CHAPTER L 



PRELIMINARY. 



434. Thought and feeling cannot be completely dis 

 sociated. Each emotion has a more or less distinct frame 

 work of ideas; and each group of ideas is more or less suffused 

 with emotion. There are, however, great differences between 

 their degrees of combination under both of these aspects. 

 We have some feelings which are vague from lack of intel 

 lectual definition ; and others to which clear shapes are given 

 by the associated conceptions. At one time our thoughts 

 are distorted by the passion running through them ; and at 

 another time it is difficult to detect in them a trace of liking 

 or disliking. Manifestly, too, in each particular case these- 

 components of the mental state may be varied in their pro 

 portions. The ideas being the same, the emotion joined with 

 them may be greater or less ; and it is a familiar truth that 

 the correctness of the judgment formed, depends, if not on 

 the absence of emotion, still, on that balance of emotions 

 which negatives excess of any one. 



Especially is this so in matters concerning human life. 

 There are two ways in which men s actions, individual or 

 social, may be regarded. We may consider them as groups 

 of phenomena to be analyzed, and the laws of their depen 

 dence ascertained ; or, considering them as causing pleasures 

 or pains, we may associate with them approbation or repro 

 bation. Dealing with its problems intellectually, we may 



