The sensitive consciousness is thus revealed to us as composed of three elements; a permanent self, having a sensitive organism extended in space, and with successive affections of that organism taking place in time. None of these elements, apart from the rest, can he presented or represented in consciousness; and the distinction between sense and … Continue reading The sensitive consciousness is thus revealed to us
Tag: mind
The psychological characteristics of the five senses
The psychological characteristics of the five senses in general, omitting those which properly belong to physiological inquiries, may be summed up as follows: The proper function of each and all of them is a sensation, or affection of the nervous organism as animated; which affection, however, does not, and in all probability cannot, exist in … Continue reading The psychological characteristics of the five senses
Perception proper is the consciousness of the existence of our body
Sensation, in its most general acceptation, is sometimes used to signify the whole of that portion of considerable misunderstanding. Etymologically, the term should denote a turning lack of the mind upon an object previously existing, so that the existence of a state of consciousness is distinct from the reflection on that state. In this sense, … Continue reading Perception proper is the consciousness of the existence of our body
The Matter of intuitive consciousness
Space and time are known to us as formal conditions of consciousness; whether they are anything more than such conditions is a question which at present we have no means of answering. The laws of consciousness must be primarily manifested as binding upon the conscious mind. As such, they necessarily accompany every manifestation of consciousness; … Continue reading The Matter of intuitive consciousness
The mind is but the passive recipient of impressions from without
The exercise of the locomotive faculty implies a consciousness of space as containing our own body; but the idea of space cannot be said to be derived from locomotion, since the mere volition to move implies a prior consciousness of this relation. Space is thus not by itself an object of sensible intuition, but forms … Continue reading The mind is but the passive recipient of impressions from without
Preservative Consciousness
In adopting the term presentation or intuition, to express the consciousness of any individual affection of the mind, a writer may be liable to the charge of innovation, in what was, at least in the last generation, the established language of English philosophy. But in this case necessity has no law. We need a term … Continue reading Preservative Consciousness
The general denomination of Intuitions
The distinctive feature of presentative consciousness consists in the fact that it is caused by the actual presence of an individual object, whether thing, act, or state of mind, occupying a definite position in time, or in space, or in both. It is true that this object is not discerned as such, and the consciousness … Continue reading The general denomination of Intuitions
Consciousness of things and thoughts
The mind, like the body, acquires its functions by insensible degrees, “ unseen, yet crescive in its faculty,” and we find ourselves in the possession and exercise of nature’s gifts without being able to say how we acquired them. Consciousness proper, as above described, must possess in some degree the attributes of clearness and distinctness. … Continue reading Consciousness of things and thoughts
Time is to individual phenomena of mind
The individual is thus the ultimate object of all actual consciousness; in intuition directly, and in thought indirectly. To complete our explanation, we must therefore determine what is meant by an individual. By the term an individual is meant, in psychology, no more than an object occupying a definite position in space or time. It … Continue reading Time is to individual phenomena of mind
The facts of consciousness
Physical science does not trouble itself with the inquiry, whether the objects which it investigates are real or apparent; qualities of matter or modes of the spectator’s own mind; whether they are gained directly or indirectly; by innate or acquired powers, by one faculty of the mind alone or by the union of many. Its … Continue reading The facts of consciousness
Phenomenon of Consciousness (13)
It appears from this jumble of the imaginary, hypothetical and concrete that the mind is the soul; that it is energy, force and matter and at the same time not matter; that the soul is the disembodied spirit; that the spirit is the disembodied soul while residing in the body and after leaving the body; … Continue reading Phenomenon of Consciousness (13)
Phenomenon of Consciousness (12)
Whatever the mind may be, it is not the brain, and cognitions are undoubtedly either the acts or phenomena resulting from acts of the brain, or of the brain in conjunction with other parts of the living body. There is no doubt that cognitions depend entirely upon the operations of the living body and that … Continue reading Phenomenon of Consciousness (12)
Phenomenon of Consciousness (11)
There are at least seven different kinds of sensation: sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch, temperature and pressure. It is difficult to conceive of a conscious state existing in any body, which has not experienced any of these sensations. Cognitions of internal relations. These are numerous and we shall not attempt to even mention them all. … Continue reading Phenomenon of Consciousness (11)
What is Enlightenment? (Part 4)
What is Enlightenment? by Immanuel Kant (Part 4) If we are asked, “Do we now live in an enlightened age?” the answer is, “No ,” but we do live in an age of enlightenment. As things now stand, much is lacking which prevents men from being, or easily becoming, capable of correctly using their own … Continue reading What is Enlightenment? (Part 4)
The Astral Senses (Part 4)
All occultists know that man has other senses than the ordinary five, although but few men have developed them sufficiently well to use them effectively. These super-physical senses are known to the occultists as "the astral senses." The term "Astral," used so frequently by all occultists, ancient and modern, is derived from the Greek word … Continue reading The Astral Senses (Part 4)
The Astral Senses (Part 3)
Now all this means that the ego, or soul, or mind, if you prefer the term— is the real Knower who becomes aware of the outside world by means of the messages of the senses. Cut off from these messages the mind would be almost a blank, so far as outside objects are concerned. Every … Continue reading The Astral Senses (Part 3)