T E RT I U M O R G A NU M

( T H E T H I R D O R G AN O F T H OU G HT )
A Ke y to t h e E nig m a s of th e W o rld
P D OUS PE NS KY
. .

TRAN S L AT E D F R O M T H E RU S S IAN
BY N I C H O LA S B E S S A R AB O F F A ND
C L A U D E B RA G D O N — W I T H A N
INTROD UCTION BY C LAUD E B RAGDON

The My stery of Spa ce and Time S h a dow s .

and Rea lit y. O c cultis m and Love Ani m a ted

.

Nature Voices of th e Stones Mathe m atics

. .

o f t h e I n fi n i t e T h e L o gi c of E c sta sy
. .

Mystica l Theosophy C osmi c C onsciou sness

. .

T h e Ne w Mora lit y B irth of th e S u pe rm an

. .

MA NA S P R E S S RO C H E S T E R
, , NY. . 1 9 20
 CO PYR I G H T . 1 920 B Y T HE

M ANA S P RE S S

o
C pyrigh ted in Gr eat B ri ta in
 I NTRO D U C TIO N TO THE E NG LI S H TRANSLATI O N

I n th e pring of 1 9 1 8 a young Ru s si a n Ni ch olas B es sa ra b off

s , , ,

a pp ea r e d a t m y d oo r b ea rin g in h is h a nd Tertiu m Organu m a ,

preci ou s gift to th e min d a nd to th e spirit b u t s hrou d e d in th e ,

se v e n f o ld v e il of th e to m e i nco m pr eh ens ibl e R u ss i a n t ong u e

-
.

With a rdent enth u si a sm a nd a d m ir a bl e p a ti enc e th e y ou ng m an

ou tli ne d t o m e th e na tu r e a n d c o nt ent of th e b oo k I too k fire a t .

o nc e f or I sa w th a t th e a u th or O u s p en sky w a s th e C ol u m b u s of
, , ,

th a t u nch a rte d o c ea n of th ou ght in whi ch I a n d o th er s h a d i nd ee d

a dv ent u r e d h au nt e d by dr e a m s of ri c h a rgos i es fr om virgi n con
,

tin ents .

S om e th ors ga in only r ea d ers : oth ers m or e fortu na te win

au , ,

di scipl es a nd O u sp ensky is of this l a tt er c l a ss B es sa ra b off w a s a

, .

di scipl e a nd I fou nd that I had b ecom e one with ou t kn owi ng it

, .

S o in a spirit of tru e di scipl e ship w e set to wo rk to m a k e Tertiu m

Orga nu m kno wn to th e E ngli sh sp e aki ng w orld Th e m eth o d w e .

adopte d w a s f or him to m a ke a som ewhat rigidly liter a l tra nsla

tion into whi ch I th en i nfu se d only s o mu ch of litera ry form a s
,

s ee m e d n e ces s ary f or l u c i dity a n d ea se Faithfu l ness to th e orig

.

ina l w a s th e a im h eld pi ou sly by b oth of u s fr om b eginni ng to end .

Th e r ea d e r h a s th e right to kn o w som ething of ou r fitnes s f or

thi s s e rvi c e For m y own l ess a rd u ou s a nd i m p ortant p a rt in th e
.

’
transl a ti on I ca n only sa y th a t O u sp ensky s th ou ght is s o cu ri ou s
,

ly p a r a ll e l to th e m ov e m ent o f m y own m i nd a s expres se d in Fou r

Dimensiona l Vis tas that I cou ld b e a cc u se d of pla g a rism by a ny
,

one u naw a re of th e f a c t th a t m y b oo k w a s p u bli s h e d b e f o r e I h a d

rea d h is .

Mr B es sa ra boff s tu di e d m ech a nica l eng ineering a t th e P e tro

.

gr a d Polytec hni c Institu t e wh ose s tu d en t b o dy is c om p ose d of th e

,

h ono r m en from v a ri ou s Ru ssi a n sch ool s Whil e a s tu d ent h is

.
,

a b s o rpti on in m a th e m a ti c s a nd m e c h a ni c s had b een c o m pl et e b u t ,

th e rea din g of Tertiu m Orga nu m s o a w a ke ne d h is i nt er est in gene r

a l s c i ence p hi l osop h y a nd m y s ti c i s m th a t h e e m b a rk e d u p on a
,

c oll a t e r a l cou rse of s t u dy th a t m a d e him fa mili a r with r a c ti c a lly

p
e v e ry ph a se of th ou ght in its br o ad ou tlin es d e a lt wit h by O u s
, ,

p ensky in his b ook His kno wl e dge of E ngli sh thou gh it d oe s not

.
,

e xt e n d to a ll th e ni ce ti e s of c ons tr u c ti on a n d lit e r a ry e xpr ess i o n ,

 T ERT IUM ORGANUM

is s uffic i ent f or him to r e ad th e l a ngu a ge with p e rf ec t u n d ers ta nd

ing , and to expre ss him s elf with gr ea t prec i s i on ; wh il e h is voc a b u
lary , as so often i s th e c a se with for eigners wh o h a ve l e arne d E ng
li sh ou t of b ooks, 18 l a rge r th a n th a t of th e a verage Am e ri c a n uni
v er sity gradu a te .

As f or O u sp ensky him se lf h e is a n a ccom pli sh e d m a th em a ti c i a n ,

magister of p u r e m a th em a ti c s a nd h e h o ld s th e p os iti on of in
,

s tru c tor of m a th em ati c s in th e P e tro grad I ns tit u t e of E ngine ers of

Wa y s of C omm unica ti on one of th e old es t of th e R u ssian tec h ni

,

c a l sc h ool s .H e is by no w thirty eight y ea r s old h a s trav e ll e d ex

-

t en sively vi si ting E ngland I taly E gypt a nd In dia ; h e h a s con

, , ,

tribu t ed to m a th em atica l t ext b ooks a nd is th e a u th or of s ever a l

-

work s o th er th a n Tertiu m Orga nu m Thi s latt er is now in its sec .

o nd e diti on in R uss ia Th e pr es ent tr a ns l a ti on wa s m a d e from

.

t h i s s econd e dition th e date on th e titl e p a ge b eing 1 9 1 6

, .

In na m ni g his b ook Tertiu m Orga nu m O u sp ensky r ev e al s at a

s trok e that as t ou nding a u d a c ity whi c h c har a c t e riz es his th ou ght

th r ou u —
gh o t a n au d a city whi ch w e a re accu st om ed to associat e
wi th th e Ru ssian m ind in all its ph a ses S u ch a titl e s ays in .
,
“
eff ec t : Her e is a b ook whi ch will reorga niz e all kno wl e dge T h e .

Orga non of Ari stotl e f orm u l a t e d th e l a ws u n d e r whi ch th e su bj ec t

thinks ; th e Novu m Organu m of B a con th e l a ws u n d er which th e ,

o bj ec t m a y b e kno wn B eh old " I give y ou a Third Orga n whic h

.

”
s hall gui d e a nd go v e rn h u m a n th ou ght h encefo rth .

H ow p a ssin g s tra nge in thi s era of neg a tiv e thinking of tim id

, ,

phil osophizing d oes su ch a ch a ll enge sound And y et it h as th e

—
.
,

ec h o in it of s o m e thing h e a rd b e fo r e wh a t b u t th e titl e of a n,

o th er v o l u m e H in t on s A New E m of Th ou gh t
’
.
,

O u sp ensky s Tertiu m Orga nu m a nd Hin ton s A New E ra of

’ ’

Thou gh t pr e s ent su b st a nti a lly th e s a m e phil o sophy ( th ou gh Hin

t on s b ook only sk etchily ) arriv e d a t by th e sa m e rou te m a th e
’
,
h -

m a ti es.

Her e is fo od f or th ou ght I n th e word s of Phi lip H enry Wynne

. ,

Ma th em a ti c s p osse sses th e m ost p otent a nd p erf ec t sym b oli sm

th e in t ell ec t kno w s ; a n d thi s s ym b oli s m h a s off er e d f or ge ner a
ti ons cert a in c oncepts (of whi c h h y p er di m ens i ona lity is onl y one) -

wh ose na ming a nd envi sa gem ent by th e h u m a n int ell ect is p er

h a p s its l ofti es t a chievem ent M a th em a ti c s present s th e hig h es t
.
 IN T RO D U C T ION

ce rtitu des known to th e int ell ec t a nd is b eco ming m ore a nd m or e

,

th e fi na l arbit er a nd i nt e rpr et e r in phy s i cs c h e m i s try a nd a str o n

,

omy Like Aa ron s rod it thr ea t ens to s w a ll ow a ll oth er kno w

.
’

l edges a s fa st a s th ey a ssu m e orga niz e d form M ath em ati c s h a s .

a lr e a dy t a k en p o s sessi on of gr e at pr o vi nc e s o f l o gi c a nd p sy c h ol

og y
— ,will it em bra c e ethic s re ligi on a nd phil osop h y ?
,
”

I n Tertiu m Orga nu m m a th e m a ti cs e nt ers a nd p ervad es th e

fi eld of phil osophy ; b u t so a droitly so s il ently a s it w er e th a t one
, ,
“ ”
h a rdly knows th a t it is th e r e I t dw ell s m or e in O u sp ensky s
.
’

m etho d than in h is m a tte r b ec au s e f or th e m os t part th e m ath

,

em a tica l id ea s necessa ry f or a n u nd e r s tanding o f his th esi s a re

s u c h a s a ny in t e lligent high sc h oo l s t u d e nt ca n c o m pr eh en d Th e .

a u th o r p u ts to hi m se lf a nd to th e r ea d e r c ertai n qu es ti ons pro ,

p ou n d s c ert a i n problem s whi c h h a ve baffl e d th e h u m an m ind f or

,

—
thou s a nd s of y e ars th e probl em s of s p a c e tim e m oti on c a u sa l
—
, , ,

ity of fr ee will a nd d e ter min a ti on a nd h e d ea l s with th em a o

,

c o rdi ng to th e m ath e m a ti c a l m e th o d : that is a ll He h as s ense d .

th e tr u th th a t th e pr obl em of m a th em a ti c s is th e pr obl e m of th e
world order a nd a s su c h m u s t d ea l with e v e ry a sp ec t of h u m an lif e
, .

Ma th em a ti c s is a t erribl e word to th ose wh ose tast e a nd tr a in

ing h a v e le d th em into o th er fi e ld s s o l es t th e non m a th e m a ti c al
,
-

r ea d e r sh ou ld b e turne d b a c k a t th e v ery thr esh old d ecidi ng too ,

h a stily that th e b ook is not f or h im let m e dwell rath er on its ,

ri chly h u m a ni s tic a sp ec t .

“
T o su ch a s a sk no key to th e e nigm a s of th e w o rld b u t only ,

s o m e light to liv e by so m e m itig a ti on of th e d a ily grin d s o m e

, ,

gli m p se of s om e m ore en lightene d p olity than that whi c h r u l es th e

world today thi s b ook s h ou ld h a v e a n a pp e al Th e a u th or h a s
, .

thrown ov erb oa rd all th e jargon of all th e sch ool s ; h e u s es th e

l a ngu a ge of c omm on sense a nd of e v ery day ; his ill u str a ti ons a nd
,

figu r es of sp eech a re h om ely tak en from th e lif e of e v ery d a y H e

, .

“
s i m ply sa y s to th e r ea d e r C om e let u s r e ason t oge th er a nd
, ,

l e ads h im a w a y from th e hau nte d j u ngl e of phil osophi ca l s y st em s

a nd m e t a phy s i c al th eo ri es ou t in t o th e light of d a th e r e t o c o n
, y ,

t em pl a te a nd to e nd ea v or to u nd erst a nd th ose pri m al my st eri es

w h i ch p u zzl e th e m in d of a chi ld or of a sa vage no l ess th a n t h a t
of th e sophi s ti c at e d a nd su p er su btl e p on d e r e r on th e e nigm a s of
- '

th e world .Not th a t Ou sp ensky is a tra fficker in th e obvi ou s— f a r

from it : th ose wh o kno w m ost thi nk m ost f ee l m os t will g et m o s t
ou t o f h is b oo k—b u t a gr e at s a n ity p erv a d e s h is p a g e s a nd h e
, , ,

I"
 T ERT IUM ORGAN U M

ne ve r l ea d s a wa y into l a byrinth s wh er e gu id e a nd fo ll o we r a lik e

los e th eir w a y a nd fa il to c om e to a ny end .

Le a ving th e a ve ra ge re a d e r ou t of a cc ount f or th e m om ent ,

th er e a re c ert a in oth e rs wh om th e b ook s h ou ld p a rti cu l a rly inte r

e st — if only in th e w a y of r ep ul si o n .

First of a ll com e th e m a th em a ti ci a ns a nd th e th eore ti ca l phy s

ic is ts f or th ey a lr ea dy with ou t kno win g it h a v e in v a d e d th a t
, , ,
“ ”
d a rk b a ckwa rd a nd a by sm of ti m e whic h th e O u sp enskia n
phil os ophy lights u p—a nd a re by w a y of l os ing th em selves th er e .

