Elements of Mental Philosophy: Abridged and Designed as a Text-book for Academies and High Schools

Thomas Cogswell Upham

Harper & Brothers, 1857 - Intellect - 515 pages

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Table of Contents

Further proof of the beginnings of knowledge from external causes	21

Of the meaning and nature of perception	27

Of perceptions of smell in distinction from sensations	33

CHAPTER V	38

Origin of the notion of extension and of form or figure	40

On the sensations of heat and cold	41

Of the sensations of hardness and softness	42

Of certain indefinite feelings sometimes ascribed to the touch	44

Effects on the mind of debating for victory instead of truth 216 217	218

CHAPTER XIII	219

The imagination closely related to the reasoning power	220

Definition of the power of imagination	221

Process of the mind in the creations of the imagination	222

Further remarks on the same subject 209 Illustration from the writings of Dr Reid	223

Grounds of the preference of one conception to another	224

Illustration of the subject from Milton 212 The creations of imagination not entirely voluntary	225

Relation between the sensation and what is outwardly signified	45

CHAPTER VI	46

Statement of the mode or process in visual perception	47

Of the original and acquired perceptions of sight	48

The idea of extension not originally from sight	49

Of the knowledge of the figure of bodies by the sight	50

Illustration of the subject from the blind	51

Measurements of magnitude by the	52

Of objects seen in a mist 41 Of the sun and moon when seen in the horizon	53

Of the estimation of distances by sight	54

Signs by means of which we estimate distance by sight	55

Estimation of distance when unaided by intermediate ol jects 45 Of objects seen on the ocean	57

CHAPTER VII	58

F 49 Of habit in relation to the taste	60

Of habit in relation to the hearing	62

Application of habit to the touch	64

Other striking instances of habits of touch	65

Habits considered in relation to the sight	66

power	68

outlines and forms of objects	70

Notice of some facts which favour the above doctrine	71

Additional illustrations of Mr Stewarts doctrine 71	72

CHAPTER VIII	73

Of conceptions of objects of sight	74

Of the influence of habit on our conceptions	76

Influence of habit on conceptions of sight 63 Of the subserviency of our conceptions to description	77

Of conceptions attended with a momentary belief	78

Conceptions which are joined with perceptions	81

Conceptions as connected with fictitious representations	82

CHAPTER IX	83

Simple mental states not susceptible of definition	84

Simple mental states representative of a reality	85

Origin of complex notions and their relation to simple Page 83 ib 84	86

The precise sense in which complexness is to be understood 74 Illustrations of analysis as applied to the mind	89

Complex notions of external origin	90

Of objects contemplated as wholes	91

CHAPTER X	92

Instances of particular abstract ideas	93

Mental process in separating and abstracting them	94

General abstract notions the same with genera and species	95

Process in classification or the forming of genera and species	96

Early classifications sometimes incorrect 83 Illustrations of our earliest classifications	97

Of the nature of general abstract ideas 92 93 94	98

Of general abstract truths or principles	99

Of the speculations of philosophers and others	100

CHAPTER XI	101

Of different degrees of attention	102

Dependence of memory on attention	103

Of exercising attention in reading	104

Alleged inability to command the attention	105

Instances of notions which have an internal origin	106

CHAPTER XII	107

Dreams are often caused by our sensations	108

Ideas of existence mind selfexistence and personal identity	109

Explanation of the incoherency of dreams 1st cause 97 Second cause of the incoherency of dreams	110

Apparent reality of dreams 1st cause	111

Apparent reality of dreams 2d cause	112

Of our estimate of time in dreaming	113

Explanation of the preceding statements	114

The idea of space not of external origin	115

The idea of space has its origin in suggestion	116

PART II	117

Occasions of the origin of the idea of power	118

CHAPTER I	119

Declaration of Locke that the soul has knowledge in itself	120

Of other elements of knowledge developed in suggestion	121

Suggestion a source of principles as well as of ideas CHAPTER III	122

CHAPTER II	123

128	128

135	135

Consciousness the 2d source of internal knowledge its nature	136

Further remarks on the proper objects of consciousness	137

Consciousnes a ground or law of belief 126 Instances of knowledge developed in consciousness	138

CHAPTER IV	140

Occasions on which feelings of relation may arise	141

Of the use of correlative terms 130 Of relations of identity and diversity	142

11 Relations of degree and names expressive of them	143

111 Of relations of proportion	144

IV Of relations of place or position	145

v Of relations of time	146

vi Of ideas of possession	147

136	148

Of complex terms involving the relation of cause and effect	149

Connexion of relative suggestion with reasoning	150

CHAPTER V	151

Of the general laws of association	152

Resemblance the first general law of association	153

Of resemblance in the effects produced	154

Contrast the second general or primary	155

Of circumstantial memory or that species of memory which is based on the relations of contiguity in time and place	156

