Page:Mind (Old Series) Volume 9.djvu/523

 A CLASSIFICATION OF FEELINGS, II. 511 tion, and the feeling aroused is one of a simpler class, which will be subsequently considered. Nevertheless, in every such circumstance the noxiousness is potential, and only needs to be cognised for the feeling of Horror to arise. A few concrete examples will make the matter clearer. TVhen we approach the brink of a stupendous cliff, we experience, in addition to and apart from any feeling of giddiness, a ! Me feeling of Horror. This feeling arises from the cogni- tion of the possibility of falling over. The circumstance which renders such a catastrophe possible is cognised as of overwhelming power and as noxious, both these qualities being conspicuously present, but since its power will not be exerted unless we voluntarily approach the brink and pre- cipitate ourselves from it, the noxiousness is passive. If a man is in the hands of enemies who are carrying him to the brink to throw him over, the noxiousness is no longer passive in the sense here used, and the feeling aroused is one not of Horror but of Terror. "WTien we view the action of some immense machinery, such as that which propels a great ship through the water, we are in the presence of an agent of overwhelming power ; but, since the latent noxiousness which every such agent possesses is inconspicuous, the feeling aroused is one due to the cognition of the power only a feeling of Admiration or even Awe. But now suppose we are shown the place where some workman became en- tangled in the machinery and was torn to pieces ; instantly the feeling changes to Horror ; and why ? Because the latent noxiousness has now become conspicuous, and its addition to the qualities already cognised brings about the change of feeling. Still there is no terror, for the machinery being powerless to harm us unless we interfere with it, the noxiousness is cognised as passive. This latter instance is an example of the most numerous class of cases of passive noxiousness, in which the noxiousness is not cognised at all unless it is displayed. If, however, this quality is exerted upon the organism it ceases to be passive. It at once enters the active class and the feeling aroused is one of Terror. Manifestly the only way in which the noxiousness can be displayed and yet remain " passive "is by being exerted on some one else. Hence the great majority of feelings of Horror are associated with the cognition of severe injuries suffered by other people. Hence railway and other accidents and surgical operations are common occasions of this feeling. The gallows and the guillotine, the Black Hole at Calcutta, the Well at Cawnpore arouse feelings of Horror, and so do all similar spectacles.