8767069 essays in radical empiricism

8/8/2019 8767069 Essays in Radical Empiricism

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Essays in Radical Empiricism

by

William James

(1842-1910) American Philosopher Psycholo!is"#

$o%nder o& Pra!ma"ism

'ere &ollos "he (almos") comple"e or o& William James* Essays in RadicalEmpiricism# "ranscribed by Phillip +cReynolds, .o" incl%ded is "he las"chap"er# /a .o"ion de onscience#/ since "he chap"er is comple"ely in$rench and co%ld no" be bo"hered "o "ype i" in a" presen", illprobably scan i" in sooner or la"er and am orin! on a "ransla"ion,E3pec" %pda"es accordin!ly,

Pa!e n%mbers are &rom "he on!mans# 5reen and o, edi"ion o& Essays inRadical Empiricism and A Pl%ralis"ic 6ni7erse in one 7ol%me# p%blished

in 194, 6nderscores be"een ords indica"e i"alics in "he ori!inal,o "he bes" o& my noled!e "his or is no in "he p%blic domain as i"as copyri!h"ed 1912 by 'enry James# ho died in 191:,

here are probably mis"aes here, & yo% le" me no abo%" "hem# *lla""emp" "o correc" "hem, n any case# no arran"y is iss%edas "o "he correc"ness or comple"eness o& "his or norconcernin! i"s s%i"abili"y "o any p%rpose ha"soe7er, & yo% accep""hese condi"ions yo% may &reely %se and dis"rib%"e "his "ranscrip"ion asyo% lie# pro7ided "ha" yo% don*" "ry "o sell i" or o"herise mae apro&i" o&& o& my or,

Phillip +cReynolds

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H%i"e radical eno%!h# no" H%i"e darin! eno%!hin "heir ne!a"ions, $or "en"y years pas" ha7e mis"r%s"ed *conscio%sness* as an en"i"y&or se7en or ei!h" years pas" ha7e s%!!es"edi"s non-e3is"ence "o my s"%den"s# and "ried "o!i7e "hem i"s pra!ma"ic eH%i7alen" in reali"ieso& e3perience, " seems "o me "ha" "he ho%r

is ripe &or i" "o be openly and %ni7ersally discarded,

o deny pl%mply "ha" *conscio%sness* e3is"sseems so abs%rd on "he &ace o& i" -- &or %ndeniably*"ho%!h"s* do e3is" -- "ha" &ear somereaders ill &ollo me no &ar"her, e" me "henimmedia"ely e3plain "ha" mean only "o deny"ha" "he ord s"ands &or an en"i"y# b%" "o insis"mos" empha"ically "ha" i" does s"and &or a&%nc"ion, here is# mean# no abori!inal s"%&&or H%ali"y o& bein!# con"ras"ed i"h "ha" o&hich ma"erial obGec"s are made# o%" o& hicho%r "ho%!h"s o& "hem are made b%" "here is a

&%nc"ion in e3perience hich "ho%!h"s per&orm#and &or "he per&ormance o& hich "his

4H%ali"y o& bein! is in7oed, ha" &%nc"ion isInoin!I, *onscio%sness* is s%pposed necessary"o e3plain "he &ac" "ha" "hin!s no" onlyare# b%" !e" repor"ed# are non, Whoe7erblo"s o%" "he no"ion o& conscio%sness &rom hislis" o& &irs" principles m%s" s"ill pro7ide in someay &or "ha" &%nc"ion*s bein! carried on,

+y "hesis is "ha" i& e s"ar" i"h "he s%pposi"ion"ha" "here is only one primal s"%&& orma"erial in "he orld# a s"%&& o& hich e7ery"hin!is composed# and i& e call "ha" s"%&&*p%re e3perience#* "he noin! can easily bee3plained as a par"ic%lar sor" o& rela"ion"oards one ano"her in"o hich por"ions o&p%re e3perience may en"er, he rela"ion i"sel&is a par" o& p%re e3perience one i& i"s *"erms*becomes "he s%bGec" or bearer o& "he noled!e#"he noer#(1) "he o"her becomes "he obGec"non, his ill need m%ch e3plana"ion

be&ore i" can be %nders"ood, he bes" ay "o

---

1 n my IPsycholo!yI ha7e "ried "o sho "ha" e need no noero"her "han "he *passin! "ho%!h",* IPrinciples o& Psycholo!y# 7ol, #pp, 8 &&,---

F!e" i" %nders"ood is "o con"ras" i" i"h "he al"erna"i7e


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7ie and &or "ha" e may "ae "herecen"es" al"erna"i7e# "ha" in hich "he e7apora"iono& "he de&ini"e so%l-s%bs"ance has proceededas &ar as i" can !o i"ho%" bein! ye"comple"e, & neo-Dan"ism has e3pelled earlier&orms o& d%alism# e shall ha7e e3pelled all&orms i& e are able "o e3pel neo-an"ism in i"s"%rn,

$or "he "hiners call neo-Dan"ian# "he ordconscio%sness "o-day does no more "han si!naliKe"he &ac" "ha" e3perience is inde&easibly d%alis"icin s"r%c"%re, " means "ha" no" s%bGec"#no" obGec"# b%" obGec"-pl%s-s%bGec" is "he minim%m"ha" can ac"%ally be, he s%bGec"-obGec"dis"inc"ion meanhile is en"irely di&&eren" &rom"ha" be"een mind and ma""er# &rom "ha" be"eenbody and so%l, Bo%ls ere de"achable#had separa"e des"inies "hin!s co%ld happen "o"hem, o conscio%sness as s%ch no"hin! canhappen# &or# "imeless i"sel i" is only a i"ness

o& happenin!s in "ime# in hich i" plays nopar", " is# in a ord# b%" "he lo!ical correla"i7eo& *con"en"* in an E3perience o& hich "he

:pec%liari"y is "ha" I&ac"IcomesI"oIli!h"I in i"# "ha"IaarenessIo&Icon"en"I "aes place, onscio%snessas s%ch is en"irely impersonal -- *sel&* and i"sac"i7i"ies belon! "o "he con"en", o say "ha" am sel&-conscio%s# or conscio%s o& p%""in! &or"h7oli"ion# means only "ha" cer"ain con"en"s# &orhich *sel&* and *e&&or" o& ill* are "he names#are no" i"ho%" i"ness as "hey occ%r,

h%s# &or "hese bela"ed driners a" "he Dan"iansprin!# e sho%ld ha7e "o admi" conscio%snessas an *epis"emolo!ical* necessi"y# e7en i&e had no direc" e7idence o& i"s bein! "here,

@%" in addi"ion "o "his# e are s%pposed byalmos" e7ery one "o ha7e an immedia"e conscio%snesso& conscio%sness i"sel&, When "heorld o& o%"er &ac" ceases "o be ma"erially presen"#and e merely recall i" in memory# or&ancy i"# "he conscio%sness is belie7ed "o s"ando%" and "o be &el" as a ind o& impalpable inner

&loin!# hich# once non in "his sor" o& e3perience#may eH%ally be de"ec"ed in presen"a"ionso& "he o%"er orld, /he momen" e "ry"o &i3 o%" a""en"ion %pon conscio%sness and "osee Iha"I# dis"inc"ly# i" is#/ says a recen" ri"er#

/i" seems "o 7anish, " seems as i& e had be&ore%s a mere emp"iness, When e "ry "o in"rospec""he sensa"ion o& bl%e# all e can see is"he bl%e "he o"her elemen" is as i& i" ere diaphano%s,


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9analo!o%s ay -- no" isola"in! "hem en"irely#b%" dis"in!%ishin! "hem eno%!h "o no "ha""hey are "o,

.o my con"en"ion is e3ac"ly "he re7erse o&"his, IE3perience#IIbelie7e#IhasInoIs%chIinnerId%plici"yIIandI"heIsepara"ionIo&Ii"Iin"oIconscio%snessIIandIcon"en"Icomes#Ino"IbyIayIo&Is%b"rac"ion#IIb%"IbyIayIo&Iaddi"ionI -- "he addi"ion# "o a!i7en concre"e piece o& i"# o"her se"s o& e3periences#in connec"ion i"h hich se7erally i"s%se or &%nc"ion may be o& "o di&&eren" inds,he pain" ill also ser7e here as an ill%s"ra"ion,n a po" in a pain"-shop# alon! i"h o"herpain"s# i" ser7es in i"s en"ire"y as so m%ch saleablema""er, Bpread on a can7as# i"h o"herpain"s aro%nd i"# i" represen"s# on "he con"rary#

a &ea"%re in a pic"%re and per&orms a spiri"%al&%nc"ion, J%s" so# main"ain# does a !i7en %ndi7idedpor"ion o& e3perience# "aen in onecon"e3" o& associa"es# play "he par" o& a noer#o& a s"a"e o& mind# o& *conscio%sness* hile ina di&&eren" con"e3" "he same %ndi7ided bi" o&e3perience plays "he par" o& a "hin! non# o&

10an obGec"i7e *con"en",* n a ord# in one !ro%pi" &i!%res as a "ho%!h"# in ano"her !ro%p as a"hin!, And# since i" can &i!%re in bo"h !ro%pssim%l"aneo%sly e ha7e e7ery ri!h" "o spea o&

i" as s%bGec"i7e and obGec"i7e# bo"h a" once,he d%alism conno"ed by s%ch do%ble-barrelled"erms as *e3perience#* *phenomenon#**da"%m#* *I=or&ind%n!I* -- "erms hich# in philosophya" any ra"e# "end more and more "o replace"he sin!le-barrelled "erms o& *"ho%!h"*and *"hin!* -- "ha" d%alism# say# is s"ill preser7edin "his acco%n"# b%" rein"erpre"ed# so"ha"# ins"ead o& bein! mys"erio%s and el%si7e#i" becomes 7eri&iable and concre"e, " is an a&&airo& rela"ions# i" &alls o%"side# no" inside# "hesin!le e3perience considered# and can alaysbe par"ic%lariKed and de&ined,

he en"erin! ed!e &or "his more concre"eay o& %nders"andin! "he d%alism as &ashionedby oce hen he made "he ord *idea*s"and indi&&eren"ly &or "hin! and "ho%!h"# andby @ereley hen he said "ha" ha" commonsense means by reali"ies is e3ac"ly ha" "hephilosopher means by ideas, .ei"her oce

11nor @ereley "ho%!h" his "r%"h o%" in"o per&ec"


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clearness# b%" i" seems "o me "ha" "he concep"ion am de&endin! does li""le more "han consis"en"lycarry o%" "he *pra!ma"ic* me"hodhich "hey ere "he &irs" "o %se,

& "he reader ill "ae his on e3periences#he ill see ha" mean, e" him be!in i"h apercep"%al e3perience# "he *presen"a"ion#* so

called# o& a physical obGec"# his ac"%al &ield o&7ision# "he room he si"s in# i"h "he boo he isreadin! as i"s cen"re and le" him &or "he presen""rea" "his comple3 obGec" in "he common-sense ay as bein! *really* ha" i" seems "o be#namely# a collec"ion o& physical "hin!s c%" o%"&rom an en7ironin! orld o& o"her physical"hin!s i"h hich "hese physical "hin!s ha7eac"%al or po"en"ial rela"ions, .o a" "he same"ime i" is G%s" I"hoseIsel&-sameI"hin!sI hich hismind# as e say# percei7es and "he hole philosophyo& percep"ion &rom ?emocri"%s*s "imedonards has G%s" been one lon! ran!le o7er

"he parado3 "ha" ha" is e7iden"ly one reali"ysho%ld be in "o places a" once# bo"h in o%"erspace and in a person*s mind, *Represen"a"i7e*

12"heories o& percep"ion a7oid "he lo!icalparado3# b%" on "he o"her hand "he 7iola"e "hereader*s sense o& li&e# hich nos no in"er7enin!men"al ima!e b%" seems "o see "he roomand "he boo immedia"ely G%s" as "hey physicallye3is",

he p%KKle o& ho "he one iden"ical room can

be in "o places is a" bo""om G%s" "he p%KKle o&ho one iden"ical poin" can be on "o lines, "can# i& i" be si"%a"ed a" "heir in"ersec"ion andsimilarly# i& "he *p%re e3perience* o& "he roomere a place o& in"ersec"ion o& "o processes#hich connec"ed i" i"h di&&eren" !ro%ps o& associa"esrespec"i7ely# i" co%ld be co%n"ed "iceo7er# as belon!in! "o ei"her !ro%p# and spoeno& loosely as e3is"in! in "o places# al"ho%!h i"o%ld remain all "he "ime a n%merically sin!le"hin!,

Well# "he e3perience is a member o& di7erse

processes "ha" can be &olloed aay &rom i"alon! en"irely di&&eren" lines, he one sel&-iden"ical "hin! has so many rela"ions "o "heres" o& e3perience "ha" yo% can "ae i" in dispara"esys"ems o& associa"ion# and "rea" i" as

1belon!in! i"h opposi"e con"e3"s, n one o&"hese con"e3"s i" is yo%r *&ield o& conscio%sness*in ano"her i" is *"he room in hich yo%si"#* and i" en"ers bo"h con"e3"s in i"s holeness#


