74 LESSONS FROM NATURE. [CHAP. III- 



the phenomena presented by an orange) being phenomena of 

 co-existence, while those which can be experienced only in a 

 single order (as those of a musical air) are phenomena of 

 sequence. But what is the meaning of order if we have not 

 yet got sequence, i.e., time ? It may be contended that order 

 as an intellectual act is primary, but anyhow it cannot be 

 really understood without the addition in thought of either 

 space or time. 



Mr. Spencer sums up (p. 224) by reducing all perception to 

 shocks accompanying transitions from one feeling to another. 

 &quot; That is, the relation of difference as present in consciousness 

 is nothing more than a change in consciousness. How, then, 

 can it resemble, or be in any way akin to, its sources beyond 

 consciousness?&quot; But what can be the meaning of saying 

 that it is not akin, and differs from its source, if the category 

 of difference is not applicable beyond feeling ? If it is not so 

 applicable, then it no more differs than it agrees, there being 

 simply no relation. In fact, however, the perception of dif 

 ference is elicited by shocks of sensitive change, but it itself 

 is very much more, and the intellectual unit is a perception of 

 being and non-being. 



He goes on to say there is nothing between two colours, as 

 they objectively exist, &quot; answering to the change which re 

 sults in us from contemplating first one and then the other.&quot; 

 I reply : Nothing between them like to the feeling of the 

 change in the sensible perception no! Like to what the 

 intellect apprehends concomitantly with that feeling yes ! 

 &quot; Their relation [the two colours] as we think it, leing nothing 

 else than a change of our state, cannot possibly be parallel to 

 anything between them, when they have both remained un 

 changed.&quot; This is equivalent to saying that no one thing 

 differs from any other objectively ; because no objective dif 

 ference whatever is the same as a nervous shock. But this 

 extreme position may be turned round and made use of to 

 prove the objectivity . of extension, since the objectivity of 

 &quot; difference&quot; is certain, and yet it is the very same arguments 

 (thus shown to be futile) which are brought against the ob- 



