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[Vol. XX. No. 511 



mathematical relations of their parts; for we never can be sure 

 that their {esthetic value does not rest upon an associative or other 

 factor rather than upon the direct mathematical proportions; 

 and the freedom in the choice of parts to be measured must 

 throw considerable doubt upon the results of all measurements. 

 Such attempts have proved no moi-e than a limited esthetic value 

 of the proportion 1:1, while for the various other simple mathe- 

 matical relations nothing decisive has been shown. A better 

 method than Zeising's or Fechner's affords a choice not limited to 

 a set of arbitrary proportions, but opens to a series of figures 

 whose mathematical proportions vary in a constant ratio between 

 the proportion of 1: 1 and l:x (x being any desired large number). 

 This method permits of an easy observation of the relative increase 

 or decrease in the gssthetic feeling attaching to the regularly in- 

 creasing proportions. For all groups of figures and for all posi- 

 tions of the figure there are but two pleasing proportions: the 

 ratio 1:1, or perfect symmetry, and a ratio which lies between 

 2:3 and 1:3, the most pleasing proportion. The proportion 1:1 is 

 assthetically so far fron all other proportions that a comparison 

 between it and any other proportion on the same terms as between 

 the other proportions among themselves is impossible. The most 

 pleasing aesthetic proportion subsumes itself under {esthetic con- 

 trast; the aesthetic value does not lie in a pleasing and complex 

 equality of the relations of the parts of a figure, but in a pleasing 

 difference of parts. Tlie proportion is therefore not clearly dis- 

 coverable in complex designs and objects, as the demand for the 

 best contrast of parts may easily give way to other considera- 

 tions. 



Dr. Alexander Bain's paper was entitled "The Respective 

 Spheres and Mutual Helps of Introspection and Psycho-Physical 

 Experiment in Psychology; " the recognized sources of our knowl- 

 edge of mind are first and foremost introspection with the aids of 

 outward signs; to which succeed the study of infancy, of abnor- 

 mal and exceptional minds, and of the lower animals ; also the 

 workings of society collectively ; next physiology ; and last psycho- 

 physical experiments. The metaphysical problem of knowing 

 and being, and that of the tracing of the origins of our mental 

 furniture, have hitherto been the leading ones where introspection 

 has been mainly employed. Neither of these are utile in the 

 ordinary sense. Introspection takes the lead in qualitative analy- 

 sis of mental facts; the next consideration is quantitative analysis, 

 or the mensuration of psychological quantities; here psycho- 

 physics can render important service. The following is a list of 

 researches where both methods concur: (1) The economy of mus- 

 cular mechanism ; (2) the fundamental laws of the intellect, more 

 especially as regards memory acquisitions; (3) the fluctuation of 

 our ideas in consciousness; (4) the conditions of permanent asso- 

 ciation as against "cram;" (5) plurality of simultaneous impres- 

 sions in all the senses ; (6) the fixed idea ; (7) similarity in diversity. 

 In all these experiment can come in aid of introspection, but 

 cannot supersede it without loss and failure. 



Professor Theodore Eibot's paper concerning concepts had for 

 its object an inquiry as to the immediate state of mind at the in- 

 stant a concept is thought, to determine whether this state differs 

 in individuals. One hundred persons of every class and degree 

 of culture were interrogated by announcing to them abstract 

 terms (not letting them know the purpose beforehand) and noting 

 the immediate state of consciousness which these terms evoked. 

 The results were : 1. With the majority a general term awakened 

 a concrete idea or representation, ordinarily a visual image, rarely 

 a muscular image. 2. Many saw the word as printed, purely and 

 simply, without any concrete representation. 3. Others (fewer 

 in number) had only the word in the mind as heard, perhaps with 

 motor images of articulation but without concrete image ; without 

 vision of the printed word. 4. The highest concepts, such as cause, 

 relation, infinite, etc., did not give rise to any representation what- 

 ever in the case of the majority. Even those persons belonging 

 to the pure concrete type declared they had nothing in their mind. 

