Of what does Smell inform us? Of the odoriferous qualities of bodies. How is this effected? By effluvium meeting the olfactory nerves. Of what does Taste inform us? Of the sweetness, sourness, &c. of substances brought to the tongue. Of what does Touch inform us? Of temperature, density, roughness, &c. What do we learn by sight and touch? Distance, figure, size, &c. What do we learn by sight only? Colours. State the difference between taste and smell. Taste tells us of the qualities of bodies when dissolved in a liquid; Smell, when they are in a gaseous or volatile state. How does external nature act upon us? A certain affection of the nerves precedes a certain affection of the mind. To what part of our nature do sensations belong? To our animal nature. To what part of it do our feelings belong? To our rational or moral nature. What may our sensations be, as to their quality? Pleasant or painful; agreeable, disagreeable, indifferent. What then, in a word, are the Senses. The means by which the mind holds intercourse with the material world. Is our intercourse with the external world limited or unlimited? Limited; for we only know what our few senses convey to us. In what conclusion do you rest, as to the senses? We are endowed with those, and those only, which are needful for our well-being. What should we feel as we view this constitution of things? I. THE MIND. How have we described the Mind? As the intelligent or knowing principle in man. What do we commonly say that the mind has? Certain powers or faculties. What do Can you mean? It is capable of what I may call spiritual actions. They are many. 1. What is Reflection? The notice which the mind takes of outward things and of its own operations. Is this power or faculty limited? No: it is co-extensive with our knowledge. Is it simple? It is exceedingly compound. What does it include? Consciousness, memory, comparison, judgment. What may we reflect upon? The visible and the invisible; the real; the imaginary, &c. For what purpose must we reflect? In order to know the nature, relations, and results of things and actions. 2. What is Perception? We cannot explain how external objects are perceived. What is the nature of the case? Objects are presented to us, and we perceive them. By means of what do we perceive them? The mind perceives them according to the information of the senses. What do we perceive? Certain properties or qualities of bodies. Mention some of them. Colour, smell, taste, solidity, temperature, &c. Is there a limitation to perception? The object perceived must be present. 3. What is Conception? The notion we have of an absent object or perception. Mention three kinds of conception. What 1. Of Individual things. 2. Of General words. 3. Of Creatures of our own Imagination. may be the character of our conceptions? Strong and lively, or languid and faint, &c. On what does this very much depend? On our measure of Knowledge and on Attention. 4. What is Memory? Retention of Ideas in the mind, so that we can revive or recall them. How do you know the present operations of the mind? By Consciousness. Quote a line of a poet. “The conscious mind is its own awful world.” How do you know its past operations. By Memory. What may memory be called? The storehouse or treasury of the mind. With what ought it to be enriched? With what is true, good, beautiful, valuable, &c. 5. What is Association or Suggestion? A law by which ideas are united. How does this law act? Certain thoughts and feelings immediately revive or recall others. To what does this law apply? To persons, places, words, events, &c. What, for instance, will the name of an absent friend suggest? What will follow upon this? Various recollections will be excited in the mind; various Is such the case with regard to words, places, events, &c. 6. What is Imagination? The joining of images in new forms and combinations. How does it differ from conception? Conceptions are confined to real things; Imagination delights in fiction. What is the pleasing work of imagination? It is to heighten perfection. How does it effect this? By omitting some things; adding others; heightening With what object or design does it act thus? To delight, fascinate, excite love, &c. Does it deal at any time with the dark and terrible? It frequently does so. For what purpose? To excite fear, aversion, disgust, &c. What does imagination always need? The control of truth, reason, and virtue. Is it common, influential, powerful? It is a busy and restless part of the constitution of every In shaping and colouring things; in putting some scene or other before us. When is it good? When it is chaste, pure, bright, and well regulated. When is it mischievous and evil? When it is wild lawless, teeming with fantastic and vile images. What is its extent? It is boundless: its sphere is the past, present, and future; the visible and invisible. Is it limited to things that have a real existence? No: it may be called the creative power. 7. What is Judgment? The faculty by which we make a decision concerning any thing. The Decision itself is called by the same name. What do you call it in the work of the mind? The first step in reasoning. What are our assertions; negative, and positive? They are so many judgments; so many acts of the mind in the way of decision. By what may judgment be injured? By ignorance, passion, prejudice, partiality, &c. What is prejudice? The formation of opinions before the subject has been examined. On what does the excellence of judgment depend? On the truth and clearness of our ideas. What does a sound judgment require? Real knowledge and the stedfast love of truth. In what does an act of judgment consist? In pronouncing concerning two things, when compared, that they agree or disagree; are like or unlike; are related to each other or are not: &c. |