The Principles of Psychology, Volume 2 (of 2)James, William
Science
The Principles of Psychology, Volume 2 (of 2)
James, William
Psychology
[5] Yet even writers like Prof. Bain will deny, in the most gratuitous
way, that sensations know anything. "It is evident that the lowest
or most restricted form of sensation does not contain an element of
knowledge. The mere state of mind called the sensation of scarlet
is not knowledge, although a necessary preparation for it." 'Is not
knowledge _about_ scarlet' is all that Professor Bain can rightfully
say.
[6] By simple ideas of sensation Locke merely means sensations.
[7] Essay c. H. U., bk. ii. ch. xxiii. § 29; ch. xxv. § 9.
[8] _Op. cit_. bk. ii. ch. ii. § 2.
[9] "So far is it from being true that we necessarily have as many
feelings in consciousness at one time as there are inlets to the sense
then played upon, that it is a fundamental law of pure sensation that
each momentary state of the organism yields but one feeling, however
numerous may be its parts and its exposures.... To this original
Unity of consciousness it makes no difference that the tributaries
to the single feeling are beyond the organism instead of within it,
in an outside object with several sensible properties, instead of in
the living body with its several sensitive functions.... The unity
therefore is not made by 'association' of several components; but the
plurality is formed by _dissociation_ of unsuspected varieties within
the unity; the substantive thing being no product of synthesis, but
the residuum of differentiation." (J. Martineau: A Study of Religion
(1888), p. 193-4.) Compare also F. H. Bradley, Logic, book i. chap. ii.
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