Philosophy 4: A Story of Harvard UniversityWister, Owen
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Philosophy 4: A Story of Harvard University
Wister, Owen
College stories; Harvard University -- Fiction
“An excellent illustration,” said Bertie. “That is subjective in me.
Similar to your dislike of water as a beverage. That is subjective in
you. But here comes the twist. I can think of my own anger and judge it,
just as if it were an outside thing, like a table. I can compare it with
itself on different mornings or with other people’s anger. And I trust
that you can do the same with your thirst.”
“Yes,” said Billy; “I recognize that it is greater at times and less at
others.”
“Very well, There you are. Duality of the ego.”
“Subject and object,” said Billy. “Perfectly true, and very queer when
you try to think of it. Wonder how far it goes? Of course, one can
explain the body’s being an object to the brain inside it. That’s mind
and matter over again. But when my own mind and thought, can become
objects to themselves--I wonder how far that does go?” he broke off
musingly. “What useless stuff!” he ended.
“Gentlemen,” said Oscar, who had been listening to them with patient,
Oriental diversion, “I--”
“Oh,” said Bertie, remembering him. “Look here. We mustn’t keep you up.
We’re awfully obliged for the way you are putting us on to this. You’re
saving our lives. Ten to-morrow for a grand review of the whole course.”
“And the multiplicity of the ego?” inquired Oscar.
“Oh, I forgot. Well, it’s too late tonight. Is it much? Are there many
dates and names and things?”
“It is more of a general inquiry and analysis,” replied Oscar. “But it
is forty pages of my notes.” And he smiled.
“Well, look here. It would be nice to have to-morrow clear for review.
We’re not tired. You leave us your notes and go to bed.”
Oscar’s hand almost moved to cover and hold his precious property, for
this instinct was the deepest in him. But it did not so move, because
his intelligence controlled his instinct nearly, though not
quite, always. His shiny little eyes, however, became furtive and
antagonistic--something the boys did not at first make out.
Oscar gave himself a moment of silence. “I could not brreak my rule,”
said he then. “I do not ever leave my notes with anybody. Mr. Woodridge
asked for my History 3 notes, and Mr. Bailey wanted my notes for Fine
Arts 1, and I could not let them have them. If Mr. Woodridge was to
hear--”
“But what in the dickens are you afraid of?”
“Well, gentlemen, I would rather not. You would take good care, I know,
but there are sometimes things which happen that we cannot help. One
time a fire--”
At this racial suggestion both boys made the room joyous with mirth.
Oscar stood uneasily contemplating them. He would never be able to
understand them, not as long as he lived, nor they him. When their mirth
Was over he did somewhat better, but it was tardy. You see, he was not
a specimen of the first rank, or he would have said at once what he said
now: “I wish to study my notes a little myself, gentlemen.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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