友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
on memory and reminiscence-第3部分
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!
if one does not recollect before; he will do so when he has come to
this; or; if not; nothing can help him; as; e。g。 if one were to have
in mind the numerical series denoted by the symbols A; B; G; D; E;
Z; I; H; O。 For; if he does not remember what he wants at E; then at E
he remembers O; because from E movement in either direction is
possible; to D or to Z。 But; if it is not for one of these that he
is searching; he will remember (what he is searching for) when he
has come to G if he is searching for H or I。 But if (it is) not (for H
or I that he is searching; but for one of the terms that remain); he
will remember by going to A; and so in all cases (in which one
starts from a middle point)。 The cause of one's sometimes recollecting
and sometimes not; though starting from the same point; is; that
from the same starting…point a movement can be made in several
directions; as; for instance; from G to I or to D。 If; then; the
mind has not (when starting from E) moved in an old path (i。e。 one
in which it moved first having the objective experience; and that;
therefore; in which un…'ethized' phusis would have it again move);
it tends to move to the more customary; for (the mind having; by
chance or otherwise; missed moving in the 'old' way) Custom now
assumes the role of Nature。 Hence the rapidity with which we recollect
what we frequently think about。 For as regular sequence of events is
in accordance with nature; so; too; regular sequence is observed in
the actualization of kinesis (in consciousness); and here frequency
tends to produce (the regularity of) nature。 And since in the realm of
nature occurrences take place which are even contrary to nature; or
fortuitous; the same happens a fortiori in the sphere swayed by
custom; since in this sphere natural law is not similarly established。
Hence it is that (from the same starting…point) the mind receives an
impulse to move sometimes in the required direction; and at other
times otherwise; (doing the latter) particularly when something else
somehow deflects the mind from the right direction and attracts it
to itself。 This last consideration explains too how it happens that;
when we want to remember a name; we remember one somewhat like it;
indeed; but blunder in reference to (i。e。 in pronouncing) the one we
intended。
Thus; then; recollection takes place。
But the point of capital importance is that (for the purpose of
recollection) one should cognize; determinately or indeterminately;
the time…relation (of that which he wishes to recollect)。 There
is;…let it be taken as a fact;…something by which one distinguishes
a greater and a smaller time; and it is reasonable to think that one
does this in a way analogous to that in which one discerns (spacial)
magnitudes。 For it is not by the mind's reaching out towards them;
as some say a visual ray from the eye does (in seeing); that one
thinks of large things at a distance in space (for even if they are
not there; one may similarly think them); but one does so by a
proportionate mental movement。 For there are in the mind the like
figures and movements (i。e。 'like' to those of objects and events)。
Therefore; when one thinks the greater objects; in what will his
thinking those differ from his thinking the smaller? (In nothing;)
because all the internal though smaller are as it were proportional to
the external。 Now; as we may assume within a person something
proportional to the forms (of distant magnitudes); so; too; we may
doubtless assume also something else proportional to their
distances。 As; therefore; if one has (psychically) the movement in AB;
BE; he constructs in thought (i。e。 knows objectively) GD; since AG and
GD bear equal ratios respectively (to AB and BE); (so he who
recollects also proceeds)。 Why then does he construct GD rather than
ZH? Is it not because as AG is to AB; so is O to I? These movements
therefore (sc。 in AB; BE; and in O:I) he has simultaneously。 But if he
wishes to construct to thought ZH; he has in mind BE in like manner as
before (when constructing GD); but now; instead of (the movements of
the ratio) O:I; he has in mind (those of the ratio K:L; for
K:L::ZA:BA。 (See diagram。)
When; therefore; the 'movement' corresponding to the object and that
corresponding to its time concur; then one actually remembers。 If
one supposes (himself to move in these different but concurrent
ways) without really doing so; he supposes himself to remember。
For one may be mistaken; and think that he remembers when he
really does not。 But it is not possible; conversely; that when one
actually remembers he should not suppose himself to remember; but
should remember unconsciously。 For remembering; as we have conceived
it; essentially implies consciousness of itself。 If; however; the
movement corresponding to the objective fact takes place without
that corresponding to the time; or; if the latter takes place
without the former; one does not remember。
The movement answering to the time is of two kinds。 Sometimes in
remembering a fact one has no determinate time…notion of it; no such
notion as that e。g。 he did something or other on the day before
yesterday; while in other cases he has a determinate notion…of the
time。 Still; even though one does not remember with actual
determination of the time; he genuinely remembers; none the less。
Persons are wont to say that they remember (something); but yet do not
know when (it occurred; as happens) whenever they do not know
determinately the exact length of time implied in the 'when'。
It has been already stated that those who have a good memory are not
identical with those who are quick at recollecting。 But the act of
recollecting differs from that of remembering; not only
chronologically; but also in this; that many also of the other animals
(as well as man) have memory; but; of all that we are acquainted with;
none; we venture to say; except man; shares in the faculty of
recollection。 The cause of this is that recollection is; as it were
a mode of inference。 For he who endeavours to recollect infers that he
formerly saw; or heard; or had some such experience; and the process
(by which he succeeds in recollecting) is; as it were; a sort of
investigation。 But to investigate in this way belongs naturally to
those animals alone which are also endowed with the faculty of
deliberation; (which proves what was said above); for deliberation
is a form of inference。
That the affection is corporeal; i。e。 that recollection is a
searching for an 'image' in a corporeal substrate; is proved by the
fact that in some persons; when; despite the most strenuous
application of thought; they have been unable to recollect; it (viz。
the anamnesis = the effort at recollection) excites a feeling of
discomfort; which; even though they abandon the effort at
recollection; persists in them none the less; and especially in
persons of melancholic temperament。 For these are most powerfully
moved by presentations。 The reason why the effort of recollection is
not under the control of their will is that; as those who throw a
stone cannot stop it at their will when thrown; so he who tries to
recollect and 'hunts' (after an idea) sets up a process in a
material part; (that) in which resides the affection。 Those who have
moisture around that part which is the centre of sense…perception
suffer most discomfort of this kind。 For when once the moisture has
been set in motion it is not easily brought to rest; until the idea
which was sought for has again presented itself; and thus the movement
has found a straight course。 For a similar reason bursts of anger or
fits of terror; when once they have excited such motions; are not at
once allayed; even though the angry or terrified persons (by efforts
of will) set up counter motions; but the passions continue to move
them on; in the same direction as at first; in opposition to such
counter motions。 The affection resembles also that in the case of
words; tunes; or sayings; whenever one of them has become inveterate
on the lips。 People give them up and resolve to avoid them; yet
again they find themselves humming the forbidden air; or using the
prohibited word。 Those whose upper parts are abnormally large; as。
is the case with dwarfs; have abnormally weak memory; as compared with
their opposites; because of the great weight which they have resting
upon the organ of perception; and because their mnemonic movements
are; from the very first; not able to keep true to a course; but are
dispersed; and because; in the effort at recollection; these movements
do not easily find a direct onward path。 Infants and very old
persons have bad memories; owing to the amount of movement going on
within them; for the latter are in process of rapid decay; the
former in process of vigorous growth; and we may add that children;
until considerably advanced in years; are dwarf…like in their bodily
structure。 Such then is our theory as regards memory and remembering
their nature; and the particular organ of the soul by which animals
remember; also as regards recollection; its formal definition; and the
manner and causes…of its performance。
…THE END…
。
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!