Th a t is to sa y in c ert a in of th eir c a l cu l a ti ons th ey a re em

,

ploying fou r m u tu a lly interch a ngea bl e c o ordina te s thre e of s p a c e

-

a nd o ne o f ti m e I n o th e r w ord s th e y u s e time a s th ou gh it w e re
.
,

a di m en si on of s p a c e O u sp ens ky t ell s th em th e r e a son th ey a re

.

a bl e to d o thi s
— Ti me is th e fou rth di m ensi on of s p a c e i mp er
—
f ec tly s ense d a ppreh en d e d by c onsc i ou sness su cc ess iv e ly a nd ,

th ere by c rea ting th e t em p or a l ill u si on .

Moreov er m a th em a ti c i a ns a re p erf or c e c onc erni ng th em se lv e s

,

with m a gnitu d es to whi c h th e ordin a ry l ogic n o l onge r a ppli es

—
.

O u sp ens ky pr e s en t s a new l ogi c th e l ogi c o f i nt u iti on re m o v —

ing a t a s trok e a ll of th e nightm a re a sp e c t s th e pre p os t e r ou s p a r a
,

d oxe s of th e ne w m a t h e m a ti c s w h i c h by r e a so n o f its extra ord in

,

a ry d e v el op m en t h a s s h a tt e r e d th e o ld l o gi c a s a gr o wing o a k
,

s hatte rs th e c ont a i ni ng ja r .

I t is from th e phil osophi c c a m p no d ou bt th a t th e b ook will

, ,

r e ceive its s h a rp es t c riti ci sm on a c cou nt of th e a u th or s l es e

’

m a j est é t o w a rd s o m a ny of th e c ro wn e d kings of p hi l osophi c

—
th ou gh t a nd hi s d eva st a ti ng a ssa u lt on p ositivi sm th a t inevit
,

a bl e b y pr o d u c t o f ou r m a t e ri a li s ti c w a y of l oo ki ng a t th e w o rld
-
.

—
His a tt em pt to pr ov e th e Ka nti a n probl e m th e su bj ec ti vity of
s p a c e a n d ti m e— d ou btl ess will b e a cu tely c h a ll enge d a nd w it h ,

s om e c h a nce of s u c c ess b ec a u se th e t w o c h a pt e r s d e v o t e d to thi s

,

a re th e l ea s t c on vi nci ng of th e b o ok B u t no o n e h e r e t o f o r e h a s
.

e v en a tt e m pt e d to a b s o l u t e ly d em ons tr a t e or s u cc essf u lly c on

t rove rt th e s t a gg eri ng pr op ositi on a dva nc e d by Ka nt r e ga rdi ng

s p a c e a nd ti m e a s f o rm s o f c ons c i ou snes s .

Wh a t ever th e v e rdi c t of th e phi l os op hica l p u ndits of th e da y

a nd h ou r wh e th e r f a v or a bl e o r o th e rwi s e O u sp ensky is s u r e o f a
, ,

pl a ce in th e hi era rchy of phil os oph ers f or h e h a s e ssa y e d to solve

,
 IN T RO D U C T ION

th e m os t profoun d probl ems of h u m an e xi stence by th e a id of th e

binocu lar vi sion of a b orn m ath em a ti ci a n a nd a n intu itive my s ti c .

S ta rting from th e irr e d u cibl e m i ni m u m of kn owl e dge h e h a s c a r ,

ri e d phil osophy int o r egi ons not hith ert o expl or e d .

T o p ers ons of a n arti sti c or d ev oti onal b ent th e b oo k will b e a s

wa te r in th e d esert Th ese a lwa ys a t a di sa dva nt a ge am ong th e
.
,

p u rely prac ti ca l m ind e d by wh om th ey a re ou tnu m b er e d twenty

-

to o ne will fin d in O u sp ensky a ch a m pi on wh ose w ea p on is m a t h

,

em a tic a l c ertitu d e th e v e ry thing by whi c h th e pr a c ti c a l min d e d

,

s w ea r . Th ese th eir enemies h e p u ts to r ou t h old s u p to ridi cu l e

, , , .

“
He a ppl a u d s th e ir eff ort s to esc a p e into th e wo rld of th e w o n
”
drou s a nd j u stifi e s th e fa ith th a t is in th em
,
.

B u t m os t of a ll O u sp ensky will b e l o v e d by a ll tr u e l o v e rs f o r
, ,

h is c h a pt e r on th e s u bj ec t of l ov e We h a v e h a d S ch op enh a u e r o n
.

l o v e a nd Fr eu d on l ove b u t what d u sty a ns w ers do th ey giv e to

, ,

th e sou l of a l ov er " E dward C a rp ent e r c om es m u c h n ea r e r th e

m a rk b u t O u sp ensky p ene tr a tes to its v e ry c ente r I t is b ec a u s e
, .

o u r l o v e s a re s o d a m p ene d by ou r e go ti sm s ou r c y ni c i s m s a nd o u r ,

c o w a rdi ces th a t w e rot a nd s m ou ld e r i ns t e ad of b u r s ting i nt o p u ri

fy ing fl a m e Ju s t a s G oeth e s Werth er with its sex s enti m ent a lity

’
-
.
, ,

is sa id t o hav e pr o v oke d a n epid e mic of s ui cid es so m a y Tertiu m ,

—
Orga nu m whi c h r est ore s l o v e to th a t high h ea v en fr om wh ence
d escen d e very b eau ty a nd b eni son— inau gu r a t e a rena sc enc e of
l o v e a nd joy .

Fro m one p o int of vi e w this is a t erribl e b oo k : th ere is a revolu

—
tion in it a r evol u ti on of th e v ery p ol es of th ou ght S om e it will
-
.

rob of th e ir d ea r es t ill u s i ons it will c u t th e v e ry grou n d fr om b e

,

ne a th th e ir f e e t it will c ons ign th e m to th e Aby ss

, I t is a gr ea t .

d estroye r of c om pl a cenc y Y es thi s is a dangerou s b ook— b u t

.
,

th en life is like that

, .

It is b e yond th e pro vinc e of t h i s I ntro d u c ti o n eith e r to o u tlin e

th e O u sp e nskia n phil osop hy a t a ny l eng t h o r to di s c u ss it eriti ,

c a lly ; b u t s om e s li g h t i ndi c a ti on o f its drift m a

y b e of a ssi s t a nce to
th e r ea d e r .

Th e b oo k m ight h a v e a ppropri a t e ly b een c a ll e d A S tu dy of C on

s ciou sness f or O u sp ens ky com e s e a rly to th e c onc l u s i on t h a t a ll
,

“
o th e r m e th o d s of a ppr oa c h t o a n u nd e r s t a n di ng of th e e nig m a s
”
o f th e w o rld a re v a i n C h a pt ers I to VI I i nc l u s iv e d e a l w ith th e
.
, ,

XI
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

probl em of th e world ord er by th e obj ec tiv e m eth o d Th e a u t h or

-
.

e r ec t s a n e l a b o rat e s c a ff o ldin g f or his f u t u r e e difi ce a nd af te r it ,

h a s s erv e d its p u rp os e th r o w s it d own Aw a re of th e d efi ci enc i es

, .

of th e obj ec tiv e m e th o d a nd h a vi ng m a d e th e r ea d e r consc i ou s of

,

th em too h e su dd enly a lt ers his sy st em of atta c k From c h a p

, .

te r VIII onward h e u nd ert a k es th e s t u dy of th e world o rd e r fr o m

—
,

th e s t a n dp oi nt of su bj ectivity o f c ons ciou snes s .

By a m e th o d b oth ing eni ou s a nd new h e corre l a t es th e diff er ent

,

gr a d es of consci ou sness ob servabl e in na tu re th os e of v eget a bl e h -

a i
n m al a i
, n m al a dn m an — with th e space sense s ho wing that a s ,

c o n s c i ou sne ss cha ng es a nd d e v e l op s th e sens e of s pa ce c h a ng e s

,

a nd d evelops too That is to sa y th e dim ensiona lity of th e world

.
,

d e p end s on th e d evel op m ent of c onsci ou sness M a n h a ving .

,

r e a c h e d th e third s ta ge in that d ev el op m ent h a s a sense of thr ee

di m ensi onal spa c&a nd f or no oth e r r ea son
,

O u sp ensky c onc l u d es th a t nothin g exc ept consc i ou sness u nf o ld s ,

d e v elop s a nd a s th er e a pp ea rs to b e no li m it to thi s d e vel op m ent

,

h e conc eiv es of spac e a s th e m u lti di m ensi ona l m irro r of con

-

s c iou sness a nd of ti m e a nd m o ti on a s illu s i on—what a pp ea rs t o b e

ti m e a nd m otion b e ing in r ea lity only th e m ov em en t of consc i ou s

n e ss u p on a high e r s p a ce .

Th e pr obl em of su p eri or s tat es of c onsc i ou sness in whi c h th ere

”
s hall b e ti m e no l ong e r is thu s dire c tly o p ene d u p a nd in dis ,

c u ss ing th e ir n a t u r e a nd m e th o d of a tt a inm ent h e q u o t es fr ee ly

-

fr om th e ri ch lit era tu r e of m ys ti c i sm Inst ea d of a tte mptin g to

.

r a ti ona liz e th ese hi gh er s ta tes of consc i ou sness a s s om e a u th ors

—
,
“ ”
d o h e a ppli es to th em th e logic of intu ition Tertiu m Orga nu m
—p a ra doxi c a l from th e st a ndp oint of o rdi nary r ea s on b u t tru e in
,

r e l a ti on to th e nou mena l world .

Jos eph C onr a d a nd F ord M ad ox Hu eff er once wr ot e a no v el

c a ll e d Th e I nh eritors a nd by this th e y m ea nt th e p eopl e of th e

fou rth di m ensi on Th ou gh th ere is sm a ll r esem bl a nce b etw een

.

“ ”
O u sp ensky s s u p e rm a n a nd th eirs it is his id e a a l so th a t thos e
’

o f thi s w o rld w h o s u c c ee d in d e v e l op ing high e r dim ens i ona l or -

,
“
c os m i c consc i ou sness
” —
will i nd ee d i nh erit will c ontrol a nd reg
u la te h u m a n a ff a ir s by r e a son of th e ir su p e ri o r wi s d om a n d p o w e r .

“ ”
I n thi s a nd in t h i s a l one dw ell s th e sa lva tion o f th e w orld His
, ,
.

”
su p e rm a n is f a r r em ov e d fr om th e
“
bl ond b ea st of Nietz ch e : it is
“ ”
th e j u s t m a n m a d e p erf e c t of th e E v a nge li s t Thi s s tru gg l e f or .

m a s t e ry b e tw een th e bli nd a nd u nc onsc i ou s f or c es of m a t e ri a li s m

 INT RO D U C T ION

on th e o ne h a nd , a nd piritu a lly ill u m ine d on th e oth er is a l

th e s ,

rea dy u p on u s a nd a ll c onflic ts b e tw een na ti ons p eopl es a nd

, ,

c l a ss e s m u s t n ow b e i nt e rpr e t e d in t e r m s of thi s gr e at er warfar e

“ ”
b etween tw o r a c es of m en in whi c h th e su p eri or min ority will
,

eith e r c on qu e r or di s a pp ea r .

Th ese p eopl e of th e fou rth dim ens i on a re in th e world b u t not of

it : their r a nge is f a r wid er th a n thi s s l u m of sp a c e I n th em dor .

m a nt fa cu lti e s a re a l ert Lik e bird s of th e a ir th eir fitti ng s ym b o l

.
, ,

th ey a re a t h om e in r ea l m s which oth e rs c a nnot ent er e v en th ou gh ,

“ ”
alrea dy th er e Nor a re th ese h e a v e nly ea gl es confi ne d to th e
.

na rr o w pri son of th e br ea s t Th eir b odi es a re a s t oo l s whi ch th ey

.

m a y t a k e u p or la y a sid e a t will Thi s ph enom ena l w orld whi c h .

,

s eem s so r e a l is to th e m a s i ns u b s t a nti a l a s th e i m a ge of a l a n d
,

sc a p e in a l a k e S u c h is th e O u spenskia n su p e rm a n
—
. .

Th e e ntire b ook is f ou n d e d u p on a ne w gener a liz a ti on ne w ,

th a t is in phil osophy b u t a lr ea dy f a miliar to m a th e m atic i a ns

, ,

a n d th e or eti c a l phy s i c i s t s This gene ra liz a ti on in volves startling

.

a nd r e v o l u ti onary id ea s in r e g a rd t o s pa c e ti m e a nd m o ti on f a r , ,

r em ov e d from th ose of E u c lidi a n geom e try a nd c l a s sic a l phys ic s .

O u sp ensky handl es th ese ne w id e a s in a n a b s ol u t ely origi nal

wa y m aking th em th e b a si s of a n entire phil osophy of lif e
, To .

th e timid a nd p u rblin d thi s philosophy will b e n othing sh o rt of

terrifyi ng b u t to th e c l ea r ey e d a nd s t e a dfa st wat c h er shipwreck
,
-

e d o u thi s sh oa l o f ti m e th ese vi s t a s , o v e rfl o wing with b ea u ty

, ,

s tr a ngene ss ,d ou bt t error a nd divi nity will b e m or e w elcom e

, ,

th a n anythi ng in life .

“
Fear not the new genera liza tion .

