BRAIN AND MIND 



really know nothing except by inference of any mind 

 other than our own. 



When I speak of the human mind, I am really draw- 

 ing inferences from my own mind. I can by no possi- 

 bility gain any direct knowledge as to your mind, nor 

 can you gain any direct knowledge of my mind. We 

 cannot see or hear or touch an idea; we can experi- 

 ence it in our own mind, but we cannot in any direct 

 way experience the idea of another person than our- 

 selves. 



What we know then of other minds than our own is 

 strictly inferential. The brain-cell which is the essential 

 organ of mind can telegraph out and order certain 

 muscles to move in this way or that, and this is its 

 only possible way of communication with the world. 

 Through the movements thus attained come the 

 gestures, actions, and language which are the only 

 outward symbols by which mind manifests itself. It 

 would be possible, by cutting only a few nerve channels, 

 to shut off the mind absolutely from any outward 

 expression of its feelings and ideas. Indeed, disease 

 sometimes does this, and the victim must lie motionless, 

 unable in any way to give expression to his desires. 



But under ordinary circumstances, these channels 

 of outward expression are in constant operation, and 

 the mind is communicating with the outside world 

 incessantly. And from the peculiarities of the action, 

 gesture, and speech that arc the media of this com- 

 munication, we infer that other minds are like our own. 

 This similarity would not exist had not the individuals 

 who manifest it descended from the same races, and 



[285] 



