But examine the matter a little more closely. The third dimension is
revealed to us in two different ways: by the effort of accommodation and
by the convergence of the eyes.
No doubt these two indications are always concordant, there is a
constant relation between them, or, in mathematical terms, the two
variables which measure these two muscular sensations do not appear to
us as independent; or again, to avoid an appeal to mathematical notions
already rather refined, we may go back to the language of the preceding
chapter and enunciate the same fact as follows: If two sensations of
convergence, _A_ and _B_, are indistinguishable, the two sensations of
accommodation, _A'_ and _B'_, which respectively accompany them, will be
equally indistinguishable.
But here we have, so to speak, an experimental fact; _a priori_ nothing
prevents our supposing the contrary, and if the contrary takes place, if
these two muscular sensations vary independently of one another, we
shall have to take account of one more independent variable, and
'complete visual space' will appear to us as a physical continuum of
four dimensions.
We have here even, I will add, a fact of _external_ experience. Nothing
prevents our supposing that a being with a mind like ours, having the
same sense organs that we have, may be placed in a world where light
would only reach him after having traversed reflecting media of
complicated form. The two indications which serve us in judging
distances would cease to be connected by a constant relation. A being
who should achieve in such a world the education of his senses would no
doubt attribute four dimensions to complete visual space.
TACTILE SPACE AND MOTOR SPACE.--'Tactile space' is still more
complicated than visual space and farther removed from geometric space.
It is superfluous to repeat for touch the discussion I have given for
sight.
But apart from the data of sight and touch, there are other sensations
which contribute as much and more than they to the genesis of the notion
of space. These are known to every one; they accompany all our
movements, and are usually called muscular sensations.
The corresponding frame constitutes what may be called _motor space_.
Each muscle gives rise to a special sensation capable of augmenting or
of diminishing, so that the totality of our muscular sensations will
depend upon as many variables as we have muscles. From this point of
view, _motor space would have as many dimensions as we have muscles_.
I know it will be said that if the muscular sensations contribute to
form the notion of space, it is because we have the sense of the
_direction_ of each movement and that it makes an integrant part of the
sensation. If this were so, if a muscular sensation could not arise
except accompanied by this geometric sense of direction, geometric space
would indeed be a form imposed upon our sensibility.
But I perceive nothing at all of this when I analyze my sensations.
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