O u sp ensky s c l ea rne s s of th ou g ht is m irr or e d in a corr es p on di ng

’

c l a rity of e xpr e ss i on , with e v e ry a id to u n d e r s t a n din g of whi c h h is

o flice of t ea c h e r of m a th e m a ti c s h a s giv en h im c o mm a n d He .

som e ti m e s r ep ea t s th e di fficu lt a n d i m p o rt a nt p a s sa g es in a n a l

tere d f o rm of w or d s h e u s e s s h ort s e nt enc es a n d sh ort p a r a gr a ph s

, ,

a n d it a li c iz es s ignifi c a nt phr a s e s a nd s ignif i c a nt w o rd s H e de .

fi nes wh e re d e fi niti on is nee d e d a nd su gges ts coll a t era l tr a ins of

,

t h ou ght with a s kill whi c h m a kes th e r e a d er w h o is intu itive a

c r e ato r o n hi s o wn a cc ou nt S ch op enhau er h a s s a id that it is a l
.

wa ys a sign of geni u s to tre at diffi cu lt m a tt ers si m pl y , a s it is a

s ig n of d u ll ness to m a k e s i m pl e m a tt e r s app ea r r econdit e Ou s .
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

p ensky e xhibit s thi s o rd er of g eni u s a nd th a t ot h er m e ntione d by

, ,

S c h op enh a u e r whi ch cons i s ts in c h oosi ng a lw a y s th e a pt ill u s

,

tra tion th e ill u m in a ti ng s i m il e

, .

T h e tra ns l a t or s h a v e tri e d to b e rigidly tru e t o th e R u s s i a n or

ig ina l a s h a s b e e n sa id a nd th ey h a v e b een a t gre a t p a i ns to v e rify
, ,

e v e ry E ngli s h q u o ta ti o n so f a r a s h a s b ee n p oss ibl e . T h e o nly

lib erty th ey h a ve t a ken with th e text c ons i s ts in th e omissi on of
a bri e f p e r son a l r e f e r e nc e whi c h might p os s ibly g iv e off en se
.

R o c h e s t er N Y
, . . C LAUD E B RA G D ON
A u gu st 1 , 1 91 9
 C O NTE NT S

CHAPTER I
Wh a t d o w know nd wha t d o we not know ? O ur d a ta a nd th e things sou ght fo
e a , r .

T h u nknown m ista ken f

e th e kn own Matter a nd mo tion Wha t do p ositiv or es e
—x Wha t we ally
. .

philoso phy com to ? I d ntity of th e unknown x = y y = e e : . re

know T h e ex i t en of co nsciousn s in u a nd of th e wo ld o u t ide of u s D ual

. s ce es s, r s .

i m o m o ni m ? S u bj ec t iv e nd o bj ec t ive knowl dge Wh

s r s d o th a s of th a e . ere e c us e e

ns a t io ns lie ? Ka nt s sy t e m Time a nd sp ace Kant a nd th e eth Ma c h ’ “ ” ’

se s . . er . s

ob rvation With wh a t does th e physici t r ally deal?

se . s e

CHAPTER II
A n w vi w of th e Kantian p ob l m Th e ideas of H int on T h e p ace sense a nd its
e e r e . . s

evol tion A y t m fo th e d velopment of a sens of th fourth dim n ion by x

u . s s e r e e e e s e

crois with colo d u b es Th e g o metrical co nception of sp a Th ee p rpen

—
es re c . e ce . r e

dic l why th ee ? C n ev ything e xi ting be m a ured by th e p rp ndicu

u a rs r a er s e s r e e e

lars ? Fa ts p hy sica l a nd me ta phy ica l T h e in d ices of xi t nc

c R ality of idea s s . e s e e. e .

Insuffici nt vid nce of th e exi ten of m a tt a nd m o tion Ma tter a nd mo t ion

e e e s ce er .

are only logica l c onc pt lik goo d a nd e vil e s, e

“ ” “
.
’

CHA PTER III

Wha t m y w e lea n a bou t th e fourth dim en ion by a s tu dy of th geo m t ica l elation
a r s e e r r s

within our p ace ? Wha t h o ld be th e la tion be twee n a th ee dimen ional bo dy

s s u re r -
s

nd
a n of fo ur d imens ion ?
o e Th fo ur dim ns io na l bo dy a s th t a c ing of th s e -
e e r e

m ov m nt of a th
e dim ns ional bo dy in a direc tio n which i not c onf ined within
e ree -
e s

it A fo
. dim n ional b o dy s co nta ining a n infinite n m be of th e dim ens ional
ur -
e s a u r re -

bo di A three dim ns iona l bo dy a tion of a four dim ns ion l one Pa t of

es .
-
e as sec -
e a . r s

bo di a nd nti bo dies in th ee a nd in fo dim n ion Th e inco mm nsura bility

es e re r ur e s s . e

of a thr dim n iona l nd a four dimens ional bo dy A m at ial a tom a s a sec tion
ee -
e s a -
. er

of a fo dim n ional line ur -

e s .

CHA PTER IV
wha t di tion m y th e fourth dim nsion lie ? Wh a t is m o tion ? Two kin ds of m
t io n—m o tio n in p a a nd mo tion in t ime—
rec a e o
w hich a e conta in d in e ve y mov m nt
s ce r e r e e .

Wha t 13 tim ? N id onta in d in th e co nc ption of time T h e new dimen ion

e o ea s c e e . s
of sp ace nd m o tion po n th a t dimension Time a s th e fou th dimen ion of sp ac
, a u . r s e.
Imp o ibility of nders ta nding th fourth dimens ion witho t th e id a of m o t ion
ss u e u e .

T h id ea of mo tio n a nd th e time sen e Th t im e en e as a limit (s face) of th

‘ ‘
e s . e s s ur e
p ace s ns H in ton on th e law of su rfaces Th e e ther a s a su face Ri mann
s e e. .
“ ”
r . e
’
s
id ea o n cning th e trans la tio n of t ime int o p ac e in th e fo urth dimen io n
ce r P s s s . re
ent p a t a nd f ture
, Why we d o not see th e p ast a nd th e fu ture Lif
s u .
f l ng . e as a ee i

f on w y Wundt on th e su bj ec t of our s ns u ous knowled g

’
o e 3 a . e e .

CHAPTER V
Fo ur dim ns ional spac e T m po al bo dy —I ing S h i
-
e T h fo rm of a hu man . e r
”
z a a r ra . e
bo dy f om b irth t o dea th In ommen a bility of three dimens iona l a nd fo
r . c s ur -
ur
d im ens ional bo dies N wto n fl nt Th e unrea lity of co ns ta nt q antities in
. e
’
s ue s . u o ur
wo ld Th ight nd th e lef t h ands in t hree dim n ional nd in four dimensional
r . e r a -
e s a -

p ace D iffe nces be tween three dimens iona l nd fo ur dim n ional p

s . re No t -
a -
e s s ac e .

two d iff nt sp ac bu t two d iff rent metho d of rec ptivity of on nd th e same

ere e s, e s e e a
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM
CHAPTER VI
M tho ds of inves tiga tio n of th pro bl m of high e d imens ion Th analogy betw n
e e e r s . e ee

imagin a y wo ld of d iff nt dim n io ns

r Th n d im ns io na l wo ld
r s n a lin ere e s . e o e e r o e .

S pac nd tim of a on d im n io nal b ing T h e t wo dim n ional wo ld on a

“
e
"
a
“
e
”
e -
e s e .
-
e s r

plan S pa c nd tim e . e th m a tt nd m o t io n of a t wo d im ns ion

e
”
a
“
e,
” “
e r,
” “
er
”
a
“ ”
-
e

l b ein g R a lity nd ill io n n a p la n T h imp o ib ility of seeing a n angl

“ ”
a . e a us o e . e ss e .

An ang le as m o t io n T h inco m p h n ib ility t o a t wo d im ns io nal b ing of th e . e re e s -

e e

f unction of thing in o wo ld Ph nom na nd no m na of a two dimensional

s s ur r . e e a u e -

b ing How o l d a p lan b eing omp eh nd th thi d d im n ion ?

e . c u e c r e e r e s

CHAPTER VII
T h imp o ib ility of th e ma th m a ti a l d f init io n of d im ns io ns Wh y d o n t ma th
e ss e c e e . es o e

m at i n dim n io n ? Th enti c o ndi tio n lity of th

es se se p nt tion of dimen
e s s e re a e re rese a

io n by p ow
s s T h e p o ib ility of r p es enting ll p ow s on a lin
ers . Kant nd ss e r a er e . a

Lo b a h v ky Th d iff n b tw en non Eu lid ian g o m t y nd m ta geom

c e s . e ere ce e e -
c e e r a e

t y
e r Wh h all w find th xp lana tio n of th th d im n ionality of th wo ld
. e re s e e e e r ee -
e s e r

if Ka nt idea t ? A n t th ond ition of th th dim n io nality of th

’
s s a re ru e re o e c s e r ee -
e s e

w o ld co nf ined t o
r c pt iv a pp a a t in ur p ych ? our re e e r us, o s e

CHA PT ER VIII
Ou r rece pt ive a pp a a t Sens a tion P eption C onc ption I ntuition Art
r us . . e rc . e . . as

th e la ng ag of th f u t ure To wh t xt nt d o es th e th ee dim ns ionality of th e

u e e . a e e r -
e
w o rld d p nd u p o n th e p o p ert i
e of c pt iv a pp a a tu ?
e Wh a t might p ove r es o ur re e e r s r

thi int d p nd nc ? Whe e m y w f ind th al affi m a tion of th is int d p n

s er e e e e r a e e re r er e e

d nce ? Th a nim l p ych e In wh a t d o it d iff f om th h m an ? Refl x e

e e a s . es er r e u e s

tion T h i ita b ility of th e cell I n tinctgj Bl

e rr p ain Emo tional thinking ‘

s ea sur e -

Ab enc of o nc pts Lang ag ofia nimals Logic of a nimal D iff ent d g

. . . .

s e c e u e s er e re es
of p ychic d ev lopment in animals ; Th e gob se th e c t th d og a nd th mo nk y
. . .

s e , a , e e e .

CH A PTER M
Th e ptivity of th wo ld by a m na nd by an a nimal Ill io ns of th a nimal nd
rec e e r a . us e a

its la k of c o nt ol of th e
c ptiv fa lties T h wo ld of m oving plan Angles
r rec e e cu . e r es .

nd
a v es ons id d as mo tion T h e thi d d im n io n m o tion Th a nimal
c ur c ere . r e s as . e
’
s
tw o dim ns io nal vi w of our th dimensional wo ld Th a nim al a al two
-
e e ree -
r . e as re
d imen ional b ing Low animal s n d imens io nal b ing T h tim
e nd s p a. er s as o e -
e s . e e a ce
of a n il Th tim n a n imp f t p a
s a . n Th t im end p ace of a e se se s a er e c s c e se s e . e e a s
d og T h h ang in th wo ld co in id nt with a ch ang in th p y h ic app ara tus
e c e e r c e e e s c
dim n ional wo ld— n illus o y p p
. .

T h p oof of Ka nt s p o b l m T h e th
’
e r r e . r ee -
e s r a r erce
t io n .

CHAPTER X
Th pat ial n d t nd ing of t im T h e angles a nd c v of th e fourth dim ens ion in
e s u e rs a e . ur es
lif D o mo tio n xi t in th wo ld n t ? M ch nica l mot ion nd lif “ ”
ou r e. es e s e r or o e a a e .

Bio logica l p h no m na th e m a nif t a t io n of mo t io n go in g n in th high

e e di as es s o e er
m n i n E vo l t io n of th e s pa c
e s o n . T h e g owth of th p a e s nse a nd th e dim
u e se se . r es c e
in ti n of th t im
u on T h t a n fo m at io n of th e t im
e n int o th s p a ce
e se se . e r s r e se se e
nse T h d ifficult i of
se . la ng ag nd of o
e c o nc pt T h e n e sity f es ou r u e a ur e s . ec s or
king a m th o d of p a t ial xp
see io n f t mp o al o n pt S ienc in rela tio n
e s e ress or e r c ce s . c e
t th foo th d im n io n T h olid of fo d im n ion T h fo d im ns ional
e ur e s . e s ur e s s . e ur -
e
s ph e re .

CHAPTER X I
S i n nd th p o bl m f th f th d im n io n T h a dd of P of N A O m fl
c e ce a e r e o e ou r e s e res s r u o
'

b fo th M nd l v ky C nv nt io n in 1 9 1 1 — T h C h a act i t i Trait nd
. . . .

“
e re e e e ee s o e e r er s c s a
P o bl m f C nt mp a y S i nt ifi T h g ht T h e n w phy i Th lec t o
r e s o o e or r c e c ou . e s cs . e e r
 T ERT IUM ORGANUM
ag t t o y Th p in ipl of la tivity Th wo ks of Eins t in nd Min
m ne ic he r . e r c e re . e r e a

kow sky S ta n o
imul it n. of th p a t nd th f t T h Et nal Now e us e x s e ce e s a e u ure . e er .

b ook ab o t o ult xp ri n
Va n M a ne n s
’
Th d awing of a fo dim n io nal u cc e e e ces . e r ur -
e s

fg
i ure .

