298 ANIMAL FORCES. [ii. 



of the will. Their material ideas are formed, and connected 

 with each other, in the brain, solely according to psychological 

 laws, and their sentient actions are developed and succeed each 

 other independently of external impressions : consequently, 

 they cannot be induced by the vis nervosa as nerve-actions, 

 except incidentally, and then not in the same sequence as that 

 in which the mind develops them (574 — 576). 



iii. This difference in the two classes of conceptions, as 

 regards their relations to external impressions, has led eminent 

 men into the singular error of placing the seat of the first class 

 in the body, and that of the second in the mind. The occasion 

 of the error is so obvious, that further explanation is not 

 necessary. All that is conception, consciousness, thought, is in 

 the mind [in der Seele]. External sensations are conceptions 

 of external impressions on the nerves; all sensational concep- 

 tions are only repetitions, or anticipations of these ; the feeling 

 of that which is pleasing or displeasing in a sensational con- 

 ception constitutes sensational pleasure or pain [Unlust] ; hence 

 are developed sensational desires, instincts, and passions ; and 

 although all these take place from the impulse of external im- 

 pressions, still it is always in the mind that these conceptions, 

 pleasures, and desires, are forcibly developed. They are as 

 certainly sentient as the most voluntary sensational conceptions 

 and desires, or the most abstract ideas, and the noblest motives, 

 passions, and conclusions of the will. But the external im- 

 pressions which excite sensational conceptions, pleasures, and 

 passions in the mind, can, nevertheless, if they do not develop 

 these, excite, by means of their vis nervosa, the same movements 

 in the animal economy, and in the same order and series, as if 

 they were excited as sentient actions. In cases of this kind, 

 the organism performs the sensational acts of desires, of instincts, 

 of passions, without these being really in the mind ; but how 

 can it be inferred from hence that they are present in the 

 body ? There is a force, it is true, which imitates their work- 

 ings, whether it co-operates with them or not; but the crude 

 matter cannot feel pleasure and disgust ; or desire, or shun 

 anything. 



