The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-10-28

| any point Of the circuit to which the suitable
! stimulus could bc applied. The only points.
| however. at which this could take place would
/ be the cell-IuntiOnS or stations ON the nerve
track formed by the cell, or groupof cells Oft the
respective pcrrcptvc centres included in the
circuit Herein lies physical Interpretation
Of the fact that the idea Of an Object may be-
aroused by any one of the scnsations-vsiblc.
audible. tactual-of which 1t is composed. Fur
| WcrmOrc. when an idea il thus reused through
one sense only. We may comprehend the sub
! active state uf the cell functions corrc- ponling
to the perceptions 81 other associated senses 10y
| regarding them in the light ~ stations on the
! track through which quick trains pass without
| stopping. hut at which other trains stop to take
| In passengers. and at which any train may be-
stopped II necessary. The supposition at all
| events IL in accordance with what We know
| concerning the regular process ~ conversion Of
| nervous actions once ons'Ous into actions
| purely automatic OF course. when we rise
from the simple pcrreW to the concept from
the abstract Of sensations to the abstract 81 per-
ccptions from the notion Of n particular man to
the idea Of man in general. it would be nrccs-
sary to imagine moro complex groupings Of
nerve circuits. But let IL not forget that nerve
nbrcs and cell coils are there within the rcrc-
bral vault in infinite multitude and compcxity.
We ought here to .cttlc clearly in our minds
| the relation Of cons .ot-ucs9 to ideational fun'-
| tion. or. ut any rate. to hc ON our guard against
considering CONSEQUENCES as coeXlru>ivc with
such function. In ordcrthnt there may h' con-
s'iuu-n'-s ol an idea. II seems To- h' necessary
not only that lis eNrtdtion reach certain in
tensity Int alas that the whole for'ruf It do
not pass Immediately outward in what this au-
thor calls id'o-mutor ation. When the process
Of rcil ction is going ou quietly AMI rapidly
through the regular asso 'iatiou of IDEAS. there
ie litin on no .spueus-e pf the ef,ttf- 1u tNs
train 81 thought one idea calls another into
activity without being itself attended 90. AMI it
may hr very difi 'ult cor quito impossible 60 take
up the su 'r'~siVr links. In tine course OF u LAY
how many thoughts do thus abruptly start into
cons iou-ness. or as We say. suddenly s'riN"
u-! conception of the way in whieh Eroup
or series ~ movements j. obs rNaby asso ',gtei.
and the faculty of them firmly organized in
Oh" nervous centres 80 that they are hcnccfurth
automatically performed. Will hc found hcpiul
in Interpreting the phenomena Of idca,.pnnl
activity. In the one ca-c H. IN the Other There
must nocds hr an organization in relation
to the environment 10y means OF cdu 'aiion.
Young chili'S ideas and movements !. INK
alike vague vivid. transient. AMI incohoront.
-
,.,,... ,,.r..,.., 60 ,,',,t d.. w.,
Ii.'.,,,..,,i',,. ,ht.,,, a,....a. -t.,. ,... 49,.
."
',",, ''..'...'' IT"
movements they become easier by repetition:
like them are cN .itcd into action by appropriat
stimuli: ike them again. when once assori-
,i','. H., w. ' Wv, ''i', M
appreriable time Tor their accomplishment. and.
like thcm are iatigued BY prolonged exercise.
The question If the time necessary for the
fashloning or performance II an idea is truly
most important one. which has not always re-
eeivcd du" attention. The time Is sometimes
not less than that required for muscular mo-
ton. Tor. rs Darwin has pointed out, musi-
elan can press the keys 81 a piano IN the order
of Il familiar tune IN IA brief time a. ne can
run those notes over IN his mind. Indeed an
Idea may sometimes exact more time than u
movement; hoW many times IN a day do We
cover our eyes with our eyends without ever
pereerlnE that We are IN the dark In this case
to rli" another oi Darwin observations
muscular motion 81 the cycNd II performed
fI Thai N..rt.s