on the soul-第18章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ement is obvious。 For imagining lies within our own power whenever we wish （e。g。 we can call up a picture； as in the practice of mnemonics by the use of mental images）； but in forming opinions we are not free： we cannot escape the alternative of falsehood or truth。 Further； when we think something to be fearful or threatening； emotion is immediately produced； and so too with what is encouraging； but when we merely imagine we remain as unaffected as persons who are looking at a painting of some dreadful or encouraging scene。 Again within the field of judgement itself we find varieties； knowledge； opinion； prudence； and their opposites； of the differences between these I must speak elsewhere。 Thinking is different from perceiving and is held to be in part imagination； in part judgement： we must therefore first mark off the sphere of imagination and then speak of judgement。 If then imagination is that in virtue of which an image arises for us； excluding metaphorical uses of the term； is it a single faculty or disposition relative to images； in virtue of which we discriminate and are either in error or not？ The faculties in virtue of which we do this are sense； opinion； science； intelligence。 That imagination is not sense is clear from the following considerations： Sense is either a faculty or an activity； e。g。 sight or seeing： imagination takes place in the absence of both； as e。g。 in dreams。 （Again； sense is always present； imagination not。 If actual imagination and actual sensation were the same； imagination would be found in all the brutes： this is held not to be the case； e。g。 it is not found in ants or bees or grubs。 （Again； sensations are always true； imaginations are for the most part false。 （Once more； even in ordinary speech； we do not； when sense functions precisely with regard to its object； say that we imagine it to be a man； but rather when there is some failure of accuracy in its exercise。 And as we were saying before； visions appear to us even when our eyes are shut。 Neither is imagination any of the things that are never in error： e。g。 knowledge or intelligence； for imagination may be false。 It remains therefore to see if it is opinion； for opinion may be either true or false。 But opinion involves belief （for without belief in what we opine we cannot have an opinion）； and in the brutes though we often find imagination we never find belief。 Further； every opinion is accompanied by belief； belief by conviction； and conviction by discourse of reason： while there are some of the brutes in which we find imagination； without discourse of reason。 It is clear then that imagination cannot； again； be （1） opinion plus sensation； or （2） opinion mediated by sensation； or （3） a blend of opinion and sensation； this is impossible both for these reasons and because the content of the supposed opinion cannot be different from that of the sensation （I mean that imagination must be the blending of the perception of white with the opinion that it is white： it could scarcely be a blend of the opinion that it is good with the perception that it is white）： to imagine is therefore （on this view） identical with the thinking of exactly the same as what one in the strictest sense perceives。 But what we imagine is sometimes false though our contemporaneous judgement about it is true； e。g。 we imagine the sun to be a foot in diameter though we are convinced that it is larger than the inhabited part of the earth； and the following dilemma presents itself。 Either （a while the fact has not changed and the （observer has neither forgotten nor lost belief in the true opinion which he had； that opinion has disappeared； or （b） if he retains it then his opinion is at once true and false。 A true opinion； however； becomes false only when the fact alters without being noticed。 Imagination is therefore neither any one of the states enumerated； nor compounded out of them。 But since when one thing has been set in motion another thing may be moved by it； and imagination is held to be a movement and to be impossible without sensation； i。e。 to occur in beings that are percipient and to have for its content what can be perceived； and since movement may be produced by actual sensation and that movement is necessarily similar in character to the sensation itself； this movement must be （1） necessarily （a） incapable of existing apart from sensation； （b） incapable of existing except when we perceive； （such that in virtue of its possession that in which it is found may present various phenomena both active and passive； and （such that it may be either true or false。 The reason of the last characteristic is as follows。 Perception （1） of the special objects of sense is never in error or admits the least possible amount of falsehood。 （2） That of the concomitance of the objects concomitant with the sensible qualities comes next： in this case certainly we may be deceived； for while the perception that there is white before us cannot be false； the perception that what is white is this or that may be false。 （3） Third comes the perception of the universal attributes which accompany the concomitant objects to which the special sensibles attach （I mean e。g。 of movement and magnitude）； it is in respect of these that the greatest amount of sense…illusion is possible。 The motion which is due to the activity of sense in these three modes of its exercise will differ from the activity of sense； （1） the first kind of derived motion is free from error while the sensation is present； （2） and （3） the others may be erroneous whether it is present or absent； especially when the object of perception is far off。 If then imagination presents no other features than those enumerated and is what we have described； then imagination must be a movement resulting from an actual exercise of a power of sense。 As sight is the most highly developed sense； the name Phantasia （imagination） has been formed from Phaos （light） because it is not possible to see without light。 And because imaginations remain in the organs of sense and resemble sensations； animals in their actions are largely guided by them； some （i。e。 the brutes） because of the non…existence in them of mind； others （i。e。 men） because of the temporary eclipse in them of mind by feeling or disease or sleep。 About imagination； what it is and why it exists； let so much suffice。
4
Turning now to the part of the soul with which the soul knows and thinks （whether this is separable from the others in definition only； or spatially as well） we have to inquire （1） what differentiates this part； and （2） how thinking can take place。 If thinking is like perceiving； it must be either a process in which the soul is acted upon by what is capable of being thought； or a process different from but analogous to that。 The thinking part of the soul must therefore be； while impassible； capable of receiving the form of an object； that is； must be potentially identical in character with its object without being the object。 Mind must be related to what is thinkable； as sense is to what is sensible。 Therefore； since everything is a possible object of thought； mind in order； as Anaxagoras says； to dominate； that is； to know； must be pure from all admixture； for the co…presence of what is alien to its nature is a hindrance and a block： it follows that it too； like the sensitive part； can have no nature of its own； other than that of having a certain capacity。 Thus that in the soul which is called mind （by mind I mean that whereby the soul thinks and judges） is； before it thinks； not actually any real thing。 For this reason it cannot reasonably be regarded as blended with the body： if so； it would acquire some quality； e。g。 warmth or cold； or even have an organ like the sensitive faculty： as it is； it has none。 It was a good idea to call the soul 'the place of forms'； though （1） this description holds only of the intellective soul； and （2） even this is the forms only potentially； not actually。 Observation of the sense…organs and their employment reveals a distinction between the impassibility of the sensitive and that of the intellective faculty。 After strong stimulation of a sense we are less able to exercise it th