CHAPTER XI I
Analy i of ph no m na Wha t d fin diff nt o d of ph nom na f
s s e e ? M th o d . e es ere r e rs e e or us e s

and fo m of th t a n la tio n of n o d
r s of ph no m na into ano th Ph nom na
e r s o e r er e e er . e e

of mo tion Ph nom na of lif Ph nom na of o n io n

. eTh nt al q e e . e e c sc us ess . e ce r u es

tion of know l d g of th w o ld wh a t o d
ou r of ph no m na i g n i nd p e e e r : r er e e s e er c a ro
d th o th
uces ? C n th o igin of v ything li in m o t io n ? T h law of th
e ers a e r e er e e s e

t an fo m a tion of n gy Simpl t an fo m a tion nd lib a tion of la t nt n gy

r s r e er . e r s r a er e e er .

D iff nt lib a ting fo

ere of th diff nt o d of ph nom na T h fo of m
er rces e ere r ers e e . e rc e e

ch ni l n gy th fo
a ca of a living ll th fo of n id a Ph nom na nd n
e er , e rce ce , e rce a e . e e a ou

CHA PTER X III

T h app a nt nd th hidd n side of life Po it ivism a s th s t dy of th ph no m na l
e re a e e . s e u e e e

id of lif Of wha t d o th two dim n ionality of p o itiv p hilosophy con “ ”

s e e . es e -
e s s e

i t ? Th
s s ga ding of ve yth ing p on a ingl p lane in one physica l s q u nc
e re r e r u s e , e e e.

T h e t ea ms whi h fl ow u nd n a t h th
s r a th Wh a t n th tu dy of life a s a
c er e e e r . ca e s

ph nom non yi ld ? T h a tificial wo ld wh ich science ec ts f or it lf Th un

e e e e r r er se . e

reality of fini h d nd i olat d ph nom na Th n w app h nsion of th e wo ld

s e a s e e e . e e re e r . 1 35

CHAPTER XIV
T h vo i es of s t o n s T h wa ll of a h
e c h nd th wall of a p i on Th ma t f a
e . e c ur c a e r s . e s o

ship nd a gallow a T h e sh a d ow of a h a ng m a n a nd of n a ce t ic T h
s o l of a
. a s . e s u

h angm an nd of n a tic T h diff nt om binations of known phenomena in

a a sce . e ere c

high p ac T h e ela tionsh ip of phenom na which app a unr la t d nd th diff

er s e . r e e r e e , a e

erenc b t w n ph no m na wh ic h app a
e e imila
ee H w h all w a pp oa h th e non
e e e r s r. o s e r c

menal wo ld ? Th e nd tanding of thing o t ide th e c atego i of p ac nd

r u ers s u s r es s e a

tim Th r ality of m any fig s of sp h T h o c lt und ta nding of

e . e e
“
ur e e ec
”
. e c u ers

en gy erTh l tt of a H ind o c l ti t
. Art
e th knowl d ge of th no m nal
e er u -
c u s . as e e e u e

wo ld Wha t w e
r . nd wh a t w d o not Plat o dialog a bo u t th c ave n
see a e see .
’
s ue e r .

CHAPTER XV
Occulti m nd lov Lov nd d ath O d iff nt la tion to th e p o bl m of d a th
s a e . e a e . ur ere re r e s e

and t o th p o b l m s of lov Wh a t i lacking in our und tanding of love ? Love

e r e e . s e rs

as n v y d ay a nd m ely p sy c h ologi a l ph no m no n
a e er -
T h e p o ib ility of a p i i er c e e . ss s r
tu al nde tand ing of lov T h e ea tive fo ce of lov T h e n ga tion of lov Ma
u rs e . cr r e . e e.
t i li m nd a ti i m Th e fl ight f om lov Love nd mystici m Th wo d “
er a s a sce c s . r e . a s . e u

o s in lov P of Lu toslaw ky Leo Tolstoy Ni t ch nd E dwa d C a p n

r u
”
e . r . s . . e z e a r r e

te on lov
r Th O a n of S x e . e ce e .

CHAPTER X VI
Th ph nom na l a nd th n o m nal ide of m n
e e e M n in hims lf H w d o w know e u e s a . a - -
e . o e
th inn e ide of m n ? C n w know of th
er s xi tenc of co n io n in ondi a a e e e s e sc us ess c
tion of p ace n t a na logi al t o o ? B in nd on io n
s s oUnity of th c urs ra a c sc us ess . e

wo ld Logical im p o ibility of th im l tan ou e i t n of p i it nd ma tt r

r . ss e s u e s x s e ce s r a e .

Eith ll p i it ll ma tt Ra tional nd i a tio nal a tions in na t

er a s r or a nd in th e er . a rr c ure a
life of m n C n a t io nal a c tio n x i t alo ng id of i a t io nal? T h e wo ld
a . a r an s e s s e rr r as
accidenta lly s lf ea ted m h ani al t oy T h im p o ibility of co n io n in a
e -
cr ec c . e ss sc us ess
m ec h ani l nive s Th i on ila bility of mechani aln with th existen e of
ca u r e . e rrec c c ess e c
co n cio sn s T h fa t of h u m an o n c io n
u ess a d . t oying th m h ani tic sy s
e c c s us ess s es r e ec s
t m e Th on ciou n s of o th s t ions of th wo ld How m y w e know a bou t
. e c s s e s er ec e r . a
th m ? Kant c onc ning gh o ts Sp ino za on th knowle dg of th invi ibl
e er
“
s
”
. e e e s e

wo ld N ces sity f th e int ll t al definition of tha t whi h n b a nd th a t

r . e or e ec u c ca e,
whi ch ca nno t be in th no m nal wo ld e u e r . 1 79
 T ER T IUM ORGAN UM
CHA PTER X VII
A ons io niv
c c Difl nt fo m of on io us ness
us u D iff ent lines of cons ious
erse . ere r s c sc . er c

n Anima ted na t
ess . Th o l of to ne nd th so l of trees Th e soul of a u re . e s u s s s a e u s .

fo st Th human I
re a co ll tiv o ns cious ness M n a a co mp lex b ing
. e
“ ”
as ec e c . a s e .

H m anity a b ing Th e wo ld s co n io n s Th e fac of Mah adeva P of

u as e . r
’
sc us es . e . r .

Ja m on iousne s of th e niv idea

’ “
on th es F hn e c Ze nd vesta sc s u erse . ec er s s . a .

A living Ea th r .

CHA PTER X VIII

C o n io
sc Lf
lif e
u snes s a nd ow d g
i e a s kn o o
le e a a a t o of x t
C ns c i u sne ss a s re liz
. i n e is .

ence I t t ot o E ot o
n ell ec a nd e m
. i ns o ga of ow dg
m i n as an r n vo t o
kn le e T h e e lu i n . .

of o t o f o
em t dp o t of ow dg P
i n r m th e s a n in kn le e p ot o
ure a nd im ure em i ns Per . .

o a p p o
s n l a nd su e r ot o
ers na l em a t o of f
i ns T h e elimin i n t a a of
-
sel e lem en s a s m e ns .

app oa h to t
r c ow d g
ru e kn le e tt h d
“
d
B e a s li le c il r en p
” “
Blesse a re th e ure in . .

hat
e r
”
va of o a f o
The lue
. ta dp o t of ow dg
m r ls r m th e s n in d f t of
kn le e Th e e ec s in .

D a d a ght
tellec tu a lism re n u ow of t t a t
s a s th e c r n. d a g of
in ellec u l cu l ure T h e n ers .

o a ty Mo a th t
m r li r l es e icso o ga d fo of o t o
Religi n a nd a rt a s r niz e
. owrms em i na l kn .

dg
le e Th e kn ow d g . ow d g of
le e of God a nd th e kn le e beauty 219 .

CHA PTER XI X
t a t o d Obj t v
t
Th e in ellec u l m e h bj t v ow dg
ec i e a nd su ec i e knt dy of No t
le e T h e s u . th e .

I a nd th e s u t dy of I I p o b ty of o bj t v t dy of I
th e m ssi ili th e ec i e s u t th e T h e limi s. .

of obj t v ow d g
ec i e kn le e Th ep o b ty of xp a o of bj t v ow dg
ss i ili th e e ns i n su ec i e kn le e
. .

Th e a b o pt o of No t by
s r i n a ll I I th e d of P o t D
T h e i ea s t fo of
l inus iff eren rm s -
. .

o o
c ns c i us ness S p p o t t a ta t of o o
lee (th e en i l s e D a o o
c ns c i us ness )
. re m s (c ns ci us .

o d t f fl t d f o t f Wa g o o
ness encl se in i s el , re ec e r m i sel ) d a t
kin c ns ci usness ( u lis ic sen .

s a t o of wo d
i n th e rl d o of
th e ivis i n N E t y
th e I a nd th e b a t o of
ot I ) cs a s, ( th e li er i n -
.

th e sel ) f ”
ab o t o o
Tu riy a (th e . of of
s lu e c ns c i u s ness f d wd op
a ll a s th e se l )
“
Th e e r , .

p to
sli s in g
th e s hinin sea
”
N va a
“
ir n
”
237 . .

CHA PTER XX
Th e of infinity Th n o phyt fi t o d al An intol abl a dn
sens e T h lo . e e e s
’
rs r e . er e s es s . e ss
of v yt hin g al Wh a t woul d n a nim al f l n b o ming a m n ? Th t an i
e er re . a ee o ec a e r s

tio n to th n w logi Ou r logi fo n d d n th o b vation of th law of th

e e c . c as u e o e se r e s e
ph no m n l wo ld I ts invalid ity f th t dy of th wo ld of no m na Th
e e a r . or e s u e r u e . e

n ity f
ecess a no th 1 gic Analogy b tw n th axiom of logi nd of m th m
or er 0 . e ee e s c a a e a

ti N o MA HEMA T C S T h math ma ti of l magnit d (infinit nd va i

cs . T I . e e cs rea u es e a r

abl ) ; nd th ma th ma ti of n al imagina y m agnit d (finit nd on ta nt)

—n m b lying b yo nd N IN TY Th p o ibility of d iff
e a e e cs u re , r u es e a c s .

T n nit n mb
fi
ra s e u e rs u ers e I F I . e ss er

e nt in inities .

C HAPTER XXI
Man t a n ition to a h igh logi Th n
’
s r s ity f ej ting v yt hing l er c. e eces s or r ec e er rea .

Po v ty of th p i it Th
“
ognitio n of th infinit alo n a l Law of th
L gi of th finit —
er e s r . e re c e e e a s re .
s e
infinit O g no n of A i to tl
“ ” “
th nd th N v mOg n
m of B a o n L g i of th infinit —T ti m O g n m T h high
e . o c e e e r a r s e a e o u r a

logi as n
”
u c . o c e e er u r a u . e er c a
in t m nt of th o ght
s ru a k y t o th m y t i of na t
e to th hidd n id of u , as e e s er es ure , e e s e
lif to th wo ld of no m na A d finit io n of th wo ld of no m na n th b a is of
e, e r u e . e e r u e o e s
ll th fo go ing T h im p
a e io n of th no m nal wo ld n n np p a d
re . n e res s e u e r o a u re re co

T h th i u nknown d o nt mplat io n of wh i h ll
“
i n
sc ou s es s kn in th
. e r ce ar e ss e c e c a
kno w l dg i olv d into igno an
e e s re s e r ce .
”
26 3
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM
CHAPTER XX II
Th eo ophy of Max Mu lle Ancient India Ph ilosophy of th e Ved anta Tat tw m
s r. . . u

asi Knowledge by means of th e exp ansion of con c iousne s as a ea lity My sti

. s s r .

c ism of d iff nt ag s a nd p eo p les

ere Unity of xp e iences T ti m O g n m as a
e . e r . er u r a u

k y to m y s tic i m S igns of th nou m enal wo ld T rea t ise of Plo tinus O n Int l

“
e s . e r . e

ligible B au ty a s a m isu nd e t oo d sy stem of h ighe logic Ill m ina t io ns in Ja co b

”
e rs r u

Bo hm A harp of many st ings of which ea h s tring 18 a sep ara te ins trument

“
e e . r , c ,

whil th whole is only one harp Mystics of T h e Lo ve of th Goo d S t Avv

e e .
” “
e .
”
. a

Do oth e s a nd o th ers
r u C l m nt of Alexandria La o T zu a nd C h ang T zu
. e e .
-
u -
.

“
Ligh t on th e Path Th e Vo ice of th e S ilence Moh ammed an mystics Po t
.
” “
.
”
. e

ry of th e S f i Mystical sta t u nd r na co tics Th ana th ti v la tion Ex

u s. es e r . e es e c re e .

pe iments of Prof James D o toyevsky on tim e (Th e I d io t) Influence of na “ ”

r . . s .

ture on th e soul of man .

CHAPTER XXIII
C o sm ic C o n iousness of Dr Buck
sc Th e th ree fo rms of co nsc iousnes acco din g t o e. s r

D B ke r. S imple consc mus nes s or th e consc ousness of ammals Self n

uc .
, i . co

s sn ss
elou th e consc ou n s of man
e or C o m c con o o ness I n wh a t is t ex
1 s e s s i s l us 1

p es ed ? S n a tion p erception concept highe MO RAL co ncept—cr a tive int i

. .
,

r s e s , , , r e u
tio n M n of co mic co nscious nes Ad am s fall into in Th e kn owl d g of goo d
. e s s.
’
s . e e

nd vil C h i t a nd th e s alvat ion of m a n C o mm enta y on D Buc k s b oo k

’
a e . r s . r r . e .

Bi th of th e new hu manity T wo ra ces S UP E RMAN Ta b l of th e fo

r . fo m of . . e ur r s

th e manif e ta tion of c o ns c io u ne
s s ss .

