilities wanting in brutes
264
Classification of the natural sensibilities
265
Classification of the moral sensibilities 261
266
PART I
267
CHAPTER I
269
The place of emotions considered in reference to other mental acts
270
The character of emotions changes so as to comform to that of perceptions
271
Emotions characterized by rapidity and variety
272
Of sounds considered as a source of beauty
286
Explanation of the beauty of motion from Kaimes
292
The sources of associated beauty coincident with those of human
298
Of colours in connexion with the sublime
304
Occasions of emotions of the ludicrous
310
INSTANCES OF OTHER SIMPLE EMOTIONS
314
CHAPTER I
321
307
325
The principles based upon desire susceptible of a twofold
327
Of the natural desire of esteem
328
Of the desire of esteem as a rule of conduct
329
Of the desire of possession
330
Of the moral character of the possessory principle
331
Of perversions of the possessory desire
332
CHAPTER III
333
Of the moral character of the desire of power
334
Propensity of selflove or the desire of happiness
335
Of selfishness as distinguished from selflove
336
Reference to the opinions of philosophical writers
337
The principle of sociality original in the human mind
338
Further illustrations of the principle of curiosity
339
Other illustrations of the existence of this principle
340
Relation of the social principle to civil society
341
Of the comparative rank of the affections
342
Of the complex nature of the affections
343
Of resentment or anger
344
Illustrations of instinctive resentment
345
Uses and moral character of instinctive resentment
346
Of voluntary in distinction from instinctive resentment
347
Tendency of anger to excess and the natural checks to
348
Other reasons for checking and subduing the angry passions
349
Modifications of resentment
350
Modifications of resentment
351
Modifications of resentment
352
Modifications of resentment
353
Nature of the passion of fear Peevishness Envy Jealousy Revenge
354
Of the nature of love or benevolence in general
355
Love in its various forms characterized by a twofold action
356
Of the parental affection
357
Illustrations of the strength of the parental affection
358
THE BENEVOLENT AFFECTIONS
359
Page 344
360
346
361
347
362
348
363
349
365
350
366
351
367
352
368
354
369
355
371
357
372
358
374
359
375
360
376
ib 362 363 365 366 367
377
Of the nature of the fraternal affection
379
On the utility of the domestic affections
380
Of the moral character of the domestic affections and of the be nevolent affections generally
381
Of the moral character of the voluntary exercises of the benevo lent affections
382
of benevolent institutions
387
Other remarks in proof of the same doctrine
388
Of patriotism or love of country
389
Of the affection of friendship
390
Of the affection of pity or sympathy
391
Of the moral character of pity
392
Of the affection of gratitude
394
LOVE TO THE SUPREME BEING
395
Further illustrations of the results of the absence of this principle
401
Bection
403
Of the origin of secondary active principles
408
Feelings of obligation differ from desires
409
Classification of the moral sensibilities
414
Of the close connexion between conscience and reasoning
420
Further proof from language and literature
426
tion requires that it should vary in its decisions with circum
427
Diversities in moral decisions dependent on differences in
436
CHAPTER V
442
THE SENSIBILITIES OR SENSITIVE NATURE
449
Disordered action of the principle of selfpreservation
454
Disordered action of the desire of power
460
Of sudden and strong impulses of the mind
467
Disordered action of the passion of fear
473

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Common terms and phrases

Popular passages

Page 103 - The crow doth sing as sweetly as the lark, When neither is attended ; and, I think The nightingale, if she should sing by day, When every goose is cackling, would be thought No better a musician than the wren.
Page 165 - Where the great Sun begins his state Robed in flames and amber light, The clouds in thousand liveries dight; While the ploughman, near at hand, Whistles o'er the furrowed land, And the milkmaid singeth blithe, And the mower whets his scythe, And every shepherd tells his tale Under the hawthorn in the dale.
Page 305 - The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters.
Page 308 - AND I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud : and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire...
Page 358 - Man in society is like a flower Blown in its native bed : 'tis there alone His faculties, expanded in full bloom, Shine out; there only reach their proper use.
Page 312 - The sun had long since in the lap Of Thetis taken out his nap, And like a lobster boiled, the morn From black to red began to turn," The imagination modifies images, and gives unity to variety ; it sees all things in one, il piti nelV uno.
Page 414 - God, but the doers of the law shall be justified : for when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves : which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another ;) in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Page 390 - Lands intersected by a narrow frith Abhor each other. Mountains interposed Make enemies of nations, who had else Like kindred drops been mingled into one.
Page 189 - ... according to the deeds done in the body, whether they be good or whether they be evil...
Page 120 - This source of ideas every man has wholly in himself; and though it be not sense, as having nothing to do with external objects, yet it is very like it, and might properly enough be called internal sense...

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