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hen pass &orm percep"s "o concep"s# or &rom"he case o& "hin!s presen"ed "o "ha" o& "hin!sremo"e, belie7e# ne7er"heless# "ha" here also"he same la holds !ood, & e "ae concep"%almani&olds# or memories# or &ancies# "heyalso are in "heir &irs" in"en"ion mere bi"so& p%re e3perience# and# as s%ch# are sin!le I"ha"sIhich ac" in one con"e3" as obGec"s# and in ano"her

con"e3" &i!%re as men"al s"a"es, @y "ain!"hem in "heir &irs" in"en"ion# mean i!norin!"heir rela"ion "o possible percep"%al e3periencesi"h hich "hey may be connec"ed#hich "hey may lead "o and "ermina"e in# andhich "hen "hey may be s%pposed "o *represen",*

1:ain! "hem in "his ay &irs"# e con&ine"he problem "o a orld merely *"ho%!h"-o&* and no" direc"ly &el" or seen, his orld#G%s" lie "he orld o& percep"s# comes "o %s a"&irs" as a chaos o& e3periences# b%" lines o& order

soon !e" "raced, We &ind "ha" any bi" o& i"hich e may c%" o%" as an e3ample is connec"edi"h dis"inc" !ro%ps o& associa"es# G%s"as o%r percep"%al e3periences are# "ha" "heseassocia"es lin "hemsel7es i"h i" by di&&eren"rela"ions#(2) and "ha" one &orms "he inner his"oryo& a person# hile "he o"her ac"s as an impersonal*obGec"i7e* orld# ei"her spa"ial and "emporal#or else merely lo!ical or ma"hema"ical#or o"herise *ideal,*

he &irs" obs"acle on "he par" o& "he reader "oseein! "ha" "hese non-percep"%al e3periences

---

2 'ere as elsehere "he rela"ions are o& co%rse Ie3periencedIrela"ions# members o& "he same ori!inally chao"ic mani&old o& non-percep"%al e3perience o& hich "he rela"ed "erms "hemsel7es arepar"s,---

1ha7e obGec"i7i"y as ell as s%bGec"i7i"y illprobably be d%e "o "he in"r%sion in"o his mindo& Ipercep"sI# "ha" "hird !ro%p o& associa"es i"h

hich "he non-percep"%al e3periences ha7e rela"ions#and hich# as a hole# "hey *represen"#*s"andin! "o "hem as "ho%!h"s "o "hin!s, hisimpor"an" &%nc"ion o& non-percep"%al e3periencescomplica"es "he H%es"ion and con&%sesi" &or# so %sed are e "o "rea" percep"s as"he sole !en%ine reali"ies "ha"# %nless e eep"hem o%" o& "he disc%ssion# e "end al"o!e"her"o o7erloo "he obGec"i7i"y "ha" lies in non-percep"%al e3periences by "hemsel7es, We"rea" "hem# *noin!* percep"s as "hey do# as


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"hro%!h and "hro%!h s%bGec"i7e# and say "ha""hey are holly cons"i"%"ed o& "he s"%&& calledconscio%sness# %sin! "his "erm no &or a indo& en"i"y# a&"er "he &ashion hich am seein!"o re&%"e,(1)

Abs"rac"in!# "hen# &rom percep"s al"o!e"her#ha" main"ain is# "ha" any sin!le non-percep"%al

---

1 & "he represen"a"i7e &%nc"ions o& non-percep"%al e3perience as ahole# ill say a ord in a s%bseH%en" ar"icle i" leads "oo &ar in"o"he !eneral "heory o& noled!e &or m%ch "o be said abo%" i" in a shor"paper lie "his,---

18e3perience "ends "o !e" co%n"ed "iceo7er# G%s" as a percep"%al e3perience does# &i!%rin!in one con"e3" as an obGec" or &ield o& obGec"s#

in ano"her as a s"a"e o& mindL and all "hisi"ho%" "he leas" in"ernal sel&-diremp"ion on i"son par" in"o conscio%sness and con"en", " isall conscio%sness in one "ain! and# in "heo"her# all con"en",

&ind "his obGec"i7i"y o& non-percep"%al e3periences#"his comple"e parallelism in poin" o&reali"y be"een "he presen"ly &el" and "he remo"ely"ho%!h"# so ell se" &or"h in a pa!e o&+%ns"erber!*s I5r%ndK%!eI# "ha" ill H%o"e i"as i" s"ands,

/ may only "hin o& my obGec"s#/ says Pro&essor+%ns"erber! /ye"# in my li7in! "ho%!h""hey s"and be&ore me e3ac"ly as percei7ed obGec"so%ld do# no ma""er ho di&&eren" "he "oays o& apprehendin! "hem may be in "heir!enesis, he boo here lyin! on "he "able be&oreme# and "he boo in "he ne3" room o& hich "hin and hich mean "o !e"# are bo"h in "hesame sense !i7en reali"ies &or me# reali"ieshich acnoled!e and o& hich "ae acco%n",

19& yo% a!ree "ha" "he percep"%al obGec"

is no" an idea i"hin me# b%" "ha" percep" and"hin!# as indis"in!%ishably one# are really e3periencedI"hereI# Io%"sideI# yo% o%!h" no" "o belie7e"ha" "he merely "ho%!h"-o& obGec" is hid aayinside o& "he "hinin! s%bGec", he obGec" o&hich "hin# and o& hose e3is"ence "aeco!niKance i"ho%" le""in! i" no or %ponmy senses# occ%pies i"s de&ini"e place in "heo%"er orld as m%ch as does "he obGec" hich direc"ly see,/


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/Wha" is "r%e o& "he here and "he "here# isalso "r%e o& "he no and "he "hen, no o&"he "hin! hich is presen" and percei7ed# b%" no also o& "he "hin! hich yes"erday asb%" is no more# and hich only remember,@o"h can de"ermine my presen" cond%c"# bo"hare par"s o& "he reali"y o& hich eep acco%n"," is "r%e "ha" o& m%ch o& "he pas" am %ncer"ain#

G%s" as am %ncer"ain o& m%ch o& ha"is presen" i& i" be b%" dimly percei7ed, @%" "hein"er7al o& "ime does no" in principle al"er myrela"ion "o "he obGec"# does no" "rans&orm i"&rom an obGec" non in"o a men"al s"a"e,,,,

20he "hin!s in "he room here hich s%r7ey#and "hose in my dis"an" home o& hich "hin#"he "hin!s o& "his min%"e and "hose o& my lon!-7anished boyhood# in&l%ence and decide mealie# i"h a reali"y hich my e3perience o&"hem direc"ly &eels, hey bo"h mae %p my

real orld# "hey mae i" direc"ly# "hey do no"ha7e &irs" "o be in"rod%ced "o me and media"edby ideas hich no and here arisei"hin me,,,, his no"-me charac"ero& my recollec"ions and e3pec"a"ions does no"imply "ha" "he e3"ernal obGec"s o& hich amaare in "hose e3periences sho%ld necessarilybe "here also &or o"hers, he obGec"s o& dreamersand hall%cina"ed persons are holly i"ho%"!eneral 7alidi"y, @%" e7en ere "hey cen"a%rsand !olden mo%n"ains# "hey s"ill o%ldbe *o&& "here#* in &airy land# and no" *inside* o&o%rsel7es,/(1)

his cer"ainly is "he immedia"e# primary#nai or prac"ical ay o& "ain! o%r "ho%!h"-o&orld, Were "here no percep"%al orld "oser7e as i"s *red%c"i7e#* in aine*s sense# by

---

1 +%ns"erber!L I5r%ndK%!eIderIPsycholo!ieI# 7ol, # p, 48,---

21bein! *s"ron!er* and more !en%inely *o%"er*

(so "ha" "he hole merely "ho%!h"-o& orldseems ea and inner in comparison)# o%rorld o& "ho%!h" o%ld be "he only orld# ando%ld enGoy comple"e reali"y in o%r belie&,his ac"%ally happens in o%r dreams# and ino%r day-dreams so lon! as percep"s do no"in"err%p" "hem,

And ye"# G%s" as "he seen room ("o !o bac "oo%r la"e e3ample) is IalsoI a &ield o& conscio%sness#so "he concei7ed or recollec"ed room is


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IalsoI a s"a"e o& mind and "he do%blin!-%p o& "hee3perience has in bo"h cases similar !ro%nds,

he room "ho%!h"-o namely# has many"ho%!h"-o& co%plin!s i"h many "ho%!h"-o&"hin!s, Bome o& "hese co%plin!s are incons"an"#o"hers are s"able, n "he reader*s personal his"ory"he room occ%pies a sin!le da"e -- he sa

i" only once perhaps# a year a!o, & "he ho%se*shis"ory# on "he o"her hand# i" &orms a permanen"in!redien", Bome co%plin!s ha7e "he c%rio%ss"%bbornness# "o borro Royce*s "erm# o&&ac" o"hers sho "he &l%idi"y o& &ancy -- e le""hem come and !o as e please, 5ro%ped i"h

22"he res" o& i"s ho%se# i"h "he name o& i"s "on#o& i"s oner# b%ilder# 7al%e# decora"i7e plan#"he room main"ains a de&ini"e &oo"hold# "ohich# i& e "ry "o loosen i"# i" "ends "o re"%rnand "o reasser" i"sel& i"h &orce,(1) Wi"h "hese

associa"es# in a ord# i" coheres# hile "o o"herho%ses# o"her "ons# o"her oners# e"c,# i" shosno "endency "o cohere a" all, he "o collec"ions#&irs" o& i"s cohesi7e# and# second# o& i"sloose associa"es# ine7i"ably come "o be con"ras"ed,We call "he &irs" collec"ion "he sys"emo& e3"ernal reali"ies# in "he mids" o& hich "heroom# as *real#* e3is"s "he o"her e call "hes"ream o& in"ernal "hinin!# in hich# as a*men"al ima!e#* i" &or a momen" &loa"s,(2) heroom "h%s a!ain !e"s co%n"ed "ice o7er, "plays "o di&&eren" roles# bein! I5edaneI andI5edach"esI# "he "ho%!h"-o&-an-obGec"# and "he

obGec"-"ho%!h"-o bo"h in one and all "hisi"ho%" parado3 or mys"ery# G%s" as "he same

---

1 &, A,, 'odderL IheIAd7ersariesIo&I"heIBcep"icI# pp,94-99,

2 $or simplici"y*s sae con&ine my e3posi"ion "o *e3"ernal*reali"y, @%" "here is also "he sys"em o& ideal reali"y in hich "heroom plays i"s par", Rela"ions o& comparison# o& classi&ica"ion#serial order# 7al%e# also are s"%bborn# assi!n a de&ini"e place "o "heroom# %nlie "he incoherence o& i"s places in "he mere rhapsody o& o%rs%ccessi7e "ho%!h"s,

---

2ma"erial "hin! may be bo"h lo and hi!h# orsmall and !rea"# or bad and !ood# beca%se o& i"srela"ions "o opposi"e par"s o& an en7ironin!orld,

As *s%bGec"i7e* e say "ha" "he e3periencerepresen"s as *obGec"i7e* i" is represen"ed,Wha" represen"s and ha" is represen"ed is here


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n%merically "he same b%" e m%s" remember"ha" no d%alism o& bein! represen"ed and represen"in!resides in "he e3perience IperIseI, ni"s p%re s"a"e# or hen isola"ed# "here is no sel&-spli""in! o& i" in"o conscio%sness and ha" "heconscio%sness is *o&,* "s s%bGec"i7i"y and obGec"i7i"yare &%nc"ional a""rib%"es solely# # realiKedonly hen "he e3perience is *"ae#* i,e,#

"aled-o "ice# considered alon! i"h i"s "odi&&erin! con"e3"s respec"i7ely# by a ne re"rospec"i7ee3perience# o& hich "ha" hole pas"complica"ion no &orms "he &resh con"en",

he ins"an" &ield o& "he presen" is a" all "imesha" call "he *p%re* e3perience, " is only7ir"%ally or po"en"ially ei"her obGec" or s%bGec"as ye", $or "he "ime bein!# i" is plain# %nH%ali&iedac"%ali"y# or e3is"ence# a simple I"ha"I, n "his

24Inai&I immediacy i" is o& co%rse I7alidI i" is I"hereI#

e Iac"I %pon i" and "he do%blin! o& i" in re"rospec"ionin"o a s"a"e o& mind and a reali"y in"ended"hereby# is G%s" one o& "he ac"s, he*s"a"e o& mind#* &irs" "rea"ed e3plici"ly as s%chin re"rospec"ion# ill s"and correc"ed or con&irmed#and "he re"rospec"i7e e3perience in i"s"%rn ill !e" a similar "rea"men" b%" "he immedia"ee3perience in i"s passin! is alays*"r%"h#*(1) prac"ical "r%"h# Isome"hin!I"oIac"IonI# a"i"s on mo7emen", & "he orld ere "hen and"here "o !o o%" lie a candle# i" o%ld remain"r%"h absol%"e and obGec"i7e# &or i" o%ld be*"he las" ord#* o%ld ha7e no cri"ic# and no

one o%ld e7er oppose "he "ho%!h" in i" "o "hereali"y in"ended,(2)

"hin may no claim "o ha7e made my

---

1 .o"e "he ambi!%i"y o& "his "erm# hich is "aen some"imesobGec"i7ely and some"imes s%bGec"i7ely,