EV OLUTION OR , T HE C ULTURE OF C ONS C IOUSNE SS

C ONC LUSION 34 0

TABLE OF T HE F OUR FORMS OF C ONS C IOUSNESS

 And s wea r THAT TH ER E S HO U L D BE

T IM E NO L O NG E R .

RE VE LATI O NS , x . 6

Th a t y e b eing roote d a nd grounde d

,

in love m ay be a b le to CO M PR E H E ND with a ll
s a ints wh at is th e BR EADTH L E NG TH AN D
”
DE PTH A ND HE I G HT
P a u l th e A pos tle
THE E P I ST L E To T HE E P H E S I AN S m
. . 18
 CHAPTER I
Wha t d o w know nd wh a t d o we n t know ? O d a ta nd th
e a o ur , a e

thing f which we k Th nknown mi tak n f th known

s or s ee . e u s e or e .

Matt nd m o tion Wh a t d o th p o itiv philo op hy om to ?

er a . es e s e s c e
I d ntity of th unknown x = y y = x Wha t w ally know
e e : . . e re .

Th xi t n of con io n in us nd of th wo ld o t id of
e e s e ce sc us ess . a e r u s e

us .D ali m m oni m ? S bj tiv nd o bj ec tiv knowl d g

u s or s u ec e a e e e .

Wh do th aere of th en ation li ? Kant y t m Tim

e c uses e s s s e
’
s s s e . e
nd S p a Kant nd th th Mach s o b vation With “ ” ’
a ce . a e e er . se r .

wha t d o th phy ici t ally d al?

es e s s re e
“
Learn to dis cern the real f rom the f als e
T HE VO I C E O F THE S I L NC E E
H . P . B .

HE m ost diffi cu lt thing is to know what w e do kno w ,

a nd wh a t w e d o n ot k no w .

Th er efo re d e siring to kn o w a nything w e s h a ll b e

, ,

fore a ll el se d et erm ine W H A T w e a c c ept a s given a nd ,

W HAT a s d em a nding d e fin ition a nd proof : th a t is ,

d et er m ine W H A T w e know a lr ea dy a nd W HAT w e wi sh to kno w , .

I n r el a ti on to th e kno wl e dge of th e wo rld a nd of o u rs elv es th e ,

c o n diti ons w o u ld b e id ea l co ul d w e v e ntu r e to a c ce pt nothing a s

giv en a nd cou nt a ll a s d em a nding d efinition a nd pr oof I n oth er

, .

word s it wou ld b e b est to a ssu m e th a t w e kno w nothing a nd

, ,

m a k e thi s ou r p o int of d ep a rtu re .

B u t u nf ort u na t e ly su c h conditi ons a re i m p os sibl e to c r e at e .

Kno wl edge m u s t start from som e fou n d a ti on som ethi ng m u st b e ,

r e cogniz e d a s kn o wn or w e sh al l b e oblige d a lwa ys to d efine one

,

u nkn o wn by m e a ns of a no th e r .

Lookin g a t th e m a tt er fr om a noth er p oi nt of vi e w w e sh a ll ,

h it t
e s a e t o a c c e h n — h
pt a s t e k own thi gs a s t e g e o e
n iv n n s
— th ose
in th e m a i n c om pl e t el y u nknown o nly pr esu pp os e d a nd th e re , ,

for e th e th ings s ou gh tf or S h ou ld w e d o t h i s w e a re likely to fall

.
,

i nto su c h a dil em m a a s t h a t in w h i c h p ositiv e phil os ophy now

fi nd s its elf For a l ong ti m e t h i s w a s fo u n d e d on th e id ea of th e
.

exi s t enc e of ma tter (m a t e riali sm ) a nd n o w it is f o u nd e d o n th e ,

conc e pti on o f th e e xi st e nce of ener

gy : th a t is of a fo rc e or motion , ,
2 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

(energ eticism ) th ou gh in r ea lity m a tter a nd m oti on w er e a lways

,

th e un kno wn x a nd y a nd w er e d e fine d by m ea ns of o ne a noth e r

, .

I t m u st b e p erfec tly c l e ar to e v eryone th a t it is i m p oss ibl e to a c

cept th e thing sou gh t a s th e given; a n d im p ossibl e to d e fin e on e u n

kno wn by m ea ns of a not h er T h e r esu lt is nothi ng b u t th e id en

.

tity of th e u n kno wn : x y y = x , .

Thi s identity of th e u nknow n is th e u lti m a t e c onc l u si on to whic h

p os itiv e p hi l os op h y com es .

M a tter is th a t in which proceed the ch a nges ca lled motion : a nd

motions a re th os e ch a nges which proceed in ma tter .

But wh a t do w e kn o w ?
We kno w th a t with th e v ery firs t a wak ening of s e lf c onsci ou s -

n e s s m a n is c onf r ont e d with t w o o bvi ou s f a c t s

,

The exis tence of th e w orld in which he lives ; a nd th e exis tence of

cons cious ness in hims elf .

Neith er of th es e c a n h e prov e or di sprov e b u t th ey are f acts ,

th ey constitu t e r e ality f or h im .

I t is p os sibl e to m edit a te u p on th e m u tu a l corr el a ti on of th ese

fa c ts I t is p os sibl e to try to r e d u ce th em to one ; th a t is to re
.
,

gard c onsc iou sness a s a p a rt or fu nc ti on of th e w orld or th e , ,

world a s a p a rt or fu nc ti on of c ons c i ou sness B u t su ch a pro

, .

c edu re c ons titu t es a d ep a rt u r e fr om f a c ts a nd a ll su c h c onsid e r a ,

ti ons of th e world a n d of th e se lf to th e ordina ry non phil osop hi c a l ,

-

mi nd will not h a v e th e c h a ra c ter of obvi ou sness O n th e contra ry

th e sol e obviou s f ac t r em a ins th e a ntith esi s of I a nd Not I —c on
, .

s c iou s ne ss a nd th e w o rld .

Fu rth e r on w e s h a ll r etu rn to this f u n d a m ental th esi s B u t .

th u s f a r w e h a v e no b a si s on w h i c h to f ou nd a contradi c ti on of th e
o bvi o u s f ct o
a f th n f
e e xi st e c e o ou rse ve l s— i e of ou r consci ou s . .
,

ne s s— a n d of th e w o rld in whi c h w e liv e This w e s hall th er efor e .

a cc ept a s t h e given .

Thi s h ow eve r is th e only thing th a t w e h a v e th e right to a c c ept

a s giv e n : a ll th e r es t d em a n d s pr oof a n d d efi niti on in t er m s o f

th es e tw o g iv en d a t a .

S p ace wit h its e xt ensi on ; time with th e id e a of bef ore now

, , , ,

af ter; q u a ntity m as s su b s t a nti a lity ; nu m b er e q u a lity a nd in

, , ,
'

e q u a lity ; id e ntity a nd d ifl e ren ce ; c a u se a nd eff e c t th e e t h er , ,

a t om s el e c tr o s
, n e ne rgy ,
—
lif e d ea th a ll thi ngs t h a t for m th e
, ,
 T ER T IUM ORGAN UM 3

fou n dati on of ou r so c a -
ll e d knowl e dge : th ese a re th e u nknow n

things .

Th e xi s tenc e of consc i ou sn ess in u s a nd th e exi s tenc e of th e

e ,

—
world ou t sid e of u s from t h ese tw o fu nd a m enta l d a t a i mm e
dia tely proc ee d o u r c omm o n a n d c l ea rly u n d ers too d divi si on of
e v eryt h i ng t h a t w e k no w i nt o s u bjective a n d objective .

E v eryt h ing t h a t w e a cc ept a s a pr op erty of th e w orld w e c a ll ,

o bj ec tiv e ; a nd e v e ryt h i ng th a t w e a cc ept a s a pr op e rty of c on

s c iou s n ess w e c a ll s u bj ec tiv e

—
.
,

bj
T h e su e c tiv e w o rl d w e r eco g n iz e dir ectly : it is in o u r s e lv e s we
a re o ne with it .

Th e o bj ec tiv e w orld w e pi c tu r e to o u rse lv e s a s e xi s ti ng s om e

—
wh ere o u ts id e of u s w e a nd it a re differ ent t h ings .

I t seem s to u s th a t if w e sh ou ld c l ose ou r ey es th en th e obj ec tive ,

world wou ld c ontinu e to exi st su ch a s w e j u st sa w it ; a nd if con ,

“ ”
sc iou s ne s s w e r e t o c ea se a nd ou r I to di sa pp ea r so wou ld th e
—
, ,

s u bj ec tiv e w o rld di s a pp e r a y et th e o bj ec tiv e wo rld w ou ld e xi st

a s b e fo r e a s it e xi s t e d a t th e ti m e wh en w e w e r e n ot ; w h e n ou r
,

s u bj ec tiv e w o rld w a s n ot .

O u r r e l a ti on to th e o bj ec tiv e w orld is m o s t e x a c tly d efi ne d by

th e f a c t th a t w e p er c e iv e it a s e xi s ti ng in time a nd sp ace o th er
'

wi se ou t of th es e con diti ons w e c a n neith e r conc eiv e nor I m a gi ne

, ,

it I n genera l w e s a y t h a t th e obj ec tive world c ons i s ts of things

.
,

a nd ph enom e na i e things a nd c h a nges in s ta tes of thi ngs T h e

, . .
, .

PH E NOM E NA e xi s t f or u s in ti m e ; th e T HI NG S in s p a ce , .

B u t su ch a divi si on of th e s u bj ec tiv e a nd obj e c tiv e w orld d o es

not s a ti sfy u s .

By m ea ns of r e a soni ng w e c a n es t a bli s h th e f a c t th a t in r ea lity

w e k no w only ou r o w n sens a ti ons p er c epti ons a nd c o nc e pti ons , ,

a n d w e c ogni z e th e o bj e c tiv e w o rld by pr o j ec ti ng o u t s id e of o u r

s e lv e s th e c a u s e s oi ou r s e ns a ti on s pr esu pp os i ng th e m to c o nt a i n,

th es e ca u se s .

Th en w e find t h a t ou r kno wl e dg e of th e su bj ec tive a nd of th e

o bj ec tiv e wo rld a s w e ll c a n b e tru e a nd f a ls e c orr e c t a nd inc o rr e c t
, , .

T h e c rit e ri on f or th e d efi niti on of c orr ec t ne s s or i nco rr ec tne ss

of ou r k n o wl e dg e o f th e su bj e c tiv e w o rld is th e f orm of th e r e l a

ti ons of one sens a ti on t o oth e r s a nd th e f orce a nd c haract er of th e ,

s en sa tion its elf I n o th e r w ord s th e c orr ec t nes s of one sens a ti on

.
,

is v e rifi e d by th e c om p a ri son o f it with a noth er of whi c h w e a re

“ ”
m or e su re or by the intensity a nd ta s te of a given sensa tion
, .
4 T ER T I UM ORGANUM

Th e crit eri on f or th e d efi niti on of corr ec tness or i ncorr ec tne ss

o f our kn o wl e dg e of th e obj ec tiv e w o rld is th e very sa me I t s e em s .

to u s th a t w e d efi n e th e thin gs a nd ph enom en a of th e obj ec tiv e

world by m ea ns of com p a rin g th em a m ong th em se lv es ; a nd w e
think w e find th e l a ws of th eir exi stenc e ou tside of u s a n d in d e ,

p en d ent of ou r p erc epti on of th em B u t it is a n ill u si on We

. .

kno w nothing a b ou t thin gs s ep a ra tely f rom u s ; a nd w e h a ve no

o th e r m ea ns of v e rifyi ng th e c orr e c tne ss of o u r k no wl e dg e of th e

o bj ec tiv e w o rld b u t B Y S E N SA T IO N S .

S i nc e th e r em otest antiqu ity th e qu es tion of ou r r el a ti on to

th e tr u e c a u s e s of our s e nsa ti ons c ons tit u t e d th e m a in su bj ec t of
phil os ophic al r esea rch M en h a v e a lwa y s h a d som e di s cu ss i on
.

of this qu es ti on s om e a ns w e r f or it
, And th ese a ns w e r s h a v e
.

va c ill a t e d b etween tw o p ol es from th e f u ll nega tion of th e

,

c a u s es th e m se lv e s a n d th e a ss e rti on th a t th e c au ses of sen sa

,

ti ons a re c ont a ine d within ou rse lves a nd not in a nything ou ts id e

of u s — u p t o th e r e c ogniti on th a t w e kno w th ese c au s es that th ey ,

a re e m b o di e d in th e ph enom en a of th e ou t e r w orld th a t th es e
,

ph enom ena c onstitu t e th e c au se of s ensa ti ons ; a nd th a t th e c a u se

“ ”
of a ll o b s erv e d ph e nom en a li es in th e m o v e m en t of a tom s a nd ,
“ ”
th e o s c ill a ti ons of th e e th e r. I t is b eli e ve d th a t if w e c a nn ot
o b se rv e th e se m o ti on s a n d oscil l a ti on s it is o nly b e ca u s e w e h a v e

no t s u ffi c i ently p o w e rf u l ins tr u m ent s a nd th a t wh en s u c h in stru

,

m e nts a re a t ou r di sp o sa l w e sh a ll b e a bl e to see th e m o v e m e nt s
of a t om s a s w e ll a s w e see thr ou gh p o w e rf u l t e l es c o p es s t a r s th e
, ,

v ery exi st ence of whi c h w ere ne v e r gu es s e d .

