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REV. F. STORKS TURNER, B.A., ON 



as " an inquiry concerning the nature of the human mind, and 

 an inquiry concerning the nature of human knowledge." 



2. Our definition. In this essay, psychology is to have only 

 one meaning. Verbally, it is Hume's — with the exception that 

 instead of " science " I prefer the word " study." Practically 

 Hume's psychology is a study of the human mind. In this 

 essay, not mind but man is the subject-matter: man the 

 embodied mind, or the ensouled body — in popular speech, man 

 as body and soul. We are to consider the whole real man, the 

 living unity, as we know him in experience. We desire to 

 understand ourselves — not only each one of us himself; but each 

 one: himself and his fellow-men. It is essential for the 

 subsequent discussion, that this definition shall be held fast in 

 its integrity. 



3. The inquiry proposed. Although their definitions vary, I 

 assume that psychologists all have before their minds the same 

 or similar given facts, which they try to understand. We have 

 not time to review the history of psychology and to describe 

 existing psychologies. I propose to begin an independent 

 inquiry. Can we discover by examination of the given facts, 

 indications of the methods which psychology ought to take ? 

 If we succeed, the right way will be known : or, at least a right 

 way. Whether there can be more than one right way, may be 

 a subsequent inquiry. 



4. The first step. The fact that there are different definitions, 

 obliges the psychologist to begin by explaining and defending 

 his own definition. Physical science is not troubled in this 

 way. The astronomer, the chemist, the geologist, and the rest 

 all take their given facts as they find them, and being unanimous, 

 go to work without any preamble. Why cannot we set to work 

 as easily and confidently as they ? Because the propriety of 

 our definition may be challenged. This compels us to justify 

 it, before we proceed. To do this we must consider given faets 

 generally, what they are, and how they come to us ; and then, 

 whether the given facts of psychology are found among * 

 them. 



5. The meaning of " the given." Why do we speak of some 

 things as given facts ? We mean that the given things, some- 

 times called " immediate psychical facts," are present to our 

 consciousness, he/ore the exercise of our thinking powers upon 

 them. It is somewhat difficult to draw the line sharply 

 between the before and after ; for in the first perception of any- 

 thing, or any event, the mind has its part. Still there are cases 

 in which this part seems to be passive rather than active, 