 There are therefore certain concepts to which an unconscious 

 state corresponds. Hoping to penetrate into the nature of this 

 unconscious state. Dr. Wizel continued the investigations on cer- 

 tain hysterical cases at SalpStriere; they were interrogated first in 

 the hypnotic state, then when awake, thus permitting a compari- 



son of responses. The results were more numerous and explicit 

 in the hypnotic state than in the normal. 



In speaking of the future of psychology, Richet said that psy- 

 chology is one of the elements of physiology, and the most ob- 

 scure ; the first question is to know the connection which unites 

 mind and body; at present we know nothing about it. An idea, 

 a reasoning, a passion, are phenomena which do not seem to have 

 the power of being reduced to a material phenomenon. It is cer- 

 tain, however, that there is a connection: without brain, or rather 

 without nerve-cell, there is no intelligence. The first problem of 

 psychology is therefore a most complete physiology of the brain : 

 relations of ideation with cerebral circulation, with chemical 

 changes in nerve-cells, with electric phenomena ; localization of 

 psychical acts in this or that part of the brain; in other words, a 

 physiological resume of the brain. We must recognize that brain 

 physiology is little developed compared with the physiology of 

 the heart or muscles. Physiology, properly speaking, is a study 

 of sensations: relations of sensation with peripheral excitation, 

 differential perceptive sensibility — the threshold of excitation; 

 these are investigations more difficult to pursue than the general 

 physiology of the nerve-cell. 



Comparative psychology treats of the relations of man with other 

 beings, and with the insane and criminal, from the intellectual 

 point of view. One cannot admit that the hunran soul is station- 

 ary ; it evolves, and therefore can be perfected through a sort of 

 natural selection. The data for this problem are wanting, yet the 

 future of humanity depends upon it. In transcendental psychology 

 we have numerous data (often or almost always imperfect), which 

 permit us to suppose that human intelligence has extraordinary re- 

 sources and forces of which we have no conception. The future 

 psychology will give us the key to clairvoyance and presentiments. 

 If it should be proved that these are all illusions, a service would 

 be rendered ; sooner or later we will be able to say whether tran- 

 scendental psychology is a reality or an illusion. 



LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. 



**# Correspondents are requested to be as brief as possible. The writer's name 

 is in all cases required as proof of good faith, 



On'request in advance^ one hundred copies of the number containing his 

 communication will be furnished free to any correspondent. 



The editor will be glad to publish any queries consonaiit with the char act er 

 of the journal. 



The Libyan Alphabet. 



I SHALL make no reply to the letter of Professor Keane in Sci- 

 ence, Nov. 4, as there can bs no advantage in discussing scientific 

 questions in either the tone or the method which he adopts. 



As the general subject, however, is one of great interest, I 

 have secured permission to bring it before the Oriental Club of 

 Philadelphia at its December meeting, when I expect to prove 

 the following positions : 



1. That certain able French scholars maintain that the Libyan 

 alphabet antedates the foundation of Carthage, and probably had 

 other than a Semitic origin. 



2. That the first form of every letter, simple and compound, of 

 this alphabet, as given by Hanoteau in his '■ Grammaire Tama- 

 chek," contains no curved lines. 



3. That the only similarity noted by Hanoteau in that work 

 between the Tuaieg and Semitic writing is that they are both read 

 from right to left. 



4. Abundant documents in " Tifinar " to prove that this is not 

 the case will be laid before the club, 



5. Proof will also be presented that Prof. Keane's assertion in 

 his last letter that ' ' the Tuaregs never made any extensive use 

 of this script " is utterly erroneous. 



An official report will be made to Science of this meeting. As 

 the president of the club is Mr, Talcott Williams, not only an ex- 

 cellent Arabic scholar, but the only American who, so far as I 

 know, has collected Berber manuscripts in North Africa and 

 brought to this country the only originals we have, readers of 

 Science may expect a fairer statement of the case than in a dis- 

 dussion where personal irritation may be suspected of obscuring 

 scientific fact. D. G. Brinton. 



Philadelphia, Nov. 4. 