I n m o d e rn phil os o p h y Ka nt s sy st em occu pi es a m iddl e p os i

’

ti on in r e l a ti on to thi s probl em of th e c a u ses of s ens ati ons not ,

s h a ri ng e ith e r of th e s e e xtr e m e vi e w s Ka nt prov e d th a t th e

.

c a u s es of ou r s ensa ti on s a re in th e ou t s id e w o rld b u t that w e c a n

,

no t kn o w th es e c au ses thr o u gh a y se su o u s a ppr o a c h

n n — th a t is ,

by s u ch m ea ns a s w e know ph enom ena—a nd that we ca n not

know th es e c a u s es a nd will never know th em
, .

Ka nt e s t a bli sh e d th e fa ct th a t e v erything th a t is kno wn

throu gh th e s e ns es is known in te rm s of ti m e a nd s p ac e a nd th a t ,

ou t o f ti m e a nd s p a c e w e c a nno t kno w a n y thi ng by w a y o f th e

 T ERT IUM ORGANUM 5

sens e s ; that ti m e a nd sp a ce a re nec ess ary c onditi ons of s ens u ou s

re ceptivity (i e r eceptivity by m ea ns of th e five o rgans of
. .
,

s e nse ). Mor eover what is m os t i m p ort a nt h e est a bli s h e d th e

, ,

fa c t th a t extensi on in sp a c e a nd exi st ence in tim e a re not pr op er

ties appertaining to things b u t j us t th e prop erti es of our sensu ou s
,

r ec eptivity ; th a t in r ea lity apart from ou r sensu ou s knowl e dge ,

o f t h e m thing s exi s t i n d ep en d e ntly of ti m e a nd s pa ce b u t w e ca n

, ,

ne v e r p er ce iv e th e m ou t of tim e a nd s pa ce a nd p e r c e ivi ng thi n gs ,

a nd ph enom ena th u s s e nsu ou s ly by virt u e of it w e imp os e u p o n ,

th e m th e con diti ons of ti m e a nd sp ac e a s b elongin g to ou r f orm ,

of p e rc epti on .

Th u s sp a ce a nd tim e d efining e ve rything that we cogniz e b y

,

s ensu ou s m ea n s a re in th em se lv e s j u s t f orm s of c ons c i ou s nes s

, ,

ca te rg ories of our int e ll e c t th e pri sm throu gh whi ch w e r e g a rd

—
,

h
t e w o rld or in o th e r w o rd s s p a c e a nd ti m e d o no t r e pres e nt

prop erti es of th e world bu t j u st pr op erties of ou r knowledge of

,

th e w orld ga ine d th r ou gh ou r s ensu ou s o rga ni sm C onse qu ently .

th e w o rld u ntil by th ese m ea ns w e com e i nt o r e l a ti on t o it h a s

, ,

ne ith e r e xt e nsi on in s p a c e nor e xist ence in ti m e ; th es e a re pr o p e r

ti es whic h w e a dd to it .

C ogniti ons of sp a ce a nd tim e a ri se in ou r intellect du rin g its

"

tou ch with th e ext erna l world by m ea ns of th e orga ns of sense ,

a nd d o not exi s t in th e ext e rna l w orld a p a rt fr om our c o nt a c t

with it .

S p a c e a nd tim e a re ca tegories of intellect i e pr op e rti es whi c h , . .

,

a re a s c rib e d by u s to th e e xt e rn a l w orld Th ey a re s igna l p os ts .

,

s ign s pu t u p by o u r se lves b e c a u s e w e c a nnot pi c t u r e th e e xt e rn a l

world with ou t th e ir h elp T h ey a re gra phics by which w e repre

.

s e nt th e w o rld to ou rs e lv e s Pr oj ec ting ou ts id e of ou rselv es th e

.

c a u s e s o f ou r s e ns a ti o ns w e a re d esigni ng m ent a lly ( a n d o nly

,

m e nt a lly ) th os e c a u ses in s p a c e a nd w e pi ctu r e c onti nu ou s ,

r ea lity to ou rselv es a s a seri es of m om ent s of ti m e fo ll o wi ng one

a no th e r This is nec es sa ry f or u s b e ca u se a thing h a vi ng no
.

d efi nit e e xtens i on in s p a c e not occu pyi ng a c erta in p a rt of sp a c e

,

a n d no t l a sti ng a c ert a i n l ength of ti m e d o es n ot exi s t f or u s a t a ll .

T h a t is a thi ng not in sp a c e divor ce d from th e id ea of sp a ce a nd

, , ,

no t i nc l u d e d in th e c a t e go ry of s p a c e will not difl er fr om so m e ,

o th e r thing in a ny p a rti c u l a r ; it will o c c u py th e v e ry sa m e pl a c e ,

will c oi nc id e with it Al so a ll ph enomena not in ti m e divorc e d

.
, ,

from th e id ea of ti me not ta ken in thi s or th a t fa shi on from th e

,
6 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

t dp oi nt of bef ore now a fter wou ld procee d f or u s a s th ou gh

s an , , ,

th ey w e r e si m u lta neou sly m ovi ng a m ong th em se lves a nd ou r ,

w ea k i nt e ll e c t wou ld not b e a bl e to di sti ng u i s h one moment in th e

i nfi nit e va ri e ty.

Th er efore ou r c onsci ou sne ss se gr ega t es ou t of a c h a os of im

pr ess i on s sep a rate gr ou p s a s w e c ons tru c t in sp a c e a nd ti m e th e
, ,

p er c epti ons of things a cc ording to th es e gr ou p s of i m pres si ons .

I t is nec ess ary f or u s to divid e thin gs som eh o w a n d w e divid e,

th e m into th e c a tegori es of sp a c e a nd tim e .

B u t w e s h ou ld r em em b er th a t th es e divi si ons exis t onl y in u s ,

in ou r kn o wl e dge o f t h i ngs a nd not in th e things th em se lv es ;

,

t h a t w e do not kno w th e tru e r el a ti ons of things a m ong th em

s e lv e s a n d th e r ea l thi ng s w e d o n ot kn o w b ut o nly ph a nt om s

vi si ons of thi ngs—w e do not kno w th e r el a ti ons exi sting a m ong

, , ,

th e t hi ngs in r e a lity At th e sa m e ti m e w e qu it e d efi nit e ly kno w

.

th a t ou r divi si on of thi ngs i nto th e c a t eg ori e s of s p a c e a n d ti m e d oe s

n o t a t a ll c orr e s p o n d t o th e divi s i o n o f things in th ems elves i nd e ,

p en d ently of ou r re ceptivity of t h em ; a nd w e qu it e d efi nit e ly kn o w

th a t if t h er e e xi st s a ny divi si on a t a ll a m ong things in th emselves ,

it will in no c a s e b e a divi s i on in t e rms of s p a c e a nd ti m e b ecau s e ,

t h es e a re not a prop erty of thi ngs b u t of ou r kno wl e dge of thin gs

,

ga in e d thr ou gh th e s enses M or eover w e d o not kno w if it is

.
,

e v e n p o ss ibl e t o di s ti ngu i s h th os e divis ions which w e s ee i e in , . .

,

sp a c e a n d ti m e if t h i n g s a re l ook e d a t n ot t h r ou gh h u m a n e y e s
, ,

not fr om th e h u m a n st a n dp o i nt I n p oi nt o f f a c t w e d o not kno w

.

’
b u t th a t ou r w orld w ou ld pr e se nt a n e ntire ly d ifl erent a sp ec t f or
a di ff e r ently b u ilt o rg a ni sm .

W e c a nnot perceive things a s ima ges ou t side of th e ca tegori es of

s p a c e a n d ti m e b u t w e c ons t a ntly th ink of t h em ou t s id e of s p a c e
,

a n d ti m e .

Wh en w e s a y th a t ta ble w e pi c tu r e th e t a bl e to ou rselve s in sp a c e
,

a nd ti m e ; b u t wh e n w e sa y a n object ma de of w ood n o t m ea ning ,

a ny d efi nit e t hi ng , bu t sp ea ki ng gene r a lly it will r e l a t e to a ll

,

things m a d e of woo d thr ou gh ou t th e world a nd in a ll a ges An , .

i m a gi na tiv e p ers on c ou ld c onc eiv e that w e a re ref erring to som e

gr ea t t h in g m a d e of woo d c om p ose d of a ll obj ec t s wh ene ver a nd
,

wh er ev e r wooden thi ngs exi s t e d th es e fo rm ing its c onstitu ent

,

a t om s a s it w e r e
, .

We do not c om pre h en d all th ese m atte rs qu ite c l ea rly b u t in ,

gener a l it is pl a i n t h at w e thi nk in s p a ce a nd ti m e by p erc epti ons

8 T ER T IUM ORGANUM
Th e things whic h w e intuit a re not in them selves th e sa m e a s ou r rep
re sen ta tion of th e m in in tuiti o n n or a re t h ei r re l a ti on s i n th e m se lves
,

s o c o nstitu te d a s th e y a pp e a r t o u s ; a nd if w e t a k e a wa y th e s u bj e c t or ,

e ve n onl y th e s u bj ective con stitu ti on of our sense s in ge nera l th en n ot ,

o nl y th e n a t u re a n d re l a ti ons of o bj ec t s in s p a ce a nd ti m e di sa pp ea r ,

bu t e ve n sp ac e a nd ti m e th e m selves .

Wh a t m a y b e th e na tu re of obj e c ts c onsid ere d a s thing s in the m selve s

a n d wi th ou t re f erenc e t o th e re c e p tivity of ou r s ensib ility is q uite un

kn own to us We kn ow n othing m ore th a n ou r own mode of p erceiving

.

th e m whic h is p ec u lia r to u s a nd whi c h thou gh n ot of nec essity p ert a in

,

ing to every a ni m a te d b ein g is so to th e wh ole h u m a n ra c e

, .

S u pp osin g th a t w e sh ou ld c a rry our e m p iri c a l in tui tion e ve n to th e

ve ry high est degree of c l ea rness w e sh ould not th ereby a dva nce one step
ne a re r to th e c onstitu ti on of o bj ec ts a s thin g s in th e m se lves .

T o s ay th en th a t ou r s en sibility is n othing b u t th e c onf u se d rep t e

se n t a tion of thin g s co nt a i ning e xc l u sive l y th a t whi c h b e l ong s to th e m a s

things in th em selves a nd this u nde r a n a ccum ul a tion of c h a racteri stic

,

m a rks a nd p a rtia l rep resenta tion s whic h w e c a nn ot distin guish in c on

sc iou sne s s is a fa l sifi c a ti on of th e conce p ti on of sen sib ility a nd ph e
,

n o miniz a tion whic h re nd e rs o u r wh ol e d octri ne th ereof e m p ty an d

,

u se l e s s T h e diff e re nc e b etween a conf u se d a nd cl ea r rep re senta ti on is

.

m e rely logi cal a nd h a s n othing to d o with c ontent

, .

Up to th e pr es e nt ti m e K ant s prop o siti ons h a v e r em ain e d in

’

th e v e ry f or m th a t h e l eft th em D es pit e th e m u ltipli city of new

.

ph il osophic a l sy s t em s whi ch a pp ea r e d d u rin g th e nin et eenth c en

tu ry a nd d espit e th e n u m b er of phil osoph ers w h o h a v e p a rtic u
,

la rly s tu di e d c omm ent e d u p on a nd in t e rpr et e d Ka nt s writi ngs

’

, ,

K a nt s princ ip a l pr op ositi ons h a ve r em a i ned quit e u n d e v e l op e d

’

pri m a rily b ec a u s e m ost p e opl e do n ot know h ow to r ea d K a nt a t

a ll, a n d th e y th er e f o r e dw e ll u p on th e u nim p ortant a n d non

es s enti a l , igno rin g th e su b s t a nc e .

Y e t r ea lly Ka nt onl y j u s t pu t th e qu esti on th r e w to th e w orld ,

th e pr obl em d em a n ding th e sol u ti on b u t not p oi nti ng th e w a y

,

to wa rd it .

Thi s fa c t is u su a lly omitte d wh en sp ea king of Ka nt H e pro .

p ou n d e d th e riddl e b u t did not giv e th e s ol u ti on o f it

, .

’
An d to th e pr e s ent d a y w e r ep ea t K a nt s pr op ositi ons w e c o n ,

s id e r th e m in c on tro v e rtibl e b u t in th e m a i n w e r epr es e nt th em

,

t o o u r u nd er s t a n di ng v e ry b a dly a nd th ey a re not c o rr el a t e d with

,

o th e r d ep a rt m e nt s of our kno wl e dg e A ll our p ositive s cience

—
.

h s ics ( with c h m is t ) nd bi l is b u ilt u p on h y p oth es es

p y e ry a o ogy
CONT R AD I C TO R Y to Ka nt s propositions ’
.
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 9

M oreo v e r w e do not r ea liz e h ow w e o u rselv es i m p ose u p on th e

,

world th e prop erti es of s p a c e i e ext ensi on ; nor do w e r ea liz e , . .

,

— —
h ow th e w orld ea rth se a tre es m e n ca nnot p ossess su ch ex
, , ,

t ensi on .

