THE DOCTRINE OF ENERGY 113 



quantifiability, etc., are such that it is really to the 

 visual Presentment that I refer all other elements in 

 my sense-experience. I think of them with refer- 

 ence to it. In connection with it I mentally con- 

 struct my world. I associate with some modifica- 

 tion of the visual presentation the phenomena 

 resultant upon the energetic activity of my own 

 organism, and the other forces and potential 

 Energies which that activity reveals and suggests. 

 It is thus that I derive the compound idea of Body 

 as consisting of Figure, Extension, and Solidity. 

 The continued appearance in my visual presenta- 

 tion of the grey colour which I am now seeing is to 

 me the sign of the continued persistence of that 

 potential Energy in virtue of which I regard it as 

 the appearance of a solid extended stone wall. 

 Everything is referred to the visual presentation, 

 and it is in reference to it that the mind works in 

 constructing its world. 



The whole theory of molecular action is a theory 

 constructed in reference to the visual presentation 

 the reality of which, strangely, it seems to result in 

 overthrowing. A born-blind man could never have 

 invented the conception of atoms or molecules. This 

 is well worth thinking over. The visual presenta- 

 tion is not really fundamental ; and we must undo 



the inversion induced by its great convenience 



8 



