Page:Mind (Old Series) Volume 9.djvu/360

 348 CHARLES MEECIEB : A CLASSIFICATION OF FEELINGS. still less widely different, and are shown to be so by the comparative ease with which the transition is made from the one to the other. In the succeeding group the feeling of Annoyance which accompanies passivity and that of Vexation which goes with active counteraction are so little different that the terms are often used interchangeably ; and when the agent is insignificant the two feelings coalesce into the single state Contempt : of which Scorn is properly only the outward expression. From these considerations it will, I think, appear that the similarity between the feelings of Hate, Anger, Eevenge and Eage in the third group, and between those of Annoyance, Vexation and Eesentment in the fourth, so far from telling against the validity of a classification in which they are differently described, actually tells in its favour. Further- more, I trust that a claim has been made out, not only for the recognition of the Antagonistic feelings as a natural and well-characterised group, but also for the validity and cor- rectness of some such internal structure of the group as that which I have proposed ; an arrangement which displays the lateral and cross relations of the various feelings in the group as well as their more obvious kinships. It will be seen that in the classification proposed each feeling has not only assigned to it a position, but also has its nature stated and defined. In doing so, as in all cases in which terms are taken from the vernacular and applied to the purposes of science, the meaning of the terms at the same time that it is rendered precise is necessarily some- what altered. It is probable that in some cases a term has been used to connote a feeling not quite the same as that to which it is applied in common use. I can only say that I have tried to bring the expressions as nearly as possible into harmony with what appeared to be the commonly received meaning of the term used ; and that, when I have thrust into a definite mould a term which as commonly used has but a hazy significance, I must ask the reader to accept the connotation that I attach to it so long as he is estimating the validity of the classification. Those terms which have in common use a distinct and well-defined meaning that is generally recognised, impose on me the burden of showing that the exposition that I have given of their character is in accordance with this usage. This duty I hope to discharge hereafter, but as it will involve an examination of the feelings one by one, which would not only be out of place in a Classification, but would treble the length of this communi- cation, it must for the present be postponed. (To be continued.)