We do not u nders ta nd h o w w e c a n see a nd mea su re th a t exten

s i on if it does not exis t
— nor wh a t th e w o rld r e pr es ent s in it se lf if ,

it d o es not p ossess ext ensi on

—
.

B u t d oes th e w orld r e a lly exis t P O r a s a l ogi c a l c onc l u si on ,

’
from Ka nt s id e a s s h a ll w e r ecogniz e th e v a lidity of B erk el ey s
’
,

id ea a nd d eny th e exi s tence of th e w orld itself e xc ept in i m a g i na

,

ti on

P ositive phil osophy s tan d s in a v ery a m bigu ou s r el a ti o n to

Ka nt s vi e ws I t a ccepts th em a nd it d oe s not a c c ept th em : it a c
’
.

c e pt s a nd c ons id e r s th em c orr e c t in th eir r e l a ti on to th e dir e c t

—
,

e xp eri en c e of th e o rg a ns of s ens e wh a t w e see h e ar tou ch Th a t , , .

is p os itiv e phil os o phy r ec ogniz es th e su bj ectivity of o u r r ec ep

,

tivity a nd r e c ogniz es e v e rythi ng th a t w e p e r ceiv e in o bj ec t s a s

,

—
i m p ose d u p on th em by ou rs elv es bu t thi s in r e l a ti on to th e di
r e c t exp eri enc e of th e senses only .

‘
Wh en it conc er ns itse lf with s c i entifi c exp eri enc e h o we v er in ,

w h i ch pr ec i se instru m ent s a nd c a l c ul a tions a re u se d p ositive ,

p h il osophy evid ently c onsid er s Ka nt s vi e w in r el a ti on to th a t ’

”
in va lid assu m ing th a t sc i en tifi c exp eri ence m a ke s kno wn to u s
‘

—
,

th e v ery su b s t a ce of thi ngs th e tr u e c a u ses of ou r sen sa ti ons

n , or

if it d oes not do so now it bri ngs u s c l oser to th e tru th of thi ngs

, ,

a nd c a n i nf orm u s l a t er .

S u ch du a li sm in th e fu nd a m ent a l id e a s of kno wl e dge m ov es th e

p h ysi c i s t f or exa m pl e to r ecogni z e th e s u bj ec tivity of th ose col or
, ,

i m pr essi ons by whi ch w e p erc eiv e th e world by m ea ns of th e ey e h

i. e s
. en
, su ou s —
ly a t th e s a m e ti m e th a t h e a ttrib u tes a r ea l ex
istenc e to th e vibra ti ons of th e et h er a nd c a l cu l a t es th e nu m b er ,

o f vibr a ti ons corr esp o ndi ng t o thi s o r th a t c o l or Th e f a c t of eth

e ri c vibrati ons—a d efi nit e nu m b e r of vibrati o ns f or e v e ry c ol or
.

se em s to him a s e s t a bli s h e d q u it e i n d e p en d ently of th e sensu ou s

r ec eptivity of c o l ors by m ea ns of th e ey e its a ffili a te d nerv es a nd , ,

s o on C onse qu ently gr een light a s it is p er c eive d by th e ey e is

.
, , ,

re ga rd e d a s su bj ectiv e i e a s th e pro d u ct of a p e rceiving p erson

, . .
,

b u t th e v e ry sam e green ligh t i nv es tigat e d by th e phy si c i st wh o , ,

c a l cu l a t es th e nu m b er of e th e ri c vibr a ti ons corr e s p on di ng to gr een

10 T ER T I UM ORGANUM

light is c onsid ere d a s e xi s ti ng r ea lly a nd obj ec tive ly T h e phys i

, .

Ci s t is s u r e th a t a ce rt a i n nu m b e r of e th e ri c vibr a tio ns pro d u ces

th e su bj ec tiv e se ns a ti on of th e c ol o r gr e en a n d is e ntir ely u nwill
,

in g to all o w th a t th e s ol e r e a lity in a ll thi s c onc a t e na ti on is th a t

v ery su bjective s e nsa ti on of green color a nd th a t th e d efi niti on of
,

gree n a s a n e t h e ri c vibra ti on is nothing l ess th a n th e sol u tion of a n

e q u a ti on c ont a i ni ng t w o u nkn o wn qu a ntiti es : color a nd green , ,

with th e h e lp of tw o oth e r u nkn o wn qu a n tities : eth er a nd vibra ,

tion . By su c h a m eth o d of c ou rs e it is e a sliy p oss ibl e to solve a ny

, ,

e q u a ti on wh a t s oe v e r : bu t th e m e th o d c a n o nly b e c all e d a ch a nge

“ ”
of va ri a bles . All p o sitivi sm is in su b stanc e th e su b s tit u ti o n of
o ne se t of v a ri a bl e s by a no th e r .

Ne v erthe l ess contra ry to Ka nt th e p ositivi st s a re su r e th a t

, ,

m ore c l ea r knowl e dge of p h e nom e n a m a kes th em a c q u aint e d

wit h thi ngs in th em se lve s
- -
Th e y think th a t l ooking u p on phy s
.

i c a l ph enom ena a s th e m oti ons of th e eth er o r el ec trons a n d c a l , ,

c u la ting th e ir m o ti o ns th e y b egi n to k no w th e v ery s u b s tance of

,

thi ngs ; th a t is th ey believe ex a c tly in th e p ossibility of what Ka nt

,

—
d enie d th e c o m preh e ns i on of th e tru e su b s t a nc e of things by
m ea ns of th e i nv e stiga ti o n o f ph enom ena M or eove r m a ny
.

phy s ic i st s d o not c ons id er it n ecessa ry e ven to kno w Ka nt ; a nd

th ey cou ld not th e m se lv es e x a c tly d efi ne in what r elati on th ey
s t a n d t o ward hi m O f c o u rs e it is p o s sibl e n o t to kn o w K ant b u t
.
,

it is i mp ossibl e to controv ert h im E v e ry d esc ripti on of phy si c a l

.

p h enom ena by its e ve ry word is r e l a t e d t o th e probl e m s s e t fo rth

, ,

—
by Ka nt re m a i ns in thi s or th a t r el a tion to th em .

Fo r to a c c ept th e th e ory of e th eri c vibr a ti on or th e a c tivity o f ,

e l e c tr o n s it is n e c essa ry t o r e c og niz e s p a c e a nd ti m e a s e xi s ti ng
,

ou t s id e of u s to r eco gniz e th e m a s r e a l pr op e rti es of th e w o rld a nd

,

not a l on e a s p ro p erti es o f ou r s ensu ou s r eceptivity ; to a ssu m e th a t

s p a ce a n d ti m e a re no t i m p os e d u p on th e w o rld by u s b u t a re pe r ,

c eive d by u s fr om with ou t a s s om e t h i ng i nh e r e nt in th e w orld .

“ ”
I n g ene ral th e p ositi on o f
, s c i enc e in re ga rd to thi s q u e sti o n
” “ ”
of s u bjectively imposed objectively cognized is m or e tha n
‘
or
”
t ott eri ng a nd in o rd er to form its c onc l u sions s c i ence is forced
,
‘

to a c c ept m a ny p u r ely hyp oth eti c a l s u pp o siti ons a s thi ngs kno w n
—a s i nd u bit a bl e da ta not d em a ndi ng proof
, .

Thi s f a c t is u su a lly l ost sig h t of a nd th e d efi nition of phys ic a l

,

ph e nom ena a s th e vibra ti ons of th e e th er o r th e d e vel op m en t o f,

e l e c troni c ene rgy h a s c o m e i nt o s u c h u niv e r sa l u se th a t w e c ou nt

,
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 11

it a l mo st as a forge t that everything is ju st hypoth esis

fa c t , a nd we
a ll th e wa y throu gh We a re so u se d to th e eth er a nd its vibra
.
“ ” “

” “ ”
ti ons or o s cill a tions ; t o e l ec trons a nd th eir ene rgy th a t w e ,

c a nn o t di s p ens e with th em a nd e v e n f o rg e t to e x a m i ne i nt o th e
,

r el a ti on t h ese hyp oth es es b ea r t o th e pro bl em of sp a c e a nd ti m e a s

se t f o rth by K a nt We a re si m ply not thinki ng th a t one ex
.
”

c lu d e s th e o t h e r a nd th a t th e s e hyp oth e s e s
— i e hyp o th eses o f
, . .
,

th e
“
e th e r ”
o r e l e c tr o ns— a nd K a nt s h yp oth es i s a re i m p oss ibl e
’

wh en t a ken in c onj u nc ti on .

M oreov er phy si ci s ts forge t one v ery s ignifi c a nt f a c t : in h is

,
“ ”
b ook , Ana lys i s of S ensa ti o ns M a c h sa y s :
I n th e i nve s ti ga tion of p u rel y phy sic a l p roc e sse s w e generally e mp l oy
conc ep t s of so a b s tra c t a c h a ra c te r t h a t a s a ru le w e th ink onl y c u rsoril y ,

o r no t a t a ll of th e se nsa ti ons (e l e m ents ) th a t lie a t t h e i r b a se

, .

T h e fou nd a ti on of a ll p u rely phy sic a l op erations is b a se d u p on a n a l m o st

u nendi n g seri es o f se nsa tion s p a rti c u l a rl y if w e t a k e into c o
, nsi d e ra ti o n
th e a dj u stm e nt of th e a pp a ra tu s whi c h m u st p rec e d e th e a ctu a l e xpe ri
m ent . Now it c a n e a sily h a pp en to th e phys icis t w h o does not s tu dy
th e psych ology o f his o p e ra tions th a t h e d o es no t (to revers e a well k nown
,
-

sa yi ng) s ee th e tre es f or th e wo o d th a t h e overl oo k s th e s ensory e le ,

ment a t th e fou n d a tio n of h is work Psyc hol ogical a naly si s h a s.

tau ght u s th a t thi s is not su rpr1 s1ng s1 nee th e phy sic ist is a lwa ys op er ,

a ting with se n s a ti ons

*
.

M a c h h er e c a ll s a tt enti on to a v ery i m p ort a nt thi ng Phy si .

c i s t s d o no t c o ns id e r it n e ce s sa ry to k no w p sy c h o l ogy a nd t o d ea l

with it in th eir conc l u si ons .

B u t wh en th e y kno w p s yc h o l ogy a nd t a ke it i nt o c onsid er a ti on ,

th en th ey h old th e m os t f a nt a sti c d u a lity of opi nion a s in th e c a s e ,

of th e m a n o f o rth o d ox b e li e f w h o tri e s to r ec onc il e th e d og m a s of

fa ith with th e a rgu m ents of r ea son a nd w h o is oblige d to b eli e v e ,

s i m u lt a n eou s ly in th e c r e a ti on of th e w o rld in s e v e n d a y s s e v e n ,

t h ou s a nd y ea rs a go a nd in geol ogic a l p eri o d s h u ndr e d s of th ou s

,

a nd s of y e a r s l ong a n d in th e e v o l u ti ona ry th e o ry
, H e is th u s .

fo rce d to r esort to sophi sm s a nd d em onstr a t e th a t by seven day s ,

is m ea n t seven p eriods B u t w h y s e v e n e xa c tly h e is u na bl e to

.
, ,
“ ”
e xpl a i n For phy s i c i s ts th e rol e of th e c r ea ti on of th e w orld is
.

pl a y e d by th e a t om ic t h e ory a nd th e eth er with its wav e like vi ,

-

bra tions a nd f u rth er by th e e l e c trons a nd th e e nergeti c o r

, , ,

e l e c tr o m a gne ti c th eo ry o f th e w o rld
-

O r s om e ti m es it is e v en wors e f or th e phy si c i st in th e d epth of ,

h is s ou l kno w s wh e re th e tru th li es— kno w s w h a t a ll at om i c a nd

*Op en Co t P b li hi g C ditio o f Ma h w o k 1 9 1 4 p ag 4 1 4 2 d 4 3
ur u s n
'
o s e n c
’
s r .
, es , , an .
12 TE RT IUM ORGANUM

ene rgeti c th eori es a re worth in r eality b u t fea rs to hang in th e a ir

, ,

as it w er e ; to t a k e r ef u g e in m er e neg a ti on . H e h a s no d efinite
sy s t em in pl a c e of th a t wh ose f a l s ity h e a lr ea dy kno w s ; h e is a fr a id

to m a k e a pl u nge into m er e em ptiness .L a c king suf fi c i ent c ou r

a g e to d e c l a re th a t h e believes in noth ing a t a ll h e a cc ou tr es him s elf
,

in a ll m a t eri a li sti c th eo ri es a s in a n o ffic ial u niform only b ec au s e

, ,

with this u nif orm a re b ou nd u p cert a in rights a nd priveleg es ou te r ,

a s w ell a s inne r cons i s ting of a ce rt a in confi d ence in him s e lf a nd in

,

his su rr oun di ngs to fo r ego whic h h e h as no s tr ength a nd d e ter

”—
,
“
min a ti on Th e un b e li eving m ateri a li s t
. this is th e tr a gi c fig
“ ” “
ure of ou r tim es , a n a l ogou s to th e ath ei s t or u nb eli e ving
”
pri es t of th e ti m es of Volta ir e .

O u t of thi s a bh orre nc e of a vac u um com e a ll d u a li sti c th eori es

“ ” “ ”
which r ecogniz e spir it a nd m atter exis ti ng si m u ltaneo u sly
a nd in d ep en d ently of on e a no th e r .