2 n "he IPsycholo!icalIRe7ieI &or J%ly 1904# ?r, R,@,Perry hasp%blished a 7ie o& onscio%sness hich comes nearer "o mine "han anyo"her i"h hich am acH%ain"ed, A" presen"# ?r, Perry "hins# e7ery

&ield o& e3perience is so m%ch *&ac",* " becomes *opinion* or*"ho%!h"* only in re"rospec"ion# hen a &resh e3perience# "hinin! "hesame obGec"# al"ers and correc"s i", @%" "he correc"i7e e3periencebecomes i"sel& in "%rn correc"ed# and "h%s "he e3perience as a hole isa process in hich ha" is obGec"i7e ori!inally &ore7er "%rnss%bGec"i7e# "%rns in"o o%r apprehension o& "he obGec", s"ron!lyrecommend ?r, Perry*s admirable ar"icle "o my readers,---

2F"hesis clear, onscio%sness conno"es a ind o&


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e3"ernal rela"ion# and does no" deno"e a specials"%&& or ay o& bein!, IheIpec%liari"yIo&Io%rIe3periences#II"ha"I"heyIno"IonlyIare#Ib%"IareInon#IIhichI"heirI*conscio%s*IH%ali"yIisIin7oedI"oIIe3plain#IisIbe""erIe3plainedIbyI"heirIrela"ionsI--I"heseIrela"ionsI"hemsel7esIbein!Ie3periencesI--I"oIIoneIano"herI,

=

Were no "o !o on "o "rea" o& "he noin!o& percep"%al by concep"%al e3periences# i"o%ld a!ain pro7e "o be an a&&air o& e3"ernalrela"ions, ne e3perience o%ld be "he noer#"he o"her "he reali"y non and co%ldper&ec"ly ell de&ine# i"ho%" "he no"ion o&*conscio%sness#* ha" "he noin! ac"%allyand prac"ically amo%n"s "o -- leadin!-"oards#namely# and "ermina"in!-in percep"s# "hro%!ha series o& "ransi"ional e3periences hich "heorld s%pplies, @%" ill no" "rea" o& "his#

space bein! ins%&&icien",(1) ill ra"her consider

---

1 ha7e !i7en a par"ial acco%n" o& "he ma""er in I+indI# 7ol, ># p,2# 188F# and in "he IPsycholo!icalIRe7ieI# 7ol, # p, 10F# 189F, Beealso ,A, B"ron!*s ar"icle in "heIJo%rnalIo&IPhilosophy#IPsycholo!yIandIBcien"i&icI+e"hodsI# 7ol # p,2F# +ay 12# 1904, hope mysel& 7ery soon "o rec%r "o "he ma""er,---

2:a &e obGec"ions "ha" are s%re "o be %r!ed

a!ains" "he en"ire "heory as i" s"ands,

=

$irs" o& all# "his ill be asedL /& e3periencehas no" *conscio%s* e3is"ence# i& i" be no"par"ly made o& *conscio%sness#* o& ha" "henis i" madeC +a""er e no# and "ho%!h" eno# and conscio%s con"en" e no# b%"ne%"ral and simple *p%re e3perience* is some"hin!e no no" a" all, Bay Iha"I i" consis"so& -- &or i" m%s" consis" o& some"hin! -- or beillin! "o !i7e i" %pM/

o "his challen!e "he reply is easy, Al"ho%!h&or &l%ency*s sae mysel& spoe early in "hisar"icle o& a s"%&& o& p%re e3perience# ha7e no"o say "ha" "here is no I!eneralI s"%&& o& hich e3periencea" lar!e is made, here are as manys"%&&s as "here are *na"%res* in "he "hin!s e3perienced,& yo% as ha" any one bi" o& p%ree3perience is made o "he anser is alays "he

2


15/101

sameL /" is made o& I"ha"I# o& G%s" ha" appears#o& space# o& in"ensi"y# o& &la"ness# bronness#hea7iness# or ha" no",/ Bhador"h 'od!son*sanalysis here lea7es no"hin! "o be desired,(1)E3perience is only a collec"i7e name&or all "hese sensible na"%res# and sa7e &or "imeand space (and# i& yo% lie# &or *bein!*) "hereappears no %ni7ersal elemen" o& hich all

"hin!s are made,

=

he ne3" obGec"ion is more &ormidable# in&ac" i" so%nds H%i"e cr%shin! hen one hearsi" &irs",

/& i" be "he sel&-same piece o& p%re e3perience#"aen "ice o7er# "ha" ser7es no as "ho%!h" and no as "hin!/ -- so "heobGec"ion r%ns -- /ho comes i" "ha" i"s a""rib%"essho%ld di&&er so &%ndamen"ally in "he "o "ain!s,As "hin!# "he e3perience is e3"ended as

"ho%!h"# i" occ%pies no space or place, As"hin!# i" is red# hard# hea7y b%" ho e7er heard

28o& a red# hard or hea7y "ho%!h"C ;e" e7enno yo% said "ha" an e3perience is made o&G%s" ha" appears# and ha" appears is G%s"s%ch adGec"i7es, 'o can "he one e3periencein i"s "hin!-&%nc"ion be made o& "hem# consis"o& "hem# carry "hem as i"s on a""rib%"es# hilein i"s "ho%!h"-&%nc"ion i" disons "hem anda""rib%"es "hem elsehere, here is a sel&-con"radic"ionhere &rom hich "he radical d%alism

o& "ho%!h" and "hin! is "he only "r%"h "ha" cansa7e %s, nly i& "he "ho%!h" is one ind o&bein! can "he adGec"i7es e3is" in i" *in"en"ionally*("o %se "he scholas"ic "erm) only i& "he"hin! is ano"her ind# can "hey e3is" in i" cons"i"%i"i7elyand ener!e"ically, .o simple s%bGec"can "ae "he same adGec"i7es and a" one"ime be H%ali&ied by i"# and a" ano"her "ime bemerely *o&* i"# as o& some"hin! only mean" ornon,/

he sol%"ion insis"ed on by "his obGec"or# liemany o"her common-sense sol%"ions# !ros

"he less sa"is&ac"ory "he more one "%rns i" inone*s mind, o be!in i"h# IareI "ho%!h" and"hin! as he"ero!eneo%s as is commonly saidC

29

.o one denies "ha" "hey ha7e some ca"e!oriesin common, heir rela"ions "o "ime are iden"ical,@o"h# moreo7er# may ha7e par"s (&orpsycholo!is"s n !eneral "rea" "ho%!h"s as ha7in!"hem) and bo"h may be comple3 or simple,


16/101

@o"h are o& inds# can be compared# added ands%b"rac"ed and arran!ed in serial orders, Allsor"s o& adGec"i7es H%ali&y o%r "ho%!h"s hichappear incompa"ible i"h conscio%sness# bein!as s%ch a bare diaphanei"y, $or ins"ance# "heyare na"%ral and easy# or laborio%s, hey arebea%"i&%l# happy# in"ense# in"eres"in!# ise#idio"ic# &ocal# mar!inal# insipid# con&%sed#

7a!%e# precise# ra"ional# ca%sal# !eneral# par"ic%lar#and many "hin!s besides, +oreo7er#"he chap"ers on *Percep"ion* in "he psycholo!y-boos are &%ll o& &ac"s "ha" mae &or "heessen"ial homo!enei"y o& "ho%!h" i"h "hin!,'o# i& *s%bGec"* and *obGec"* ere separa"ed*by "he hole diame"er o& bein!#* and had noa""rib%"es and common# co%ld i" be so hard "o"ell# in a presen"ed and reco!niKed ma"erialobGec"# ha" par" comes in "ho%!h" "he sense-or!ans and ha" par" comes *o%" o& one*s on

0

head*C Bensa"ions and appercep"i7e ideas &%sehere so in"ima"ely "ha" yo% can no more "ellhere one be!ins and "he o"her ends# "han yo%can "ell# in "hose c%nnin! circ%lar panoramas"ha" ha7e la"ely been e3hibi"ed# here "he real&ore!ro%nd and "he pain"ed can7as Goin "o!e"her,(1)

?escar"es &or "he &irs" "ime de&ined "ho%!h"as "he absol%"ely %ne3"ended# and la"er philosophersha7e accep"ed "he descrip"ion as correc",@%" ha" possible meanin! has i" "o say"ha"# hen e "hin o& a &oo"-r%le or a sH%areyard# e3"ension is no" a""rib%"able "o o%r

"ho%!h"C & e7ery e3"ended obGec" "he IadeH%a"eImen"al pic"%re m%s" ha7e all "he e3"ensiono& "he obGec" i"sel&, he di&&erence be"eenobGec"i7e and s%bGec"i7e e3"ension isone o& rela"ion "o a con"e3" solely, n "he mind"he 7ario%s e3"en"s main"ain no necessarilys"%bborn order rela"i7ely "o each o"her# hile

---

1 Bpencer*s proo& o& his *rans&i!%red Realism* (his doc"rine "ha""here is an absol%"ely non-men"al reali"y) comes "o mind as a splendidins"ance o& "he impossibili"y o& es"ablishin! radical he"ero!enei"y

be"een "ho%!h" and "hin!, All his pain&%lly acc%m%la"ed poin"s o&di&&erence r%n !rad%ally in"o "heir opposi"es# and are &%ll o&e3cep"ions,---

1in "he physical orld "hey bo%nd each o"hers"ably# and# added "o!e"her# mae "he !rea"en7elopin! 6ni" hich e belie7e in and callreal Bpace, As *o%"er#* "hey carry "hemsel7esad7ersely# so "o spea# "o one ano"her# e3cl%de


17/101

one ano"her and main"ain "heir dis"anceshile# as *inner#* "heir order is loose# and "hey&orm a Id%rcheinanderI in hich %ni"y is los",(1)@%" "o ar!%e &rom "his "ha" inner e3perience isabsol%"ely ine3"ensi7e seems "o me li""le shor"o& abs%rd, he "o orlds di&&er# no" by "hepresence or absence o& e3"ension# b%" by "herela"ions o& "he e3"ensions hich in bo"h

orlds e3is",

?oes no" "his case o& e3"ension no p%" %son "he "rac o& "r%"h in "he case o& o"her H%ali"iesC" does and am s%rprised "ha" "he &ac"ssho%ld no" ha7e been no"iced lon! a!o, Why#&or e3ample# do e call a &ire ho"# and a"ere"# and ye" re&%se "o say "ha" o%r men"als"a"e# hen i" is *o&* "hese obGec"s# is ei"her e"or ho"C *n"en"ionally#* a" any ra"e# and hen

2"he men"al s"a"e is a 7i7id ima!e# ho"ness and

e"ness are in i" G%s" as m%ch as "hey are in "hephysical e3perience, he reason is "his# "ha"#as "he !eneral chaos o& all o%r e3periences !e"ssi&"ed# e &ind "ha" "here are some &ires "ha"ill alays b%rn s"ics and alays arm o%rbodies# and "ha" "here are some a"ers "ha"ill alays p%" o%" &ires hile "here are o"her&ires and a"ers "ha" ill no" ac" a" all, he!eneral !ro%p o& e3periences "ha" Iac"I# "ha" dono" only possess "heir na"%res in"rinsically# b%"ear "hem adGec"i7ely and ener!e"ically# "%rnin!"hem a!ains" one ano"her# comes ine7i"ably"o be con"ras"ed i"h "he !ro%p hose members#

ha7in! iden"ically "he same na"%res# &ail"o mani&es" "hem in "he *ener!e"ic* ay,(1) mae &or mysel& no an e3perience o& blaKin!&ire place i" near my body b%" i" does no"arm me in "he leas", lay a s"ic %pon i"# and"he s"ic ei"her b%rns or remains !reen# as please, call %p a"er# and po%r i" on "he &ire#and absol%"ely no di&&erence ens%es, acco%n"

&or all s%ch &ac"s by callin! "his hole "raino& e3periences %nreal# a men"al "rain, +en"al&ire is ha" on*" b%rn real s"ics men"al a"er

is ha" on*" necessarily ("ho%!h o& co%rsei" may) p%" o%" e7en a men"al &ire, +en"alni7es may be sharp# b%" "hey on*" c%" realood, +en"al "rian!les are poin"ed# b%" "heirpoin"s on*" o%nd, Wi"h *real* obGec"s# on"he con"rary# conseH%ences alays accr%e and"h%s "he real e3periences !e" si&"ed &rom "hemen"al ones# "he "hin!s &rom o%" "ho%!h"s o&"hem# &anci&%l or "r%e# and precipi"a"ed "o!e"heras "he s"able par" o& "he hole e3perience-chaos# %nder "he name o& "he physical


18/101

orld, & "his o%r percep"%al e3periences are"he n%cle%s# "hey bein! "he ori!inally Is"ron!Ie3periences, We add a lo" o& concep"%al e3periences"o "hem# main! "hese s"ron! also inima!ina"ion# and b%ildin! o%" "he remo"erpar"s o& "he physical orld by "heir meansand aro%nd "his core o& reali"y "he orldo& la3ly connec"ed &ancies and mere rhapsodical

obGec"s &loa"s lie a ban o& clo%ds,n "he clo%ds# all sor"s o& r%les are 7iola"ed

4hich in "he core are ep", E3"ensions "herecan be inde&ini"ely loca"ed mo"ion "here obeysno .e"on*s las,

