ACQUISITION OF IDEAS. 



reading, pictorial representation, &c., and what we" are 

 told ; and from the ideas thus obtained we evolve addi- 

 tional ones by means of our intellectual powers. The 

 conclusion that the original source of all our ideas is 

 experience and observation, is also strongly supported by 

 the fact that those who are born deaf have no idea of 

 musical tones, and those congenially blind have no con- 

 ception of colour ; he also who has not tasted an orange 

 has no true idea of its flavour. We further, in certain in- 

 stances, inherit specially high degrees of receptivity for 

 particular ideas termed intuitions,' and when this exists 

 to an unusually great extent it is sometimes called 

 < genius ; ' but such ideas do not differ in kind from those 

 less readily acquired. Perception of ideas is capable of 

 being strengthened by means of volition and discipline. 



Perception of ideas is also essentially automatic, and 

 the only direct volitional power we possess over it is to 

 direct attention to an idea already present, thus increasing 

 its strength and permanence. Of our most common ideas, 

 a few are probably acquired by means of one sense alone, 

 some by the combined action of several, and others by 

 the additional aid of the judgment. Most are acquired 

 by the aid of several senses, and are abstracts of many 

 impressions. Those of light, shade, and colour are first 

 acquired only by means of vision, and some only by 

 the aid of the organ of hearing. The great bulk of our 

 ideas can be formed only by the help of the intellect ; and 

 most of our perception is mingled with inference. Fixed 

 vision with one eye, without the aid of comparison, excites 

 only an idea of flatness, and requires a greater aid of the 

 judgment to correctly interpret than that with both eyes. 

 The ideas of form in relief, and solidity, are each acquired 

 by means of the combined sensations of sight and touch, 

 aided by inference. Judgment (in one of its meanings) is 



