ABSTRACT IDEAS. 311 



Abstract Ideas. Idea of Causation, Time, and 

 Space, etc. 



Finally, we come to certain qualities which consti- 

 tute the essence of the human intellectual process. 

 Foremost among them stands the moral nature of 

 man. Of no less importance is his power of forming 

 abstract ideas and thus classifying thoughts. Here, 

 too, are found various intuitions, time, space, the 

 idea of force, of causation, etc. It is at these points 

 that those who believe man to be a distinct creation, 

 in any sense, rest the force of their argument. Un- 

 less the origin of these factors is explained, the 

 whole argument of Darwin as to man is worth- 

 less ; for they are the really essential parts of hu- 

 man intellect. I have neither the knowledge nor 

 the inclination to deal with these questions, except 

 in a very superficial manner. They belong rather 

 to mental philosophy than science. Nor is it par- 

 ticularly desirable to do much more than state the 

 positions held by different thinkers, since the con- 

 clusion which one forms is little more than a matter 

 of opinion. 



The power of forming abstract ideas is one of the 

 most important possessed by man. Human thinking 

 consists in analyzing and classifying ideas, and with- 

 out this power thought is impossible. From con- 

 crete objects man forms abstract ideas : he com- 

 bines and classifies them, studies their relations, and 

 reaches other abstract ideas as conclusions. This 

 is thought. Even language is impossible without 

 these ideas, for language is the association of sounds 

 with ideas and not with objects. It is perfectly evi- 