=

here is a pec%liar class o& e3perience "ohich# he"her e "ae "hem as s%bGec"i7e oras obGec"i7e# e Iassi!n "heir se7eral na"%res as

a""rib%"es# beca%se in bo"h con"e3"s "hey a&&ec""heir associa"es ac"i7ely# "ho%!h in nei"herH%i"e as *s"ron!ly* or as sharply as "hin!s a&&ec"one ano"her by "heir physical ener!ies, re&er here "o Iapprecia"ionsI# hich &orm an ambi!%o%ssphere o& bein!# belon!in! i"h emo"ionon "he one hand# and ha7in! obGec"i7e *7al%e*on "he o"her# ye" seemin! no" H%i"e inner norH%i"e o%"er# as i& a diremp"ion had be!%n b%"had no" made i"sel& comple"e,

E3periences o& pain&%l obGec"s# &or e3ample#are %s%ally also pain&%l e3periences percep"ions

o& lo7eliness# o& %!liness# "end "o passm%s"er as lo7ely or as %!ly percep"ions in"%i"ionso& "he morally lo&"y are lo&"y in"%i"ions,

FBome"imes "he adGec"i7e anders as i& %ncer"ainhere "o &i3 i"sel&, Bhall e spea o&sed%c"i7e 7isions or o& 7isions o& sed%c"i7e"hin!sC & heal"hy "ho%!h"s or o& "ho%!h"so& heal"hy obGec"sC & !ood imp%lses# or o&imp%lses "oards "he !oodC & &eelin!s o&an!er# or o& an!ry &eelin!sC @o"h in "he mindand in "he "hin!# "hese na"%res modi&y "heir

con"e3"# e3cl%de cer"ain associa"es and de"ermineo"hers# ha7e "heir ma"es and incompa"ibles,;e" no" as s"%bbornly as in "he case o&physical H%ali"ies# &or bea%"y and %!liness#lo7e and ha"red# pleasan" and pain&%l can# incer"ain comple3 e3periences# coe3is",

& one ere "o mae an e7ol%"ionary cons"r%c"iono& ho a lo" o& ori!inally chao"ic p%ree3perience became !rad%ally di&&eren"ia"edin"o an orderly inner and o%"er orld# "he


19/101

hole "heory o%ld "%rn %pon one*s s%ccess ine3plainin! ho or hy "he H%ali"y o& an e3perience#once ac"i7e# co%ld become less so# and#&rom bein! an ener!e"ic a""rib%"e in somecases# elsehere lapse in"o "he s"a"%s o& an

:iner" or merely in"ernal *na"%re,* his o%ld

be "he *e7ol%"ion* o& "he psychical &rom "hebosom o& "he physical# in hich "he es"he"ic#moral and o"herise emo"ional e3perienceso%ld represen" a hal&ay s"a!e,

=

@%" a las" cry o& InonIposs%m%sI ill probably!o %p &rom many readers, /All 7ery pre""y asa piece o& in!en%i"y#/ "hey ill say# /b%" o%rconscio%sness i"sel& in"%i"i7ely con"radic"s yo%,We# &or o%r par"# InoI "ha" e are conscio%s,We I&eelI o%r "ho%!h"# &loin! as a li&e i"hin %s#

in absol%"e con"ras" i"h "he obGec"s hich i"so %nremi""in!ly escor"s, We can no" be &ai"hless"o "his immedia"e in"%i"ion, he d%alismis a &%ndamen"al Ida"%mIL e" no man Goin ha"5od has p%" as%nder,/

+y reply "o "his is my las" ord# and !rea"ly !rie7e "ha" "o many i" ill so%nd ma"erialis"ic, can no" help "ha"# hoe7er# &or# "oo# ha7e my in"%i"ions and m%s" obey"hem, e" "he case be ha" i" may in o"hers# am as con&iden" as am o& any"hin! "ha"# in

mysel "he s"ream o& "hinin! (hich reco!niKeempha"ically as a phenomenon) is only acareless name &or ha"# hen scr%"iniKed# re7ealsi"sel& "o consis" chie&ly o& "he s"ream o&my brea"hin!, he * "hin* hich Dan" saidm%s" be able "o accompany all my obGec"s# is"he * brea"h* hich ac"%ally does accompany"hem, here are o"her in"ernal &ac"sbesides brea"hin! (in"racephalic m%sc%lar adG%s"men"s#e"c,# o& hich ha7e said a ord inmy lar!er Psycholo!y)# and "hese increase "heasse"s o& *conscio%sness#* so &ar as "he la""er is

s%bGec" "o immedia"e percep"ion b%" brea"h#hich as e7er "he ori!inal o& *spiri"#* brea"hmo7in! o%"ards# be"een "he !lo""is and "henos"rils# is# am pers%aded# "he essence o%" o&hich philosophers ha7e cons"r%c"ed "he en"i"ynon "o "hem as conscio%sness, Iha"IIen"i"yIisI&ic"i"io%s#IhileI"ho%!h"sIinI"heIconcre"eIIareI&%llyIreal,II@%"I"ho%!h"sIinI"heIconcre"eIareIImadeIo&I"heIsameIs"%&&IasI"hin!sIare,

ish mi!h" belie7e mysel& "o ha7e made


20/101

8"ha" pla%sible in "his ar"icle, . ano"her ar"icle shall "ry "o mae "he !eneral no"ion o& aorld composed o& p%re e3periences s"ill moreclear,

9

A WR? $ P6RE E>PERE.E

is di&&ic%l" no" "o no"ice a c%rio%s %nres" in"he philosophic a"mosphere o& "he "ime# alaysloosenin! o& old landmars# a so&"enin! o& opposi"ions#a m%"%al borroin! &rom one ano"her re&lec"in!on "he par" o& sys"ems ancien"ly closed#and an in"eres" in ne s%!!es"ions# hoe7er7a!%e# as i& "he one "hin! s%re ere "he inadeH%acyo& "he e3"an" school-sol%"ions, he dissa"is&ac"ion

i"h "hese seems d%e &or "he mos"par" "o a &eelin! "ha" "hey are "oo abs"rac" andacademic, i&e is con&%sed and s%perab%ndan"#and ha" "he yo%n!er !enera"ion appears "ocra7e is more o& "he "emperamen" o& li&e in i"sphilosophy# e7en "ho%!h" i" ere a" some cos"o& lo!ical ri!or and o& &ormal p%ri"y, ranscenden"al

40idealism is inclinin! "o le" "he orlda! incomprehensibly# in spi"e o& i"s Absol%"eB%bGec" and his %ni"y o& p%rpose, @ereleyanidealism is abandonin! "he principle o& parsimony

and dabblin! in panpsychic spec%la"ions,Empiricism &lir"s i"h "eleolo!y and#s"ran!es" o& all# na"%ral realism# so lon! decen"lyb%ried# raises i"s head abo7e "he "%rand &inds !lad hands o%"s"re"ched &rom "hemos" %nliely H%ar"ers "o help i" "o i"s &ee"a!ain, We are all biased by o%r personal &eelin!s# no# and am personally discon"en"edi"h e3"an" sol%"ions so seem "o read "hesi!ns o& a !rea" %nse""lemen"# as i& "he %phea7alo& more real concep"ions and more &r%i"&%lme"hods ere imminen"# as i& a "r%e landscapemi!h" res%l"# less clipped# s"rai!h"-ed!ed

and ar"i&icial,

& philosophy be really on "he e7e o& any considerablerearran!emen"# "he "ime sho%ld bepropi"io%s &or any one ho has s%!!es"ions o&his on "o brin! &orard, $or many years pas"my mind has bee !roin! in"o a cer"ain "ypeo& IWel"anscha%%n!I, Ri!h"ly or ron!ly# ha7e41!o" "o "he poin" here can hardly see "hin!sin any o"her pa""ern, propose# "here&ore# "o


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ha"e7er "hin!s e dis"in!%ish are as *looseand separa"e* as i& "hey had *no manner o& connec"ion,*James +ill*s denial "ha" similars ha7eany"hin! *really* in common# "he resol%"iono& "he ca%sal "ie in"o habi"%al seH%ence# John+ill*s acco%n" o& bo"h physical "hin!s andsel7es as composed o& discon"in%o%s possibili"ies#and "he !eneral p%l7eriKa"ion o& all E3perience

by associa"ion and "he mind-d%s""heory# are e3amples o& ha" mean,

he na"%ral res%l" o& s%ch a orld-pic"%rehas been "he e&&or"s o& ra"ionalism "o correc"i"s incoherencies by "he addi"ion o& "rans-e3perien"ial a!en"s o& %ni&ica"ion# s%bs"ances#in"ellec"%al ca"e!ories and poers# or Bel7es

44hereas# i& empiricism had only been radicaland "aen e7ery"hin! "ha" comes i"ho%" dis&a7or#conG%nc"ion as ell as separa"ion# each

a" i"s &ace 7al%e# "he res%l"s o%ld ha7e called&or no s%ch ar"i&icial correc"ion, IRadicalIempiricism#Ias %nders"and i"# IdoesI&%llIG%s"iceI"oIIconG%nc"i7eIrela"ionsI# i"ho%"# hoe7er# "rea"in!"hem as ra"ionalism alays "ends "o "rea""hem# as bein! "r%e in some s%pernal ay# as i&"he %ni"y o& "hin!s and "heir 7arie"y belon!ed"o di&&eren" orders o& "r%"h and 7i"ali"y al"o!e"her,

, .J6.=E REA.B

Rela"ions are o& di&&eren" de!rees o& in"imacy,+erely "o be *i"h* one ano"her in a

%ni7erse o& disco%rse is "he mos" e3"ernal rela"ion"ha" "erms can ha7e# and seems "o in7ol7eno"hin! ha"e7er as "o &ar"her conseH%ences,Bim%l"anei"y and "ime-in"er7al come ne3"# and"hen space-adGacency and dis"ance, A&"er"hem# similari"y and di&&erence# carryin! "hepossibili"y o& many in&erences, hen rela"ionso& ac"i7i"y# "yin! "erms in"o series in7ol7in!

4Fchan!e# "endency# resis"ance# and "he ca%salorder !enerally, $inally# "he rela"ion e3periencedbe"een "erms "ha" &orm s"a"es o& mind#

and are immedia"ely conscio%s o& con"in%in!each o"her, he or!aniKa"ion o& "he Bel& as asys"em o& memories# p%rposes# s"ri7in!s# &%l&ilmen"sor disappoin"men"s# is inciden"al "o"his mos" in"ima"e o& all rela"ions# "he "ermso& hich seem in many cases ac"%ally "o compene"ra"eand s%&&%se each o"her*s bein!,

Philosophy has alays "%rned on !ramma"icalpar"icles, Wi"h# near# ne3"# lie# &rom#"oards# a!ains"# beca%se# &or# "hro%!h# my --


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"hese ords desi!na"e "ypes o& conG%nc"i7erela"ion arran!ed in a ro%!hly ascendin! ordero& in"imacy and incl%si7eness, IAIpriori# e canima!ine a %ni7erse o& i"hness b%" no ne3"nessor one o& ne3"ness b%" no lieness# or o& lienessi"h no ac"i7i"y# or o& ac"i7i"y i"h no p%rpose#or o& p%rpose i"h no e!o, hese o%ldbe %ni7erses# each i"h i"s on !rade o& %ni"y,

he %ni7erse o& h%man e3perience is# by one orano"her o& i"s par"s# o& each and all "hese !rades,

4:Whe"her or no" i" possibly enGoys some s"illmore absol%"e !rade o& %nion does no" appear%pon "he s%r&ace,

aen as i" does appear# o%r %ni7erse is "o alar!e e3"en" chao"ic, .o one sin!le "ype o& connec"ionr%ns "hro%!h all "he e3periences "ha"compose i", & e "ae space-rela"ions# "hey&ail "o connec" minds in"o any re!%lar sys"em,

a%ses and p%rposes ob"ain only amon! specialseries o& &ac"s, he sel&-rela"ion seemse3"remely limi"ed and does no" lin "o di&&eren"sel7es "o!e"her, IPrimaI&acie# i& yo% sho%ldlien "he %ni7erse o& absol%"e idealism "o anaH%ari%m# a crys"al !lobe in hich !old&ishare simmin!# yo% o%ld ha7e "o compare "heempiricis" %ni7erse "o some"hin! more lie oneo& "hose dried h%man heads i"h hich "he?yas o& @orneo dec "heir lod!es, he s%ll&orms a solid n%cle%s b%" inn%merable &ea"hers#lea7es# s"rin!s# beads# and loose appendiceso& e7ery descrip"ion &loa" and dan!le

&rom i"# and# sa7e "ha" "hey "ermina"e in i"# seem"o ha7e no"hin! "o do i"h one ano"her, E7enso my e3periences and yo%rs &loa" and dan!le#

4"ermina"in!# i" is "r%e# in a n%cle%s o& commonpercep"ion# b%" &or "he mos" par" o%" o& si!h"and irrele7an" and %nima!inable "o one ano"her,his imper&ec" in"imacy# "his bare rela"iono& Ii"hness) be"een some par"s o& "hes%m "o"al o& e3perience and o"her par"s# is "he&ac" "ha" ordinary empiricism o7er-emphasiKesa!ains" ra"ionalism# "he la""er alays "endin!

