Page:Psychology and preaching.djvu/65

 MENTAL SYSTEMS 47

of the present and the near, the far-off relations of his action in time and space.

III. DIFFERENTIATION OF MENTAL SYSTEMS

Before proceeding to indicate the practical applications of these principles which have been rather abstractly set forth, another truth of great importance should be taken into consideration. It is a fact of capital significance that as social development proceeds the mental systems of men, whether considered as individuals or as groups, undergo a progressive differentiation.

I. Differentiating influences. The first of these we men tion is the occupation. Obviously the occupation is of great significance in the development of the mental life. Usually it is the tie which more than any other gives unity to the ideas built up in several contiguous fields of experience. Says Professor Dewey : &quot; Adults normally carry on some occupation, profession, pursuit; and this occupation fur nishes the continuous axis about which their knowledge, their beliefs and their habits of reaching conclusions are organized.&quot; x Certainly for the average man the system of ideas built up in the general field of experience compre hended in his occupation will form throughout life the core of his mental organization. What is meant by &quot; occupa tion &quot; is that series of activities, whether economic, political, religious, or scientific, which chiefly engages one s attention and energy. Sometimes, in fact, a man s nominal occupation is really his avocation, and vice versa. Nom inally William Carey was a shoe-maker, but his real occu pation was not making shoes; it was the propagation of Christianity in heathen lands. Paul s occupation was not tent-making, though that was his method of earning his living. The major part of his time and energy was given to preaching to the Gentiles. Edmund Clarence Stedman s oc cupation was really that of a literary critic, though he would


 * &quot;How We Think,&quot; p. 41.

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