Page:Mind (New Series) Volume 9.djvu/576

 562 PHILOSOPHICAL PEEIODICALS. consists in a selection among alternatives equally possible apart from the condition which determines the selection. In the case of conscious selection the will is the determining condition. In the case of natural selection it is the struggle for existence.] O. Sorel. ' La systeme des Mathematiques.' [Shows the interdependence of the different branches of mathematics as all arising out of the endeavour to deal with physical problems.] L. Dimier. ' Prolegomenes a 1'Esthetique.' [Distinguishes a beauty of reference and inspection. The first belongs specially to imitative art, and is due to the nature of the object represented : the second is due to the immediate presentation of the artistic work itself. The whole function of the imitative artist is to imitate as closely as he can. The beauty of his work is due to the transformation which the object necessarily undergoes owing to the nature of the means by which it is reproduced. There is an absolute beauty in everything.] Etudes critiques, etc. ZEITSCHRIFT FUR PSYCHOLOGIE UNO PHYSIOLOGIE DBR SINNESOP.GANE. Bd. xxii., Heft 5. L. Steffens. ' Experimentelle Beitriige zur Lehre vom oekonomischen Lernen.' [An inquiry into the psychological condi- tions of economical learning-by -heart : ' economical ' = ' time-saving '. The ordinary or natural way of learning-by-heart is that of partial repeti- tions. Experiment shows, however, that for the material used (stanzas of poetry, nonsense syllable series), and with the test employed (repeating once or twice without mistake), total repetition is quite considerably better than partial. It has the advantages (1) of association by indirect consequence (association between members of different sections), and of the influence of absolute position, and (2) of constancy of the number and temporal distribution of the repetitions. A final chapter discusses the most advantageous mode of regular distribution of repetitions over a constant time, and deduces and proves the law that "if two associa- tions are of different strength, the time-saving value of the weaker association (absolutely regarded) decreases the more slowly with lapse of time, provided that there is no difference of age between the two associations to condition an opposite course ".] T. Lipps. ' 'L den " Gestaltqualitiiten ".' [Cornelius' idea of similarity-groups leads him into a circle. Really, the similarity-consciousness is never grounded upon conscious contents, but always upon the (unconscious) psychical Erocesses underlying consciousness.] M. Sachs. ' Ueber den Einfiuss irbiger Lichter auf die Weite der Pupille.' [Critique of Abelsdorff and claim of priority.] Literaturbericht. Entgegnung. [Berliner against Hansemann, concerning the drawing of Helmholtz' brain.] Berichtigung. [Correction of misprints by Schrenck-Notzing.] Bd. xxii., Heft 6. K. B. R. Aars. 'Die Erwartung.' [The qualitative peculiarity of ex- pectation is an 'associative mark,' comparable with the local sign of space perception and the ' past '-mark of memory. In other words, expectation depends (not on association, but) on the existence of associative paths or lines, of which the given idea is the centre. The actual occurrence and the expected occurrence are not identical ; but we are able, by memory, to rehabilitate the process of fusion between the associative mark and the actual occurrence : in real life, the fusion takes place only after the mark has disappeared. Still, the associative mark and the consciousness of unity as one looks back upon the process of expectation fulfilled are not two ultimate moments : the essentials of the whole process are given with the expectation mark. Critique of Lipps and Witasek ; expectation and the question (inquiry) ; connex- ions of expectation with volition ; relation of expectation to recognition Hoffding's quality of familiarity).] T. Lipps. ' Aesthetische Einfiih-