"o i!nore i" %nd%ly, Radical empiricism# on"he con"rary# is &air "o bo"h "he %ni"y and "hedisconnec"ion, " &inds no reason &or "rea"in!ei"her as ill%sory, " allo"s "o each i"s de&ini"esphere o& descrip"ion# and a!rees "ha" "hereappear "o be ac"%al &orces a" or hich "end#as "ime !oes on# "o mae "he %ni"y !rea"er,

he conG%nc"i7e rela"ion "ha" has !i7enmos" "ro%ble "o philosophy is I"heIco-conscio%sII"ransi"ionI# so "o call i"# by hich one e3perience


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passes in"o ano"her hen bo"h belon! "o "hesame sel&, +y e3periences and yo%r e3periences are*i"h* each o"her in 7ario%s e3"ernal ays# b%"mine pass in"o mine# and yo%rs pass in"o yo%rsin a ay in hich yo%rs and mine ne7er pass

48in"o one ano"her, Wi"hin each o& o%r personal

his"ories# s%bGec"# obGec"# in"eres" and p%rposeIareIcon"in%o%sIorImayIbeIcon"in%o%sI,(1) Personalhis"ories are processes o& chan!e in "ime# andI"heIchan!eIi"sel&IisIoneIo&I"heI"hin!sIimmedia"elyIIe3perienced,I *han!e* in "his case means con"in%o%sas opposed "o discon"in%o%s "ransi"ion,@%" con"in%o%s "ransi"ion is one sor" o& aconG%nc"i7e rela"ion and "o be a radical empiricis"means "o hold &as" "o "his conG%nc"i7erela"ion o& all o"hers# &or "his is "he s"ra"e!icpoin"# "he posi"ion "hro%!h hich# i& a hole bemade# all "he corr%p"ions o& dialec"ics and all"he me"aphysical &ic"ions po%r in"o o%r philosophy,

he holdin! &as" "o "his rela"ion means"ain! i" a" i"s &ace 7al%e# nei"her less nor moreand "o "ae i" a" i"s &ace 7al%e means &irs" o& all"o "ae i" G%s" as e &eel i"# and no" "o con&%seo%rsel7es i"h abs"rac" "al Iabo%"I i"# in7ol7in!ords "ha" dri7e %s "o in7en" secondaryconcep"ions in order "o ne%"raliKe "heir

---

1 he psycholo!y boos ha7e o& la"e described "he &ac"s here i"happro3ima"e adeH%acy, may re&er "o "he chap"ers on *he B"ream o&ho%!h"* and on "he Bel& in my on IPrinciplesIo&IPsycholo!yI# as ell

as "o B,','od!son*s I+e"aphysicsIo&IE3perienceI# 7ol ,# ch, = and=,---

49s%!!es"ions and "o mae o%r ac"%al e3periencea!ain seem ra"ionally possible,ha" do &eel simply hen a la"er momen"o& my e3perience s%cceeds an earlier one is "ha""ho%!h "hey are "o momen"s# "he "ransi"ion&rom "he one "o "he o"her is Icon"in%o%sI, on"in%i"yhere is a de&ini"e sor" o& e3perience G%s"as de&ini"e as is "he Idiscon"in%i"y-e3perienceI

hich &ind i" impossible "o a7oid hen see"o mae "he "ransi"ion &rom an e3perience o&my on "o one o& yo%rs, n "his la""er case ha7e "o !e" on and o&& a!ain# "o pass &rom a"hin! li7ed "o ano"her "hin! only concei7ed#and "he brea is posi"i7ely e3perienced andno"ed, ho%!h "he &%nc"ions e3er"ed by mye3perience and by yo%rs may be "he same (,e,!,#"he same obGec"s non and "he same p%rposes&olloed)# ye" "he sameness has in "his case "obe ascer"ained e3pressly (and o&"en i"h di&&ic%l"y


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and %ncer"ainly) a&"er "he brea has been&el" hereas in passin! &rom one o& my onmomen"s "o ano"her "he sameness o& obGec" andin"eres" is %nbroen# and bo"h "he earlier and"he la"er e3perience are o& "hin!s direc"ly li7ed,

F0

here is no o"her Ina"%reI# no o"her ha"ness"han "his absence o& brea and "his sense o&con"in%i"y in "ha" mos" in"ima"e o& all conG%nc"i7erela"ions# "he passin! o& one e3periencein"o ano"her hen "he belon! "o "he same sel&,And "his ha"ness is real empirical *con"en"#*G%s" as "he ha"ness o& separa"ion and discon"in%i"yis real con"en" in "he con"ras"ed case,Prac"ically "o e3perience one*s personal con"in%%min "his li7in! ay is "o no "he ori!inalso& "he ideas o& con"in%i"y and sameness# "ono ha" "he ords s"and &or concre"ely# "oon all "ha" "hey can e7er mean, @%" all e3periences

ha7e "heir condi"ions and o7er-s%b"lein"ellec"s# "hinin! abo%" "he &ac"s here# andasin! ho "hey are possible# ha7e ended bys%bs"i"%"in! a lo" o& s"a"ic obGec"s o& concep"ion&or "he direc" percep"%al e3periences,/Bameness#/ "hey ha7e said# /m%s" be a s"arn%merical iden"i"y i" can*" r%n on &rom ne3" "one3", on"in%i"y can*" mean mere absence o&!ap &or i& yo% say "o "hin!s are in immedia"econ"ac"# Ia"I "he con"ac" ho can "hey be "oC on "he o"her hand# yo% p%" a rela"ion o&

F1

"ransi"ion be"een "hem# "ha" i"sel& is a "hird"hin!# and needs "o be rela"ed or hi"ched "o i"s"erms, An in&ini"e series is in7ol7ed#/ and soon, he res%l" is "ha" &rom di&&ic%l"y "o di&&ic%l"y#"he plain conG%nc"i7e e3perience hasbeen discredi"ed by bo"h schools# "he empiricis"slea7in! "hin!s permanen"ly disGoined# and"he ra"ionalis" remedyin! "he looseness by "heirAbsol%"es or B%bs"ances# or ha"e7er o"her &ic"i"io%sa!encies o& %nion may ha7e employed,$rom all hich ar"i&iciali"y e canbe sa7ed by a co%ple o& simple-re&lec"ionsL &irs"#"ha" conG%nc"ions and separa"ions are# a" all

e7en"s# co-ordina"e phenomena hich# i& e"ae e3periences a" "heir &ace 7al%e# m%s" beacco%n"ed eH%ally real and second# "ha" i& einsis" on "rea"in! "hin!s as really separa"ehen "hey are !i7en as con"in%o%sly Goined#in7oin!# hen %nion is reH%ired# "ranscenden"alprinciples "o o7ercome "he separa"enesse ha7e ass%med# "hen e o%!h" "o s"andready "o per&orm "he con7erse ac", We o%!h""o in7oe hi!her principles o& IdisI%nion# also# "o


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el%cida"ed in ?eey*s IB"%diesIinIo!icalIheoryI, B%ch proposi"ionsare red%cible "o "he B-is-P &orm and "he *"ermin%s* "ha" 7eri&ies and&%l&ils is "he BP in combina"ion, & co%rse percep"s may be in7ol7ed in"he media"in! e3periences# or in "he *sa"is&ac"oriness* o& "he P in i"sne posi"ion,---

F4

ind o& noled!e called percep"ion, his is"he "ype o& case in hich "he mind enGoys direc"*acH%ain"ance* i"h a presen" obGec", n"he o"her "ypes "he mind has *noled!e-abo%"* an obGec" no" immedia"ely "here, &"ype 2# "he simples" sor" o& concep"%al noled!e# ha7e !i7en some acco%n" in "oar"icles,(1) ype can alays &ormallyand hypo"he"ically be red%ced "o "ype 2# so"ha" a brie& descrip"ion o& "ha" "ype ill p%""he presen" reader s%&&icien"ly a" my poin"o& 7ie# and mae him see ha" "he ac"%almeanin!s o& "he mys"erio%s co!ni"i7e rela"ion

may be,

B%ppose me "o be si""in! here in my library

---

1 hese ar"icles and "heir doc"rine# %nno"iced apparen"ly by any oneelse# ha7e la"ely !ained &a7orable commen" &rom Pro&essor B"ron!, ?r,?icinson B, +iller has independen"ly "ho%!h" o%" "he same res%l"s#hich B"ron! accordin!ly d%bs "he James-+iller "heory o& co!ni"ion,---FFa" ambrid!e# a" "en min%"es* al &rom

*+emorial 'all#* and "o be "hinin! "r%ly o&"he la""er obGec", +y mind may ha7e be&orei" only "he name# or i" may ha7e a clear ima!e#or i" may ha7e a 7ery dim ima!e o& "he hall# b%"s%ch in"rinsic di&&erences in "he ima!e mae nodi&&erence in i"s co!ni"i7e &%nc"ion, er"ainIe3"rinsicI phenomena# special e3periences o&conG%nc"ion# are ha" impar" "o "he ima!e# bei" ha" i" may# i"s noin! o&&ice,

$or ins"ance# i& yo% as me ha" hall meanby my ima!e# and call "ell yo% no"hin! or i& &ail "o poin" or lead yo% "oards "he 'ar7ard

?el"a or i bein! led by yo%# am %ncer"ainhe"her "he 'all see be ha" had in mindor no" yo% o%ld ri!h"ly deny "ha" had*mean"* "ha" par"ic%lar hall a" all# e7en "ho%!hmy men"al ima!e mi!h" "o some de!ree ha7eresembled i", he resemblance o%ld co%n" in"ha" case as coinciden"al merely# &or all sor"so& "hin!s o& a ind resemble one ano"her in "hisorld i"ho%" bein! held &or "ha" reason "o"ae co!niKance o& one ano"her,


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n "he o"her hand# i& can lead yo% "o "he

F:hall# and "ell yo% o& i"s his"ory and presen"%ses i& in i"s presence &eel my idea# hoe7erimper&ec" i" may ha7e been# "o ha7e led hi"herand "o be no I"ermina"edI i& "he associa"es o&"he ima!e and o& "he &el" hall r%n parallel# so

"ha" each "erm o& "he one con"e3" correspondsserially# as al# i"h an anserin! "erm o&"he o"hers hy "hen my so%l as prophe"ic#and my idea m%s" be# and by common consen"o%ld be# called co!niKan" o& reali"y, ha" percep"as ha" Imean"I# &or in"o i" my idea haspassed by conG%nc"i7e e3periences o& samenessand &%l&illed in"en"ion, .ohere is "here Gar#b%" e7ery la"er momen" con"in%es and corrobora"esan earlier one,

n "his con"in%in! and corrobora"in!# "aenin no "ranscenden"al sense# b%" deno"in! de&ini"ely

&el" "ransi"ions# IliesIallI"ha"I"heInoin!IIo&IaIpercep"IbyIanIideaIcanIpossiblyIcon"ainIorIIsi!ni&yI, Where7er s%ch "ransi"ions are &el"# "he&irs" e3perience InosI "ha" las" one, Where "heydo no"# or here e7en as possibles "hey can no"#in"er7ene# "here can be no pre"ence o& noin!,n "his la""er case "he e3"remes ill be connec"ed#

Fi& connec"ed a" all# by in&erior rela"ions-- bare lieness or s%ccession# or by *i"hness*alone, Dnoled!e o& sensible reali"ies "h%scomes "o li&e inside "he "iss%e o& e3perience, "

is ImadeI and made by rela"ions "ha" %nroll"hemsel7es in "ime, Whene7er cer"ain in"ermediariesare !i7en# s%ch "ha"# as "hey de7elop"oards "heir "ermin%s# "here is e3perience&rom poin" "o poin" o& one direc"ion &olloed#and &inally o& one process &%l&illed# "he res%l"is "ha" I"heirIs"ar"in!-poin"I"herebyIbecomesIaIInoerIandI"heirI"ermin%sIanIobGec"Imean"IorIInonI, ha" is all "ha" noin! (in "he simplecase considered) can be non-as# "ha" is"he hole o& i"s na"%re# p%" in"o e3perien"ial"erms, Whene7er s%ch is "he seH%ence o& o%re3periences e may &reely say "ha" e had "he

"erminal obGec" *in mind* &rom "he o%"se"# e7enal"ho%!h Ia"I "he o%"se" no"hin! as "here in %sb%" a &la" piece o& s%bs"an"i7e e3perience lieany o"her# i"h no sel&-"ranscendency abo%" i"#and ny mys"ery sa7e "he mys"ery o& comin!in"o e3is"ence and o& bein! !rad%ally &olloedby o"her pieces o& s%bs"an"i7e e3perience# i"h

F8conG%nc"i7ely "ransi"ional e3periences be"een,ha" is ha" e ImeanI here by "he obGec"*s


