in] The Triunity of Personality 109 



self-conscious it enters in some degree upon transcend- 

 ence. The completion of personality is the completion 

 of the passage from immanence into transcendence 

 from becoming to being. 



One point of objection to the theory outlined above 

 is very obvious. " What is there to prevent our pressing 

 the same reasoning further, and seeing in each of the 

 three persons of a complete personality yet three other 

 persons, and so on, in infinite regression: personalities 

 that become "fine by degrees and beautifully less"? 

 Since primary emotions, for instance, involve elements 

 of will and intellect ; since a primary will and intellect 

 involve each other, and emotion, in a secondary degree, 

 why should we stop short where we do? Why 3, why 

 not (3)", persons in each personality? One may be 

 driven to the illogical, unscientific answer of Professor 

 Ptthmllsprts when Ellie asked him why there aren't 

 any Water Babies " Because there ain't." One may be 

 driven to the argumentum ad hominem and say "Do you 

 mean to tell me that you are (3)" persons ? " Only then 

 one's opponent will inconveniently answer, " No, I am 

 only one; not even three, as you pretend ! If I am three 

 I don't see why I am not (3)*, and I know I am not, 

 therefore I will remain one till further notice, thank 

 you." I am not at all sure that the objection can be 

 satisfactorily met at all, nor even that it is desirable to 

 meet it. I am certain, however, that it is not a fatal one. 

 The only answer I can give verges perhaps on petitio 

 principii, but I do not think it really leads us into that 

 logical quicksand. It is this. 



In the idea of infinite regress we are using a spatial 

 image of a linear type. If we must use a spatial image 

 at all here, it should be of a circular type. Imagine 

 three hoops, the circumference of each composed of three 

 equal lengths of material perfectly joined, yet one third 

 twice as heavy as either of the others. Call the heavy 



