Page:Philosophical Review Volume 1.djvu/657

No. 6.] At the start I must say a word to show that the theory of 'specific energies,' so far as it is verified, is not in disaccord with the view I support. Sensations are psychoses of limitation — they are due to an emphasis of certain parts of consciousness and an obscuration of certain other parts; and on their physical side, so far as we can judge, they are determined by exclusive differentiation in the physical activities coincident with consciousness, — by the activities of definite parts of the nervous substance or organs. It seems highly probable that all complex fixed contents and also all images simple or complex are also determined by the action of specific organs. But it must not be forgotten that there are also relations between these activities which leave an impress corresponding thereto upon consciousness from moment to moment. The mind acts as a totality, and the relations between its special partial activities must be embodied in consciousness even though the functioning of no special distinct organ be coincident with the grasp by us of these relations. Intensity is such a psychosis of relation, for instance; and it is in this general category that Pleasure and Pain, under my theory, are conceived to belong.

Let us now consider the arguments and objections of Sections I. and II. as they appear in the light of the theory I defend. I shall treat them seriatim with numbers corresponding to those already used. First, then, is it possible to show that the arguments adduced in favor of the sensational theory do not militate against the hypothesis we defend?

1. That a few pains are very distinct, are 'disparate,' while it may indicate a likeness to sensation, as is claimed, certainly does not present evidence against the view that we are here examining; for there appears to be every reason why, under extreme conditions of excess of activity as related to nourishment, the psychosis of relation should be vivid.

2. Under the physical theory, as I have elsewhere argued, we should expect to find that organs which are regular in their rhythm of action and are not called upon at intervals to act powerfully would come to be supplied with just enough