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bein! *in mind,* & any deeper more real ayo& bein! in mind e ha7e no posi"i7e concep"ion#and e ha7e no ri!h" "o discredi" o%rac"%al e3perience by "alin! o& s%ch a aya" all,

no "ha" many a reader ill rebel a" "his,/+ere in"ermediaries#/ he ill say# /e7en

"ho%!h "hey be &eelin!s o& con"in%o%sly !roin!&%l&ilmen"# only Isepara"eI "he noer &rom"he non# hereas ha" e ha7e in noled!eis a ind o& immedia"e "o%ch o& "he one by "heo"her# an *apprehension* in "he e"ymolo!icalsense o& "he ord# a leapin! o& "he chasm as byli!h"nin!# an ac" by hich "o "erms are smi""enin"o one# o7er "he head o& "heir dis"inc"ness,All "hese dead in"ermediaries o& yo%rsare o%" o& each o"her# and o%"side o& "heir"ermini s"ill,/

@%" do no" s%ch dialec"ic di&&ic%l"ies remind

%s o& "he do! droppin! his bone and snappin!a" i"s ima!e in "he a"erC & e ne any morereal ind o& %nion Iali%ndeI# e mi!h" be en"i"led

F9"o brand all o%r empirical %nions as a sham,@%" %nions by con"in%o%s "ransi"ion are "heonly ones e no o he"her in "his ma""ero& a noled!e-abo%" "ha" "ermina"es in anacH%ain"ance# he"her in personal iden"i"y# inlo!ical predica"ion "hro%!h "he cop%la *is#* orelsehere, & anyhere "here ere more absol%"e%nions realiKed# "hey co%ld only re7eal

"hemsel7es "o %s by G%s" s%ch conG%nc"i7eres%l"s, hese are ha" "he %nions are Ior"hI#"hese are all "ha" IeIcanIe7erIprac"icallyImeanIby %nion# by con"in%i"y, s i" no" "ime "orepea" ha" o"Ke said o& s%bs"ances# "ha" "oIac"IlieI one is "o IbeI oneC Bho%ld e no" sayhere "ha" "o be e3perienced as con"in%o%s is "obe really con"in%o%s# in a orld here e3perienceand reali"y come "o "he same "hin!C na pic"%re !allery a pain"ed hoo ill ser7e "ohan! a pain"ed chain by# a pain"ed cable illhold a pain"ed ship, n a orld here bo"h "he"erms and "heir dis"inc"ions are a&&airs o& e3perience#

conG%nc"ions "ha" are e3periencedm%s" be a" leas" as real as any"hin! else, hey

:0ill be *absol%"ely* real conG%nc"ions# i& e ha7eno "ransphenomenal Absol%"e ready# "o derealiKe"he hole e3perienced orld by# a" a s"roe, on "he o"her hand# e had s%ch an Absol%"e#no" one o& o%r opponen"s* "heories o& noled!eco%ld remain s"andin! any be""er "hano%rs co%ld &or "he dis"inc"ions as ell as "he


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Wha"# e3ac"ly# in a sys"em o& e3periences# does"he *s%bs"i"%"ion* o& one o& "hem &or ano"hermeanC

Accordin! "o my 7ie# e3perience as a holeis a process in "ime# hereby inn%merablepar"ic%lar "erms lapse and are s%perseded byo"hers "ha" &ollo %pon "hem by "ransi"ions

hich# he"her disG%nc"i7e or conG%nc"i7e incon"en"# are "hemsel7es e3periences# and m%s"in !eneral be acco%n"ed a" leas" as real as"he "erms hich "hey rela"e, Wha" "he na"%reo& "he e7en" called *s%persedin!* si!ni&ies# dependsal"o!e"her on "he ind o& "ransi"ion"ha" ob"ains, Bome e3periences simply abolish"heir predecessors i"ho%" con"in%in! "hemin any ay, "hers are &el" "o increase or "oenlar!e "heir meanin!# "o carry o%" "heir p%rpose#or "o brin! %s nearer "o "heir !oal, hey

:

*represen"* "hem# and may &%l&il "heir &%nc"ionbe""er "han "hey &%l&illed i" "hemsel7es, @%" "o*&%l&il a &%nc"ion* in a orld o& p%re e3periencecan be concei7ed and de&ined in only one possibleay, . s%ch a orld "ransi"ions andarri7als (or "ermina"ions) are "he only e7en"s"ha" happen# "ho%!h "hey happen by so manysor"s o& pa"h, he only e3perience "ha" one e3periencecan per&orm is "o lead in"o ano"here3perience and "he only &%l&ilmen" e canspea o& is "he reachin! o& a cer"ain e3periencedend, When one e3perience leads "o (orcan lead "o) "he same end as ano"her# "hey

a!ree in &%nc"ion, @%" "he hole sys"em o&e3periences as "hey are immedia"ely !i7enpresen"s i"sel& as a H%asi-chaos "hro%!h hichone can pass o%" o& an ini"ial "erm in manydirec"ions and ye" end in "he same "ermin%s#mo7in! &rom ne3" "o ne3" by a !rea" manypossible pa"hs,

Ei"her one o& "hese pa"hs mi!h" be a &%nc"ionals%bs"i"%"e &or ano"her# and "o &ollo onera"her "han ano"her mi!h" on occasion bean ad7an"a!eo%s "hin! "o do, As a ma""er o&

:4&ac"# and in a !eneral ay# "he pa"hs "ha"r%n "hro%!h concep"%al e3periences# "ha" is#"hro%!h *"ho%!h"s* or *ideas* "ha" *no* "he"hin!s in hich "hey "ermina"e# are hi!hly ad7an"a!eo%spa"hs "o &ollo, .o" only do "heyyield inconcei7ably rapid "ransi"ions b%"# oin!"o "he *%ni7ersal* charac"er(1) hich "hey&reH%en"ly possess# and "o "heir capaci"y &orassocia"ion i"h one ano"her in !rea" sys"ems#"hey o%"s"rip "he "ardy consec%"ions o& "he


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"hin!s "hemsel7es# and seep %s on "oardso%r %l"ima"e "ermini in a &ar more labor-sa7in!ay "han "he &olloin! o& "rains o& sensiblepercep"ion e7er co%ld, Wonder&%l are "he nec%"s and "he shor"-circ%i"s hich "he "ho%!h"-pa"hs mae, +os" "ho%!h"-pa"hs# i" is "r%e#are s%bs"i"%"es &or no"hin! ac"%al "hey endo%"side "he real orld al"o!e"her# in ayard

&ancies# %"opias# &ic"ions or mis"aes, @%"here "hey do re-en"er reali"y and "ermina"e"herein# e s%bs"i"%"e "hem alays and i"h

---

1 & hich all "ha" need be said in "his essay is "ha" i" also can beconcei7ed as &%nc"ional# and de&ined in "erms o& "ransi"ions# or o& "hepossibili"y o& s%ch,---

:F"hese s%bs"i"%"es e pass "he !rea"er n%mber

o& o%r ho%rs,

his is hy called o%r e3periences# "aen"o!e"her# a H%asi-chaos, here is 7as"lymore discon"in%i"y in "he s%m "o"al o& e3periences"han e commonly s%ppose, he obGec"i7en%cle%s o& e7ery man*s e3perience# his onbody# is# i" is "r%e# a con"in%o%s percep" andeH%ally con"in%o%s as a percep" ("ho%!h" emay be ina""en"i7e "o i") is "he ma"erial en7ironmen"o& "ha" body# chan!in! by !rad%al"ransi"ion hen "he body mo7es, @%" "hedis"an" par"s o& "he physical orld are a" all

"imes absen" &rom %s# and &orm concep"%alobGec"s merely# in"o "he percep"%al reali"y o&hich o%r li&e inser"s i"sel& a" poin"s discre"eand rela"i7ely rare, Ro%nd "heir se7eral obGec"i7en%clei# par"ly shared and common andpar"ly discre"e# o& "he real physical orld# inn%merable"hiners# p%rs%in! "heir se7eral lineso& physically "r%e co!i"a"ion# "race pa"hs "ha"in"ersec" one ano"her only a" discon"in%o%spercep"%al poin"s# and "he res" o& "he "ime areH%i"e incon!r%en" and aro%nd all "he n%clei

::

o& shared *reali"y#* as aro%nd "he ?ya*s heado& my la"e me"aphor# &loa"s "he 7as" clo%d o&e3periences "ha" are holly s%bGec"i7e# "ha"are non-s%bs"i"%"ional# "ha" &ind no" e7en ane7en"%al endin! &or "hemsel7es in "he percep"%alorld -- "here mere day-dreams andGoys and s%&&erin!s and ishes o& "he indi7id%alminds, hese e3is" Ii"hI one ano"her# indeed#and i"h "he obGec"i7e n%clei# b%" o%"o& "hem i" is probable "ha" "o all e"erni"y noin"errela"ed sys"em o& any ind ill e7ery be


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made,

his no"ion o& "he p%rely s%bs"i"%"ional orconcep"%al physical orld brin!s %s "o "he mos"cri"ical o& all s"eps in "he de7elopmen" o&a philosophy o& p%re e3perience, he parado3o& sel&-"ranscendency in noled!e comes bac%pon %s here# b%" "hin "ha" o%r no"ions o&

p%re e3perience and o& s%bs"i"%"ion# and o%rradically empirical 7ie o& conG%nc"i7e "ransi"ions#are I?enmi""elI "ha" ill carry %s sa&ely"hro%!h "he pass,

:

=, W'A @JE=E RE$ERE.E B,

Whosoe7er &eels his e3perience "o be some"hin!s%bs"i"%"ional e7en hile he has i"# maybe said "o ha7e an e3perience "ha" reachesbeyond i"sel&, $rom inside o& i"s on en"i"y i"

says *more#* and pos"%la"es reali"y e3is"in! elsehere,$or "he "ranscenden"alis"# ho holdsnoin! "o consis" in a Isal"oImor"aleI across an*epis"emolo!ical chasm#* s%ch an idea presen"sno di&&ic%l"y b%" i" seems a" &irs" si!h" as i& i"mi!h" be inconsis"en" i"h an empiricism lieo%r on, 'a7e e no" e3plained "ha" concep"%alnoled!e is made s%ch holly by "hee3is"ence o& "hin!s "ha" &all o%"side o& "henoin! e3perience i"sel& -- by in"ermediarye3perience and by a "ermin%s "ha" &%l&ilsCan "he noled!e be "here be&ore "hese elemen"s"ha" cons"i"%"e i"s bein! ha7e comeC

And# i& noled!e be no" "here# ho can obGec"i7ere&erence occ%rC

he ey "o "his di&&ic%l"y lies in "he dis"inc"ionbe"een noin! as 7eri&ied and comple"ed#and "he same noin! as in "ransi"

:8and on i"s ay, o rec%r "o "he +emorial'all e3ample la"ely %sed# i" is only hen o%ridea o& "he 'all has ac"%ally "ermina"ed in "hepercep" "ha" e no *&or cer"ain* "ha" &rom"he be!innin! i" as "r%ly co!ni"i7e o& I"ha"I,

6n"il es"ablished by "he end o& "he process# i"sH%ali"y o& noin! "ha"# or indeed o& noin!any"hin!# co%ld s"ill be do%b"ed and ye" "henoin! really as "here# as "he res%l" noshos, We ere I7ir"%alI noers o& "he 'alllon! be&ore e ere cer"i&ied "o ha7e been i"sac"%al noers# by "he percep"*s re"roac"i7e7alida"in! poer, J%s" so e are *mor"al* all"he "ime# by reason o& "he 7ir"%ali"y o& "heine7i"able e7en" hich ill mae %s so heni" shall ha7e come,


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.o "he immensely !rea"er par" o& all o%rnoin! ne7er !e"s beyond "his 7ir"%al s"a!e," ne7er is comple"ed or nailed don, speano" merely o& o%r ideas o& impercep"ibles liee"her-a7es or dissocia"ed *ions#* or o& *eGec"s*lie "he con"en"s o& o%r nei!hbors* minds spea also o& ideas hich e mi!h" 7eri&y i& e

o%ld "ae "he "ro%ble# b%" hich e hold &or

:9"r%e al"ho%!h %n"ermina"ed percep"%ally# beca%seno"hin! says *no* "o %s# and "here is nocon"radic"in! "r%"h in si!h", IoIcon"in%eI"hinin!II%nchallen!edIis#Inine"y-nineI"imesIo%"Io&IaIIh%ndred#Io%rIprac"icalIs%bs"i"%"eI&orInoin!IinII"heIcomple"edIsenseI, As each e3perience r%ns byco!ni"i7e "ransi"ion in"o "he ne3" one# and enohere &eel a collision i"h ha" e elsehereco%n" as "r%"h or &ac"# e commi" o%rsel7es "o"he c%rren" as i& "he por" ere s%re, We li7e#

as i" ere# %pon "he &ron" ed!e o& an ad7ancin!a7e-cres"# and o%r sense o& a de"ermina"edirec"ion in &allin! &orard is all e co7er o&"he &%"%re o& o%r pa"h, " is as i& a di&&eren"ialH%o"ien" sho%ld be conscio%s and "rea" i"sel& asan adeH%a"e s%bs"i"%"e &or a "raced-o%" c%r7e,%r e3perience# Iin"erIaliaI# is o& 7aria"ions o&ra"e and o& direc"ion# and li7es in "hese "ransi"ionsmore "han in "he Go%rney*s end, he e3perienceso& "endency are s%&&icien" "o ac" %pon-- ha" more co%ld e ha7e IdoneI a" "hosemomen"s e7en i& "he la"er 7eri&ica"ion comescomple"eC

his is ha"# as a radical empiricis"# say "o

0"he char!e "ha" "he obGec"i7e re&erence hichis so &la!ran" a charac"er o& o%r e3perience in7ol7esa chasm and a mor"al leap, A posi"i7elyconG%nc"i7e "ransi"ion in7ol7es nei"her chasmnor leap, @ein! "he 7ery ori!inal o& ha" emean by con"in%i"y# i" maes a con"in%%mhere7er i" appears, no &%ll ell "ha" s%chbrie& ords as "hese ill lea7e "he hardened"ranscenden"alis" %nshaen, onG%nc"i7e e3periences

