

CHAPTER II 



MIND AND MECHANISM 



i. OUR object being the study of correlation in general, 

 and of correlation as effected by Mind in particular, our 

 first task must be to justify the distinction drawn in the 

 last chapter between the mechanical and the mental. We 

 must establish, first, that there exist two generically 

 different modes of correlation, and, secondly, that one of 

 these may justly be attributed to Mind. The data on 

 which the first of these conclusions rests must obviously 

 consist of external facts of behaviour. There must be 

 positive differences in the relation of act to act or act to 

 circumstances to justify a deep distinction between the 

 correlating functions. The data of the second conclusion 

 cannot consist in external behaviour alone, for we know 

 Mind each of us directly within himself. The relation 

 between these two arguments is the chief source of 

 difficulty in our subject, and we must at this early stage 

 do our best to make it clear. Let us begin by re-stating 

 the mechanical theory of correlation and examining it 

 from the point of view of an observer of external 

 behaviour alone. By general admission many of the 

 processes of the living body can be explained upon 

 mechanical principles. Given the contraction of the 

 muscle the movements of the limbs illustrate simple 

 principles of the lever. Given the pulsations of the heart, 

 the broad fact of the circulation could be inferred from 

 the action of the common pump. Given the respiratory 

 centre and its control over the muscles that move the ribs 



