INTRINSIC LAW OF APPREHENSION. 141 



the sensation which was previously generated by our 

 external senses in a concrete form. Although, there- 

 fore, the idea is generic, the sensation itself is repre- 

 sented to the mind in the form of a concrete perception. 

 It is not concrete in the sense of belonging to a special 

 object or definite form, as it is presented to the out- 

 ward perception, but only so far as there is actually 

 an inward and physiological sensation of whiteness, 

 which the word recalls to the memory. There can be 

 no mental confusion with the quality of red, or of any 

 colour, when I speak or think of what is white. 



"When I speak or think of any object as white, 

 I and others perfectly understand what is meant, and 

 a representation of this quality is instantly formed in 

 our minds, in the generic type which was gradually 

 constituted by primitive man by the combination of 

 numerous special sensations, obvious to the sight, 

 and subsequently expressed in speech. 



In order that the word which corresponds to the 

 quality may have a given sense, it is necessary to 

 perceive the form of the concrete sensation which 

 gave rise to it ; for although the representation is 

 indefinite or generic, that is, not obvious to the ex- 

 ternal senses, yet it is not physiologically distinct 

 from the sensation of the quality described ; the 

 perception of that quality is present by the aid of 

 memory to the inner consciousness. 



It is therefore evident that the physiological 

 elements of consciousness are actually contained in 