Isepara"eI "heir "erms# he ill s"ill sayL "heyare "hird "hin!s in"erposed# "ha" ha7e "hemsel7es"o be conGoined by ne lins# and "o in7oe"hem maes o%r "ro%ble in&ini"ely orse,o *&eel* o%r mo"ion &orard is impossible,+o"ion implies "ermin%s and ho can "ermin%sbe &el" be&ore e ha7e arri7edC he bares"s"ar" and sally &orards# "he bares" "endency"o lea7e "he ins"an"# in7ol7es "he chasm and"he leap, onG%nc"i7e "ransi"ions are "he mos"s%per&icial o& appearances# ill%sions o& o%r sensibili"y


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"%rnin! o& o%r e3pec"a"ions and prac"ical "endencies

in"o "he ri!h" pa"h and "he ri!h" pa"hhere# so lon! as e and "he obGec" are no" ye"&ace "o &ace (or can ne7er !e" &ace "o &ace# as in"he case o& eGec"s)# o%ld be "he pa"h "ha" led%s in"o "he obGec"*s neares" nei!hborhood,

Where direc" acH%ain"ance is lacin!# *noled!eabo%"* is "he ne3" bes" "hin!# and anacH%ain"ance i"h ha" ac"%ally lies abo%" "heobGec"# and is mos" closely rela"ed "o i"# p%"ss%ch noled!e i"hin o%r !asp, E"her-a7esand yo%r an!er# &or e3ample# are "hin!s inhich my "ho%!h"s ill ne7er Ipercep"%allyI "ermina"e#b%" my concep"s o& "hem lead me "o"heir 7ery brin# "o "he chroma"ic &rin!es and"o "he h%r"&%l ords and deeds hich are "heirreally ne3" e&&ec"s,

E7en i& o%r ideas did in "hemsel7es carry "he

pos"%la"ed sel&-"ranscendency# i" o%ld s"illremain "r%e "ha" "heir p%""in! %s in"o possessiono& s%ch e&&ec"s Io%ldIbeI"heIsoleIcash-II7al%eIo&I"heIsel&-"ranscendencyI&orI%sI, And "hiscash-7al%e# i" is needless "o say# is I7erba"imIe"IIli"era"imI ha" o%r empiricis" acco%n" pays in,n pra!ma"is" principles# "here&ore# a disp%"e

4o7er sel&-"ranscendency is a p%re lo!omachy,all o%r concep"s o& eGec"i7e "hin!s sel&-"ranscenden" or "he re7erse# i" maes no di&&erence#so lon! as e don*" di&&er abo%" "he

na"%re o& "ha" e3al"ed 7ir"%e*s &r%i"s -- &r%i"s&or %s# o& co%rse# h%manis"ic &r%i"s, & anAbsol%"e ere pro7ed "o e3is" &or o"her reasons#i" mi!h" ell appear "ha" IhisI noled!e is"ermina"ed in inn%merable cases here o%rs iss"ill incomple"e, ha"# hoe7er# o%ld be a&ac" indi&&eren" "o o%r noled!e, he la""ero%ld !ro nei"her orse nor be""er# he"here acnoled!ed s%ch an Absol%"e or le&" himo%",

Bo "he no"ion o& a noled!e s"ill IinI"ransi"%Iand on i"s ay Goins hands here i"h "ha"

no"ion o& a *p%re e3perience* hich "ried "oe3plain in my essay en"i"led *?oes onscio%snessE3is"C* he ins"an" &ield o& "hepresen" is alays e3perienced in i"s *p%re* s"a"e,plain %nH%ali&ied ac"%ali"y# a simple I"ha"I# as ye"%ndi&&eren"ia"ed in"o "hin! and "ho%!h"# andonly 7ir"%ally classi&iable as obGec"i7e &ac" or assome one*s opinion abo%" &ac", his is as "r%e

Fhen "he &ield is concep"%al as hen i" is percep"%al,


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*+emorial 'all* is *"here* in my ideaas m%ch as hen s"and be&ore i", proceed "oac" on i"s acco%n" in ei"her case, nly in "hela"er e3perience "ha" s%persedes "he presen"one is "his Inai&I immediacy re"rospec"i7ely spli"in"o "o par"s# a *conscio%sness* and i"s *con"en"#*and "he con"en" correc"ed or con&irmed,While s"ill p%re# or presen"# any e3perience --

mine# &or e3ample# o& ha" ri"e abo%" in"hese 7ery lines -- passes &or *"r%"h,* hemorro may red%ce i" "o *opinion,* he "ranscenden"alis"in all his par"ic%lar noled!es isas liable "o "his red%c"ion as amL his Absol%"edoes no" sa7e him, Why# "hen# need he H%arreli"h an acco%n" o& noin! "ha" merely lea7esi" liable "o "his ine7i"able condi"ionC Why insis""ha" noin! is a s"a"ic rela"ion o%" o&"ime hen i" prac"ically seems so m%ch a &%nc"iono& o%r ac"i7e li&eC $or a "hin! "o be 7alid#says o"Ke# is "he same as "o mae i"sel&7alid, When "he hole %ni7erse seems only

"o be main! i"sel& 7alid and "o be s"ill incomple"e(else hy i"s ceaseless chan!in!C) hy# o&

:all "hin!s# sho%ld noin! be e3emp"C Whysho%ld i" no" be main! i"sel& 7alid lie e7ery"hin!elseC ha" some par"s o& i" may be already7alid or 7eri&ied beyond disp%"e# "heempirical philosopher# o& co%rse# lie any oneelse# may alays hope,

=, 'E .ER+.6B.EBB $ ?$$ERE. +.?B

Wi"h "ransi"ion and prospec" "h%s en"hronedin p%re e3perience# i" is impossible "o s%bscribe"o "he idealism o& "he En!lish school,Radical empiricism has# in &ac"# more a&&ini"iesi"h na"%ral realism "han i"h "he 7ieso& @ereley or o& +ill# and "his can be easilyshon,

$or "he @ereleyan school# ideas ("he 7erbaleH%i7alen" o& ha" "erm e3periences) are discon"in%o%s,he con"en" o& each is holly immanen"#and "here are no "ransi"ions i"hhich "hey are cons%bs"an"ial and "hro%!h

hich "heir bein!s may %ni"e, ;o%r +emorial'all and mine# e7en hen bo"h are percep"s#are holly o%" o& connec"ion i"h each o"her,

%r li7es are a con!eries o& solipsisms# o%" o&hich in s"ric" lo!ic only a 5od co%ld composea %ni7erse e7en o& disco%rse, .o dynamicc%rren"s r%n be"een my obGec"s and yo%robGec"s, .e7er can o%r minds mee" in "heIsameI,


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+emorial 'all# &or e3ample# yo% poin" "o ImyI+emorial 'all i"h Iyo%rI hand hich IIseeI, &yo% al"er an obGec" in yo%r orld# p%" o%" acandle# &or e3ample# hen am presen"# ImyIcandle IipsoI&ac"oI !oes o%", " is only as al"erin!my obGec"s "ha" !%ess yo% "o e3is", & yo%robGec"s do no" coalesce i"h my obGec"s# i& "heybe no" iden"ically here mine are# "hey m%s"

be pro7ed "o be posi"i7ely somehere else,@%" no o"her loca"ion can be assi!ned &or "hem#so "heir place m%s" be ha" i" seems "o be# "hesame,(1)

Prac"ically# "hen# o%r minds mee" in a orldo& obGec"s hich "hey share in common# hich

---

1 he no"ions "ha" o%r obGec"s are inside o& o%r respec"i7e heads isno" serio%sly de&ensible# so pass i" by,

80o%ld s"ill be "here# i& one or se7eral o& "heminds ere des"royed, can see no &ormalobGec"ion "o "his s%pposi"ion*s bein! li"erally"r%e, n "he principles hich am de&endin!#a *mind* or *personal conscio%sness* is "hename &or a series o& e3periences r%n "o!e"her bycer"ain de&ini"e "ransi"ions# and an obGec"i7ereali"y is a series o& similar e3periences ni" bydi&&eren" "ransi"ions, & one and "he same e3periencecan &i!%re "ice# once in a men"al andonce in a physical con"e3" (as ha7e "ried# inmy ar"icle on *onscio%sness#* "o sho "ha" i"

can)# one does no" see hy i" mi!h" no" &i!%re"hrice# or &o%r "imes# or any n%mber o& "imes#by r%nnin! in"o as many di&&eren" men"al con"e3"s#G%s" as "he same poin"# lyin! a" "heirin"ersec"ion# can be con"in%ed in"o many di&&eren"lines, Abolishin! any n%mber o& con"e3"so%ld no" des"roy "he e3perience i"sel&or i"s o"her con"e3"s# any more "han abolishin!some o& "he poin"*s linear con"in%a"ionso%ld des"roy "he o"hers# or des"roy "he poin"i"sel&,

ell no "he s%b"le dialec"ic hich insis"s

81"ha" a "erm "aen in ano"her rela"ion m%s"needs be an in"rinsically di&&eren" "erm, hecr%3 is alays "he old 5ree one# "ha" "he sameman can*" be "all in rela"ion "o one nei!hbor#and shor" in rela"ion "o ano"her# &or "ha" o%ldmae him "all and shor" a" once, n "his essay can no" s"op "o re&%"e "his dialec"ic# so passon# lea7in! my &lan &or "he "ime e3posed,@%" i& my reader ill only allo "ha" "he same


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ac"%al percep" o& ei"her# %n"il a" las" i" resol7esi"sel& in"o "he mere no"ion o& impercep"ibleslie a"oms or ei"her# so "ha"# here e do "ermina"ein percep"s# o%r noled!e is only specio%slycomple"ed# bein!# in "heore"ic s"ric"ness#only a 7ir"%al noled!e o& "hose remo"erobGec"s hich concep"ion carries o%",

s na"%ral realism# permissible in lo!ic# re&%"ed"hen by empirical &ac"C ?o o%r mindsha7e no obGec" in common a&"er allC

84

;e"# "hey cer"ainly ha7e IBpaceI in common,n pra!ma"ic principles e are obli!ed "o predica"esameness here7er e can predica"e noassi!nable poin" o& di&&erence, & "o named"hin!s ha7e e7ery H%ali"y and &%nc"ion indiscernible#and are a" "he same "ime in "he sameplace# "hey m%s" be ri""en don as n%merically

one "hin! %nder "o di&&eren" names, @%""here is no "es" disco7erable# so &ar as no#by hich i" can be shon "ha" "he place occ%piedby yo%r percep" o& +emorial 'all di&&ers&rom "he place occ%pied by mine, he percep"s"hemsel7es may be shon "o di&&er b%"i& each o& %s be ased "o poin" o%" here hispercep" is# e poin" "o an iden"ical spo", All"he rela"ions# he"her !eome"rical or ca%sal# o&"he 'all ori!ina"e or "ermina"e in "ha" spo"herein o%r hands mee"# and here each o& %sbe!ins "o or i& he ishes "o mae "he 'allchan!e be&ore "he o"her*s eyes, J%s" so i" is

i"h o%r bodies, ha" body o& yo%rs hichyo% ac"%a"e and &eel &rom i"hin m%s" be in"he same spo" as "he body o& yo%rs hich seeor "o%ch &rom i"ho%", *here* &or me means8Fhere place my &in!er, & yo% do no" &eel my&in!er*s con"ac" "o be *"here* in ImyI sense# hen place i" on yo%r body# here "hen do yo% &eeli"C ;o%r inner ac"%a"ions o& yo%r body mee"my &in!er I"hereLI i" is I"hereI "ha" yo% resis" i"sp%sh# or shrin bac# or seep "he &in!er asidei"h yo%r hand, Wha"e7er &ar"her noled!eei"her o& %s may acH%ire o& "he real cons"i"%"ion

o& "he body hich e "h%s &eel# yo% &romi"hin and &rom i"ho%"# i" is in "ha" sameplace "ha" "he nely concei7ed or percei7edcons"i"%en"s ha7e "o be loca"ed# and i" isI"hro%!hI "ha" space "ha" yo%r and my men"alin"erco%rse i"h each o"her has alays "o becarried on# by "he media"ion o& impressionshich con7ey "hi"her# and o& "he reac"ions"hence hich "hose impressions may pro7oe&rom yo%,


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and IhereI e percei7e "he sensible phenomena e3plained "hereby,---