Contiguity the third general or primary	157

Cause and effect the fourth primary	158

Illustrations of philosophic memory	159

Of that species of memory called intentional recollection	160

Nature of intentional recollection	161

Instance illustrative of the preceding statements	162

Marks of a good memory	163

Directions or rules for the improvement of the memory	164

Further directions for the improvement of the memory	165

Of observance of the truth in connexion with memory CHAPTER VIII	166

174	174

Restoration of thoughts and feelings supposed to be forgotten	181

Mental action quickened by influence on the physical system	183

Other instances of quickened mental action and of a restoration of thoughts 181 183	184

Approval and illustrations of these views from Coleridge	185

Use of definitions and axioms in demonstrative reasoning	186

Application of the principles of this chapter to education	187

Demonstrations do not admit of different degrees of belief	188

Connexion of this doctrine with the final judgment and a future life	189

CHAPTER IX	190

Reasoning a source of ideas and knowledge 175 Definition of reasoning and of propositions	191

Process of the mind in all cases of reasoning	192

Illustration of the preceding statement	193

Grounds of the selection of propositions	194

Reasoning implies the existence of antecedent or assumed prepo sitions	195

Further considerations on this subject	196

Of differences in the power of reasoning	197

Of habits of reasoning	198

Of reasoning in connexion with language or expression	199

Illustration of the foregoing section	200

Page	201

190	206

191	207

192	208

193	209

194	210

196	211

197	212

198	213

200	215

Of the sophism of estimating actions and character from the cir cumstances of success merely	216

Of adherence to our opinions	217

Illustration of the statements of the preceding section	227

On the utility of the faculty of the imagination	228

Importance of the imagination in connexion with reasoning	229

CHAPTER XIV	231

Of excited conceptions and of apparitions in general 218 Of the less permanent excited conceptions of sight	232

Of the less permament excited conceptions of sound 219	234

220	235

221	237

222	239

223	240

224	241

225	242

Fifth cause of apparitions Hysteria	243

227	244

228	245

229	246

First cause of permanently vivid conceptions or apparitions Morbid sensibility of the retina of the eye 231	248

232	249

Characteristics of emotions of beauty	252

Of what is meant by beautiful objects	253

Of the distinction between beautiful and other objects	254

Partial mental alienation by means of the imagination	255

All objects not equally fitted to cause these emotions	256

A susceptibility of emotions of beauty an ultimate principle of our mental constitution	257

Remarks on the beauty of forms The circle	258

Original or intrinsic beauty The circle	259

Of the beauty of straight and angular forms	260

INTRODUCTION	261

Of the original or intrinsic beauty of colours	262

Classification of the natural sensibilities	265

The character of emotions changes so as to comform to that	271

Pags	273

Further illustrations of the original beauty of colours	284

Of sounds considered as a source of beauty 284	286

Illustrations of the original beauty of sounds	287

Further instances of the original beauty of sounds 290 267 The permanency of musical power dependent on its being intrinsic	290

Of motion as an element of beauty	291

Explanation of the beauty of motion from Kaimes	292

CHAPTER III	293

Objects may become beautiful by association merely	294

Further illustrations of associated feelings	295

Instances of national associations	297

The sources of associated beauty coincident with those of human happiness	298

Summary of views in regard to the beautiful	299

CHAPTER IV	300

The occasions of the emotions of sublimity various	301

Great extent or expansion an occasion of sublimity 279 Great height an element or occasion of sublimity	302

Of depth in connexion with the sublime 281 Of colours in connexion with the sublime 300 301 302 ib	303

b	305

Indications of power accompanied by emotions of the sublime	306

Of the original or primary sublimity of objects 286 Considerations in proof of the original sublimity of objects	307

Influence of association on emotions of sublimity	308

CHAPTER V	309

Occasions of emotions of the ludicrous	310

Of what is understood by wit 291 Of wit as it consists in burlesque or in debasing objects	311

Of wit when employed in aggrandizing objects	312

Of the character and occasions of humour	313

Of the practical utility of feelings of the ludicrous	314

CHAPTER I	321

309	326

310	327

311	328

CHAPTER III	333

Further illustrations of the principle of curiosity	337

Of the natural desire of esteem	344

Of the desire of esteem as a rule of conduct	345

Of the desire of possession	346

Of the moral character of the possessory principle	347

Of perversions of the possessory desire	348

Of the desire of power	349

Of the moral character of the desire of power	350

Propensity of selflove or the desire of happiness	351

Of selfishness as distinguished from selflove	352

Reference to the opinions of philosophical writers	353

The principle of sociality original in the human mind	354

Evidence of the existence of this principle of sociality	355

Other illustrations of the existence of this principle	356

Relation of the social principle to civil society	357

CHAPTER V	358

Of the complex nature of the affections	359

Of resentment or anger	360

Illustrations of instinctive resentment Peevishness 346 Uses and moral character of instinctive resentment	361

Of voluntary in distinction from instinctive resentment	362

Tendency of anger to excess and the natural checks to	363

Other reasons for checking and subduing the angry passions	365

Modifications of resentment 351 Modifications of resentment 352 Modifications of resentment 353 Modifications of resentment	366

