282 



PART V. WORKING STAGE. 



In dealing, then, with the nature and relations of pheno- 

 mena, we should suspect complexity where there appears to be 

 simplicity, simplicity where there appears complexity, environ- 

 mental influences where other influences are alleged, and we 

 should be prepared to find that influences of time and of 

 position in space and mind produce, as the case may be, an 

 appreciable or a substantial difference. 



CONCLUSION 18. 



Need of Keeping and Consulting Records, of Improving the 



Memory Experimentally, of Employing the Imagination, and of 



utilising the Intelligence in its entirety. 



141. (A) KEEPING AND CONSULTING RECORDS. As 

 is evident from the very definition of a given impression as 

 entailing special memory, general memory, and reasoning or 

 inference from past to present experience, 1 it follows that in 

 the scientific process of investigation the place of the memory 

 cannot be left unconsidered. Furthermore, memories not only 

 fade rapidly, but become confused. Lastly, not only does 

 memory enter into the process of observation; but more 

 especially does it weave itself into the whole generalising and 

 reasoning process. We cannot recall all we have observed; 

 and even if we have kept adequate notes, these are not as 

 exhaustive as the original observations. 



Since, then, the memory needs to be employed, we should 

 prepare rules for its guidance: (a) we should consult records 

 entered carefully at the time of observing, containing all we 

 observed and nought beyond, and succinctly, systematically, 

 and lucidly composed ; (b) only such memories are to be utilised 

 as are distinctly recollected to have been scientifically gathered ; 

 <c) these records and recollections, especially if much is to 

 depend on them, should be verified with meticulous care; and 

 (d), according to circumstances, these records should assume 

 the form of specimens, rough sketches, minute drawings, 

 coloured drawings, photographs, tables, statistics, graphs, and 

 the like. 



142. (B) IMPROVING THE MEMORY. Moreover, stre- 

 nuous efforts should be made to improve the memory as such. 

 (a) By observing accurately with the object of accurately recollect- 

 ing, and then experimentally training the memory in this direc- 

 tion, we may hope to find our memories far more reliable than 

 at present, (b) Similarly, by pursuing an analogous method in 

 relation to completeness of memories, parallel results are likely 

 to ensue, (c) Kindred methods should be employed to create 

 an extensive store of memories, without which the task of 



1 See 19. 