90in my ar"icle# "ha" "he %ni"y o& "he orld is on"he hole %nder!oin! increase, he %ni7ersecon"in%ally !ros in H%an"i"y by ne e3periences"ha" !ra&" "hemsel7es %pon "he older

mass b%" "hese 7ery ne e3periences o&"enhelp "he mass "o a more consolida"ed &orm,

hese are "he main &ea"%res o& a philosophyo& p%re e3perience, " has inn%merable o"heraspec"s and aro%ses inn%merable H%es"ions#b%" "he poin"s ha7e "o%ched on seem eno%!h"o mae an en"erin! ed!e, n my on minds%ch a philosophy harmoniKes bes" i"h a radicalpl%ralism# i"h no7el"y and inde"erminism#moralism and "heism# and i"h "he *h%manism*la"ely spr%n! %pon %s by "he 3&ord and"he hica!o schools,(1) can no"# hoe7er# be

s%re "ha" all "hese doc"rines are i"s necessaryand indispensable allies, " presen"s so manypoin"s o& di&&erence# bo"h &rom "he commonsense and &rom "he idealism "ha" ha7e madeo%r philosophic lan!%a!e# "ha" i" is almos"---

1 ha7e said some"hin! o& "his la""er alliance in an ar"icle en"i"led*'%manism and r%"h#* in +ind# c"ober# 1904, Reprin"ed inIheI+eanin!Io&Ir%"hI# pp, F1-101, &, also /h%manism and r%"h nce+ore#/ belo# pp, 244-2:F,---

di&&ic%l" "o s"a"e i" as i" is "o "hin i" o%"clearly# and i& i" is e7er "o !ro in"o a respec"ablesys"em# i" ill ha7e "o be b%il" %p by "hecon"rib%"ions o& many co-opera"in! minds, "seems "o me# as said a" "he o%"se" o& "his essay#"ha" many minds are# in poin" o& &ac"# no"%rnin! in a direc"ion "ha" poin"s "oards radicalempiricism, & "hey are carried &ar"her bymy ords# and i& "hen "hey add "heir s"ron!er7oices "o my &eebler one# "he p%blica"ion o&"his essay ill ha7e been or"h hile,

92

'E '.5 A.? B REA.B(1)

E>PERE.E in i"s immediacy seems per&ec"ly&l%en", he ac"i7e sense o& li7in! hiche all enGoy# be&ore re&lec"ion sha""ers o%r ins"inc"i7eorld &or %s# is sel&-l%mino%s and s%!!es"sno parado3es, "s di&&ic%l"ies are disappoin"men"sand %ncer"ain"ies, hey are no"


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in"ellec"%al con"radic"ions,

When "he re&lec"i7e in"ellec" !e"s a" or#hoe7er# i" disco7ers incomprehensibili"ies in"he &loin! process, ?is"in!%ishin! i"s elemen"sand par"s# i" !i7es "hem separa"e names#and ha" i" "h%s disGoins i" can no" easily p%""o!e"her, Pyrrhonism accep"s "he irra"ionali"y

and re7els in i"s dialec"ic elabora"ion,"her philosophies "ry# some by i!norin!#some by resis"in!# and some by "%rnin! "hedialec"ic proced%re a!ains" i"sel ne!a"in! i"s&irs" ne!a"ions# "o res"ore "he &l%en" sense o&---

1 Reprin"ed &rom IheIJo%rnalIo&IPhilosophy#IPsycholo!yIandIIBcien"i&icI+e"hodsI# 7ol # .o, 2# Jan%ary 19# 190F, Reprin"ed alsoas Appendi3 A in IAIPl%ralis"icI6ni7erse# pp, 4-:9, he a%"horscorrec"ions ha7e been adop"ed in "he presen" "e3", E?,

9

li&e a!ain# and le" redemp"ion "ae "he place o&innocence, he per&ec"ion i"h hich anyphilosophy may do "his is "he meas%re o& i"sh%man s%ccess and o& i"s impor"ance in philosophichis"ory, n "he las" essay# *A Worldo& P%re E3perience#* "ried my on handse"chily a" "he problem# resis"in! cer"ain&irs" s"eps o& dialec"ics by insis"in! in a !eneralay "ha" "he immedia"ely e3perienced conG%nc"i7erela"ions are as real as any"hin! else,& my se"ch is no" "o appear "o Inai&I# m%s"come closer "o de"ails# and in "he presen" essay propose "o do so,

*P%re e3perience* is "he name hich !a7e"o "he immedia"e &l%3 o& li&e hich &%rnishes"he ma"erial "o o%r la"er re&lec"ion i"h i"sconcep"%al ca"e!ories, nly ne-born babes#or men in semi-coma &rom sleep# dr%!s# illnesses#or blos# may be ass%med "o ha7e ane3perience p%re in "he li"eral sense o& a I"ha"Ihich is no" ye" any de&ini"e Iha"I# "ho* ready"o be all sor"s o& ha"s &%ll bo"h o& oneness

94and o& manyness# b%" in respec"s "ha" don*"appear chan!in! "hro%!ho%"# ye" so con&%sedly"ha" i"s phases in"erpene"ra"e and nopoin"s# ei"her o& dis"inc"ion or o& iden"i"y#can be ca%!h", P%re e3perience in "his s"a"eis b%" ano"her name &or &eelin! or sensa"ion,@%" "he &l%3 o& i" no sooner comes "han i""ends "o &ill i"sel& i"h emphases# and "hesesalien" par"s become iden"i&ied and &i3ed andabs"rac"ed so "ha" e3perience no &los as i&


46/101

sho" "hro%!h i"h adGec"i7es and no%ns andpreposi"ions and conG%nc"ions, "s p%ri"y isonly a rela"i7e "erm# meanin! "o propor"ionalamo%n" o& %n7erbaliKed sensa"ion hichi" s"ill embodies,

$ar bac as e !o# "he &l%3# bo"h as a holeand in i"s par"s# is "ha" o& "hin!s conG%nc" and

separa"ed, he !rea" con"in%a o& "ime# space#and "he sel& en7elope e7ery"hin!# be"i3""hem# and &lo "o!e"her i"ho%" in"er&erin!,he "hin!s "ha" "hey en7elop come as separa"ein some ays and as con"in%o%s in o"hers,Bome sensa"ions coalesce i"h some ideas# ando"hers are irreconcilable, N%ali"ies compene"ra"e

9Fone space# or e3cl%de each o"her &rom i",hey clin! "o!e"her persis"en"ly in !ro%ps "ha"mo7e as %ni"s# or else "hey separa"e, heirchan!es are abr%p" or discon"in%o%s and "heir

inds resemble or di&&er and# as "hey do so#"hey &all in"o ei"her e7en or irre!%lar series,

n all "his "he con"in%i"ies and "he discon"in%i"iesare absol%"ely co-ordina"e ma""ers o&immedia"e &eelin!, he conG%nc"ions are asprimordial elemen"s o& *&ac"* as are "he dis"inc"ionsand disG%nc"ions, n "he same ac" byhich &eel "ha" "his passin! min%"e is a nep%lse o& my li&e# &eel "ha" "he old li&e con"in%esin"o i"# and "he &eelin! o& con"in%ance inno ise Gars %pon "he sim%l"aneo%s &eelin! o& ano7el"y, hey# "oo# compene"ra"e harmonio%sly,

Preposi"ions# cop%las# and conG%nc"ions#*is#* is n*"#* *"hen#* *be&ore#* *in#* *on#* *beside#**be"een#* *ne3"#* *lie#* *%nlie#* *as#* *b%"#*&loer o%" o& "he s"ream o& p%re e3perience# "hes"ream o& concre"es or "he sensa"ional s"ream#as na"%rally as no%ns and adGec"i7es do# and"hey mel" in"o i" a!ain as &l%idly hen eapply "hem "o a ne por"ion o& "he s"ream

9:

& no e as hy e m%s" "h%s "ransla"ee3perience &rom a more concre"e or p%re in"o amore in"ellec"%aliKed &orm# &illin! i" i"h e7ermore abo%ndin! concep"%al dis"inc"ions# ra"ionalismand na"%ralism !i7e di&&eren" replies,

he ra"ionalis"ic anser is "ha" "he "heore"icli&e is absol%"e and i"s in"eres"s impera"i7e"ha" "o %nders"and is simply "he d%"y o& manand "ha" ho H%es"ions "his need m%s" no" be ar!%edi"h# &or by "he &ac" o& ar!%in! he !i7es aay


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his case,

he na"%ralis" anser is "ha" "he en7ironmen"ills as ell as s%s"ains %s# and "ha" "he"endency o& ra e3perience "o e3"in!%ish "hee3perien" himsel& is lessened G%s" in "he de!reein hich "he elemen"s in i" "ha" ha7e a prac"icalbearin! %pon li&e are analyKed o%" o& "he

con"in%%m and 7erbally &i3ed and co%pled "o!e"her#so "ha" e may no ha" is in "heind &or %s and !e" ready "o reac" in "ime,'ad p%re e3perience# "he na"%ralis" says# beenalays per&ec"ly heal"hy# "here o%ld ne7er

9ha7e arisen "he necessi"y o& isola"in! or 7erbaliKin!any o& i"s "erms, We sho%ld G%s" ha7ee3perienced inar"ic%la"ely and %nin"ellec"%allyenGoyed, his leanin! on *reac"ion* in "hena"%ralis" acco%n" implies "ha"# hene7er ein"ellec"%aliKe a rela"i7ely p%re e3perience# e

o%!h" "o do so &or "he sae o& redescendin!"o "he p%rer or more concre"e le7el a!ainand "ha" i& an in"ellec" s"ays alo&" amon! i"sabs"rac" "erms and !eneraliKed rela"ions# anddoes no" reinser" i"sel& i"h i"s concl%sions in"osome par"ic%lar poin" o& "he immedia"e s"reamo& li&e# i" &ails "o &inish o%" i"s &%nc"ion andlea7es i"s normal race %nr%n,

+os" ra"ionalis"s noadays ill a!ree "ha"na"%ralism !i7es a "r%e eno%!h acco%n" o& "heay in hich o%r in"ellec" arose a" &irs"# b%""hey ill deny "hese la""er implica"ions, he

case# "hey ill say# resembles "ha" o& se3%allo7e, ri!ina"in! in "he animal need o& !e""in!ano"her !enera"ion born# "his passion has de7elopedsecondarily s%ch imperio%s spiri"%alneeds "ha"# i& yo% as hy ano"her !enera"iono%!h" "o be born a" all# "he anser isL *hie&ly

98"ha" lo7e may !o on,* J%s" so i"h o%r in"ellec"Li" ori!ina"ed as a prac"ical means o& ser7in!li&e b%" i" has de7eloped inciden"ally "he&%nc"ion o& %nders"andin! absol%"e "r%"h andli&e i"sel& no seems "o be !i7en chie&ly as a

means by hich "ha" &%nc"ion may be prosec%"ed,@%" "r%"h and "he %nders"andin! o& i"lie amon! "he abs"rac"s and %ni7ersals# so "hein"ellec" no carries on i"s hi!her b%sinessholly in "his re!ion# i"ho%" any need o&redescendin! in"o p%re e3perience a!ain,

& "he con"ras"ed "endencies hich "h%sdesi!na"e as na"%ralis"ic and ra"ionalis"ic areno" reco!niKed by "he reader# perhaps an e3ampleill mae "hem more concre"e, +r,


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@radley# &or ins"ance# is an %l"ra-ra"ionalis",'e admi"s "ha" o%r in"ellec" is primarily prac"ical#b%" says "ha"# &or philosophers#"he prac"icalneed is simply r%"h, r%"h# moreo7er#m%s" be ass%med *consis"en",* mmedia"e e3periencehas "o be broen in"o s%bGec"s andH%ali"ies# "erms and rela"ions# "o be %nders"oodas "r%"h a" all, ;e" hen so broen i" is less

consis"en" "han e7er, aen ra# i" is all %ndis"in!%ished,

99n"ellec"%aliKed# i" is all dis"inc"ioni"ho%" oneness, *B%ch an arran!emen"may IorI# b%" "he "heore"ic problem isno" sol7ed,* he H%es"ion is *IhoI "he di7ersi"ycan e3is" in harmony i"h "he oneness,* o !obac "o p%re e3perience is %na7ailin!, *+ere&eelin! !i7es no anser "o o%r riddle,* E7en i&yo%r in"%i"ion is a &ac"# i" is no" an I%nders"andin!I,*" is a mere e3perience# and &%rnishesno consis"en" 7ie,* he e3perience o&&ered as

&ac"s or "r%"hs * &ind "ha" my in"ellec" reGec"sbeca%se "hey con"radic" "hemsel7es, heyo&&er a comple3 o& di7ersi"ies conGoined in aay hich i" &eels is no" i"s ay and hich i"can no" repea" as i"s on, , , , $or "o be sa"is&ied#my in"ellec" m%s" %nders"and# and i" canno" %nders"and by "ain! a con!eries in "hel%mp*(1) Bo +r, @radley# in "he sole in"eres"so& *%nders"andin!* (as he concei7es "ha" &%nc"ion)#"%rns his bac on &ini"e e3perience &ore7er,r%"h m%s" lie in "he opposi"e direc"ion#"he direc"ion o& "he Absol%"e and "his ind o&---

1 $,', @radleyL IAppearanceIandIReali"yI# second edi"ion# pp,1F2-1F# 2# 118# 104# 108-109# F0,

100ra"ionalism and

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