Genetic Modes 3^5 



§ 3. Genetic Modes 



But, in fact, we cannot admit the assumption just made, 

 that quantitative science is exhaustive even for the brain 

 changes taken alone — to bring out a point which takes 

 us further, and which may seem still more out of touch 

 with the claims of physical science. I contend that abso- 

 lutely new and unheard-of phases of reality may 'arise and 

 shine' at any moment in any natural series of events — con- 

 stituting nezv 'genetic modes: Considering the origin and 

 nature of the categories of thought, whatever our theory 

 of the method of their genesis may be, we find that they 

 are modes of function selected for their utility as furnishing 

 interpretations of experience.^ It is evident, then, that it 

 is impossible to discount or deny, by their use, any modes 

 of existence or reality ivhich they do not interpret. As is 

 intimated on an earher page, animals of different grades 

 may have such varying sense-organs and such varying 

 qualities of sensation, feeling, or other mode of conscious- 

 ness, as to make their apprehension of the world of 

 bionomic changes very different one from another. To a 

 creature in which the olfactory lobe is developed in a 

 preponderating way, smell may be the control sense, and 

 interpretations by smell may be the final tests of what to 

 this creature are the realities of his Hfe ; to another, touch, 

 to another, vision, may be the leading sense. Now each, 

 in his several sphere, must think, must, in general, psy- 

 chologize, under his own rubric; each has his test of 

 truth. And he must also in so far legislate it as final 

 upon experience. But yet, other animals may have other 

 measures, tests, interpretations, — other realities of which 



1 This is the general outcome of Chap. XVII., on « Selective Thinking.' 



X 