Nature of the passion of fear Envy	367

Jealousy	368

Revenge	369

CHAPTER VI	371

Love in its various forms characterized by a twofold action 357 Of the parental affection	372

Illustrations of the strength of the parental affection	374

Of the filial affection	375

LOVE TO THE SUPREME BEING	395

Further illustrations of the results of the absence of this principle	401

Feelings of obligation simple and not susceptible of definition	403

Of the origin of secondary active principles	408

Of the place or position mentally considered of the emotions	416

Of the training or education of the conscience	422

Diversities in moral decisions dependent on differences in	436

CHAPTER V	442

THE SENSIBILITIES OR SENSITIVE NATURE	449

Disordered action of the principle of selfpreservation	454

Disordered and alienated action of the possessory principle 430 Instances of the second kind or form of disordered action of the possessory principle ...	455

Disordered action of the principle of sociality	457

Further remarks on the disordered action of the social propensity	458

Of the disordered action of the desire of esteem	459

Disordered action of the desire of power	460

CHAPTER II	461

Familiar instances of sympathetic imitation	462

Instances of sympathetic imitation at the poorhouse of Harlem	463

Other instances of this species of imitation	464

CHAPTER III	465

Of sudden and strong impulses of the mind	467

Insanity of the affections or passions	468

Of the mental disease termed hypochondriasis	469

Of intermissions of hypochondriasis and of its remedies	471

Disordered action of the passion of fear 446 Perversions of the benevolent affections	473

CHAPTER IV	475

Of accountability in connexion with this form of disordered con 475 science	476

Of natural or congenital moral derangement 450 Of moral accountabili y in cases of natural or congenital moral 477 derangement	477

81	9

102	11

ib 111	12

154

235

314

345

361

Of the nature of the fraternal affection 379 363 On the utility of the domestic affections 364 Of the moral character of the domestic affections and of ...

Of the affection of pity or sympathy 391

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Common terms and phrases

abstract action affection antecedent appear appetites apply asso association attention belief benevolent body called cause CHAPTER character circumstances colour conceptions connexion conscience consciousness consequence consideration considered constitution degree desire disordered distinct dreams emotions of beauty eral excited exer exercise existence experience expressed external fact feelings frequently give habit Hence human mind human voice hypochondriasis ideas IGNORATIO ELENCHI illustrate imagination implies inquiry insanity instance instinctive intel intellect James Mitchell ject Julius Cæsar knowledge memory mental MENTAL PHILOSOPHY merely moral character moral emotions moral reasoning notice objects occasion operation original outward particular passion perceive perception person possess present principle propensity propositions reasoning reference regard relation remark respect result retina rience seems sensations sense sight simple sion sometimes sophism sound statement sublime suppose susceptible term things thought tion trains of thought truth visual perception voluntary words

Popular passages

Page 98 - The crow doth sing as sweetly as the lark, When neither is attended ; and, I think The nightingale, if she should sing by day, When every goose is cackling, would be thought No better a musician than the wren.‎

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Page 160 - Where the great Sun begins his state Robed in flames and amber light, The clouds in thousand liveries dight; While the ploughman, near at hand, Whistles o'er the furrowed land, And the milkmaid singeth blithe, And the mower whets his scythe, And every shepherd tells his tale Under the hawthorn in the dale.‎

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Page 75 - Spit, fire! spout, rain! Nor rain, wind, thunder, fire, are my daughters: I tax not you, you elements, with unkindness; I never gave you kingdom, call'd you children, You owe me no subscription: then let fall Your horrible pleasure; here I stand, your slave, A poor, infirm, weak, and despis'd old man.‎

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Page 298 - The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters.‎

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Page 115 - ... as we do from bodies affecting our senses. This source of ideas every man has wholly in himself; and though it be not sense, as having nothing to do with external objects, yet it is very like it, and might properly enough be called internal sense.‎

Appears in 256 books from 1722-2007

Page 184 - ... according to the deeds done in the body, whether they be good or whether they be evil...‎

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Page 301 - AND I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud : and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire...‎

Appears in 891 books from 1706-2008

Page 305 - The sun had long since in the lap Of Thetis taken out his nap, And like a lobster boiled, the morn From black to red began to turn," The imagination modifies images, and gives unity to variety ; it sees all things in one, il piti nelV uno.‎

Appears in 383 books from 1757-2008

Page 175 - So she went into the garden to cut a cabbage-leaf, to make an apple-pie; and at the same time a great she-bear, coming up the street, pops its head into the shop. 'What! no soap?‎

Appears in 255 books from 1821-2007

Page 405 - For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves : which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another,) in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.‎

Appears in 1147 books from 1689-2008

Bibliographic information

Title	Elements of Mental Philosophy: Abridged and Designed as a Text-book for Academies and High Schools
Author	Thomas Cogswell Upham
Publisher	Harper & Brothers, 1857
Original from	the New York Public Library
Digitized	23 Jun 2006
Length	515 pages

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