I n gene r a l , to a di sint e re s t e d o b se rv er , th e s tate of our c on

t em p orary sci enc e sh oul d b e of gr e at p sy ch ol ogi c al int er est I n .

all bra nc h es of sc i entifi c kno wl e dge w e a re a b sorbing a n enorm ous

nu m b e r of f a c ts d e s tr u c tiv e of th e h a r m ony of exi s ting sy s t e m s .

And th e se sy st em s c a n m a in t a in th em selves onl y by r e ason of th e

h eroi c attem pt s of sci entifi c m en wh o a re tryi ng to c l ose th eir ey es
to a l on g se ri es of n e w f a c t s whi c h thr e at ens to su b m erg e e ve ry
thing in a n irr esi s tibl e str ea m I f in r eality w e w er e to c oll ect
.

th ese sys tem d estr oying fact s th ey woul d b e so nu m er ou s in e ve ry

-

d ep a rtm ent of kn o wl e dge a s to e xc ee d th ose u p on whi c h exi sting

s y s t em s a re f ou n d e d T h e sy st em atizati on of th a t which we do not
'

know m a y yi e ld u s m or e f or th e tru e u n d e r st a n ding of th e w o rld

a nd th e se lf th a n th e s y s t em a tizati on of that whi c h in th e opini on
”
of e xa c t s c i enc e w e d o kno w .
 CHAPTER II
A n w vi w of th Kantian p o bl m T h I d a of H inton Th p a
e e e r e . e e s . e s ce

n se nd itsev ol tion A y t m f th d v lo pm nt of a n
”
a s e u . s s e or e e e e se s e

of th fou th dim n ion by x i W th olo d b —T h

e r e s e e rc ses i c re cu es . e

g o m t i al o n ption of p a
e e r c Th p p ndi ula wh y
c ce s ce . ree er e c rs

th ? C n v ything xi ting b m a d by th ee p p ndi

re e a e er e s e e s ure r er e cu

la ? Fa ts phy i l nd m ta phy i l T h nd
rs c of x ten s ca a e s ca . e I i ces e is ce .

R ality of id a I n ffi i nt vid n of th x i t nc of ma tt
e e s . su c e e e ce e e s e e er

nd m o t io n
a Ma tt nd mo tion only logi l o n pt hk
. er a a re ca c ce s, e

goo d nd evil
“ ”
a .

lr ea dy sta ted Ka nt prop ou nd ed th e probl em bu t

S a , ,

ga v e no sol u ti on of it nor did h e p o in t th e w a y to a ,

s o l u ti on An d not one o f th e kno wn c omm ent a

.

tors inte rpr et ers follo wer s or a dversa ri es of Ka nt

, ,

h a s f o u n d a s ol u ti on nor th e w a y to it , .

I find th e firs t fl a sh es of a right u nd er sta nding of th e Ka nti a n

problem a nd th e firs t su ggesti ons in r ega rd to a p oss ibl e w a y
,

to w a rd its sol u ti on in th e w ritin gs of C H H inton a u thor of th e . .

,
“ ” “ ”
b ooks A Ne w E ra of Th ou ght a nd T h e F ou rth Dim ensi on
, .

Th es e b ooks c ont a in interesting synop ses of m a ny thi ngs pre

viou sly writt e n a b ou t pr o bl em s of hig h e r dim ens i o ns t o ge th e r ,

with id ea s of th e a u t h or s o w n which h a v e a b ea ri ng u p on th e su b ’

jec t u nd er di scu ssi on h ere .

Hin ton not es th a t in c omm enting u p on Ka nti a n id e a s only ,

th eir nega tive sid e is u su all y i nsiste d u p on na m ely th e fa c t that , ,

w e c a n c ogn iz e things in a s ens u ou s w a y in t er m s of sp ac e ,

a nd ti m e only is r e g a rd e d a s a n obs tac le hin d e rin g u s fr om seei ng

, ,

w h a t things in t h em se lves r ea lly a re pr ev enting th e p ossibilit y ,

of c o gnizin g t h em a s th ey a re i m p os i ng u p on t h em th a t whic h ,

is no t i nh ere nt in t h e m sh u tti ng t h em off fr o m u s , .

But " sa y s H inton] if w e t a ke Ka nt s st a t e m e nt si m p l y a s it is— not

’

see in g in th e sp a ti a l c oncep tion a h indr a nce to ri gh t re c e p ti vity— th a t w e

a ppreh end things by mea ns of s p a ce—th en it is e q u a ll y a ll owa b l e to con
si d er o u r s p ace se ns e no t a s a ne g a tive conditio n hinderin
g our p e rcep ,

tion of th e world b u t a s a positive m ea n s by which th e mind gra sp s its

,

e xp erienc e s i e , by whic h w e cognize th e worl d

. . , .
14 T ER T IUM ORGANUM
Th ere is in s o m a ny b oo ks in which th e s u bj e ct is treate d a certain
—
, ,

a ir of d esp o d e c y
n n a s if this sp a ce a pp re h e nsi on were a kin d of veil
whic h sh u t u s off from na tu re B u t th ere is no nee d to a d op t thi s fe eling . .

T h e first p ostu l a te of this b ook is a full rec ognition of th e fa ct th a t it is by

m ea ns of sp a c e th a t w e a pp reh end wh a t is .

S p ac e is th e in stru m e nt of th e min d .

Ve ry often a sta te m ent whi c h s ee m s to b e very d eep a nd a b stru se a nd

h ard to g ra sp is si mply th e fo rm into whic h de ep think ers h a ve thr own
,

a ve ry s im p l e a nd p ra c tic a l ob s e rva ti on And f or th e p re s ent le t u s l ook .

o n K a nt s gre a t d octri ne o f sp a ce f ro m a p racti c a l p oint of vi ew a nd it

’

co m es to thi s
— it is im p orta nt t o d eve l op th e sp ace sense f or it is th e ,

m ea ns by whic h w e thi nk a b ou t rea l things .

Now a cc ording to Ka nt " H inton goes on to sa y ] th e sp a ce sense or ,

th e intuiti on of sp ac e is th e m ost f un d a m e nta l p owe r of th e min d

, Bu t .

I do not find a nyw h ere a sy stem a tic a nd thorou gh goin g e du cation of -

th e s p a c e se n se It is left to b e org anize d by a cc id ent Ye t th e sp ecia l

. .

deve lop m ent of th e sp a c e sense m a kes u s a c qu ainte d with a wh ole s erie s

of new c onc ep ti on s .

Fic hte S che lling H egel h a ve develop ed c erta in tend encies a nd h a ve

, , ,

written rem a rkab le b oo k s b u t th e tru e su cc e ssors of Ka nt a re G au ss a nd ,

Lob a c h evs ky .

For if ou r intuition of s p a ce is th e m ea ns wh ere by we a ppreh end th en ,

it follows th a t there m a y b e difl erent kinds of intuitions of sp a ce Wh o ’

.

c an tell wh a t th e a b so l u te s p a c e intu iti on is ? This intu iti o n of s p a c e

m u st b e c ol ore d s o to sp ea k by th e conditions (of p syc hi c a l a ctivity ) of
, ,

th e b e ing whi ch u se s it .

By a rema rkable a na lys is th e grea t geom eters a b ove mentioned h a ve

sh o wn th a t sp a c e is not li mi te d a s o rdin a ry e xp e ri e nce woul d s e e m to

inf orm u s b u t th at w e a re qu ite c a p a b le of c onc eiving di ff erent kin d s of

,

s p ace
*

A New E ra of Th ou gh t .

Hi nton i nv ent e d a c om pli c a t e d sy st em f or th e e d u c a ti on a nd

d ev el op m ent of th e s p a c e s ense by m e a ns of e x er ci s es wit h gr ou p s
o f c u b e s o f diff e r ent c o l o r s T h e b ook s a b o v e m enti one d a re .

d e vot e d to th e exp ositi on of t h i s sy st e m I n m y opin i on H int on s .

’

e x e r c i se s a re i nt e re s ti ng fr om a th eo r e ti c a l s t a ndp oin t b u t th ey ,

a re pr a c ti c a ll y v a l u a bl e o nly f or su c h a s h a v e th e sa m e t u rn o f
’
mind a s H i nt on s o w n .

E x erc i se s of th e m ind a c cordi ng to h is sy st e m m u s t fir st of a ll

l ea d to th e d e v e l op m ent of th e a bility to ima gine objects not a s ,

th e e y e s e e s t h e m i e in p e rs p ec tiv e b u t a s t h ey a re g e om e tri c
, . .
, ,

a lly — to l e a r n to i m a gi ne th e c u b e f or e x a m pl e si m u lt a neou sly , ,

from a ll s id e s M or eov e r su c h a d ev e l op m en t of th e i m ag ina ti on

.
,

M O p
r us ky d o t q o t a th o
e ns v b a tim a l b t om tim o d
es n o u e o m tim u rs er as ru e , u s e es c n e ns e s . s e es
d v l o p th th o ght A o m p a i o o f pp 2 3 d 4 o f Hi to b oo k with th q o ta tio wi ll
. .
'
e e s ei r u s c r s n an n n s e u n
i di a t h m th od l
. . , ,

n c e is T e . ra ns .
16 T ER T IUM ORGANUM
Th e xt step a fter h avin g form e d thi s p ower of c onc eptl on i n a mple r
ne
sp a ce is to in vesti g a te na tu re a nd see wh a t ph enom ena a re to b e e x
,

pla ine d by fou r dim ensi ona l rel ation s -

.

Th e th o u gh t of p a st a ge s h a s u se d th e c o nc ep tion of a three di me nsiona l -

sp a ce a n d by th a t m ea ns h a s c l a ssifi e d m a ny ph e nom e n a a nd h a s O b
,

t a in e d rul e s f or d ea lin g with m a tte rs of grea t p ra c ti c a l u tility T h e p a th .

whic h op ens i mm edi a tely b efore u s in th e fu tu re is th at of a pplying th e

c onc e p ti on of fou r dim e nsi o na l sp a c e to th e ph enom e na of na t u re a nd
-

of in vestig a tin g wh a t c a n b e foun d ou t by thi s new m e a ns of a ppreh en

Si on .

For d e vel op m ent of knowle dge it is nec e ssa ry to sep a ra te th e self

elements i e , th e p e rs ona l ele m ent wh i c h w e pu t in e ve ry thing c o gniz ed
. .
,

by u s from tha t which is cognized in o rd er th a t ou r a ttention m a y not b e ,

di stra cte d (u p on ou rselve s ) fro m th e p rop erties wh ic h w e in su b stanc e , ,

p erceive .

O nly by gettin g rid of th e self elements i n o u r rec ep tivity do w e p u t

ou rse lve s i n a p ositi on in whic h w e c a n p ro p ou n d se n si b le q u e sti ons .

Onl y by getting rid of th e notion of a ci rcu l a r m otion of th e su n a rou n d

th e ea rth (i e a rou n d u s— s elf element) d o w e p re p a re ou r w a y to s tu dy
. .
,
-

th e sun a s it rea lly is .

B u t th e worst a b ou t a self ele m ent is th a t its pres enc e is ne ver d rea m e d

of till it is g o t ri d of .

I n ord e r to u nde rsta nd W h a t th e s elf element in ou r rec ep tivity m ea n s ,

i m a gine ou rselve s to b e tra n sla te d su dd enl y to a nother p a rt of th e uni

verse a nd to fin d th ere intelligent b eings a nd to h ol d c onve rsa tion with
,

th em If w e tol d th em th a t w e c a m e from thi s world a nd were to

.
,

d escrib e th e su n to the m sa ying th a t it w a s a b right h ot b ody whic h

, ,
“
m ove d a rou nd u s th ey wou l d rep ly , You h a ve told u s s om ething
”
a bou t the su n, bu t you h a ve a ls o told u s so m ething a bou t you rs elves .

Th erefore d e siring , tell som ething a b ou t th e su n w e sh a ll fi rst of

to ,

a ll ge t rid of th e self e l e m e nt whi c h is i nt ro d u ce d i nto o u r knowl e d ge of

th e su n by th e m o ve m ent of th e e a rth u p on whi ch w e a re rou n d it , , .

O ne of ou r seri ou s p iec es of work will b e to ge t rid of th e self e l em ents

in the knowledge f
o th e a rra nge ment of ob ects j .

Th e rel a tions of ou r u niverse or ou r s p a ce with re ga rd to th e wi d e r

unive rse of fou r dim ensiona l sp a ce a re a ltoge th e r u nd etermi ne d
-
Th e .

rea l rel ationship wi ll re quire a grea t d ea l of stu dy to a pprehend , a nd

wh en a ppreh e nde d will seem a s na tu ra l to u s a s th e position of th e earth
a mong th e oth er pla nets s eems to u s now .

I wou l d d ivid e stu dies of a rra nge m ent into tw o c l a sses : th ose whic h
c re a te th e f a c u l ty of a rra nge m e nt a nd th ose whi c h u se it a nd exe rc ise ,

it M a the m a tic s exe rci ses it bu t I do not thin k it crea te s it ; a nd u n

.
,

fortu na tely in m a th em a tic s a s it is now often ta u ght th e pu pil i s

, ,

l a unc h e d i nto a va st sy stem of sy m b ol s th e wh ole u se a nd m ea ning of .

s y m b ol s (n a m e l y
, a s m ea ns to a c q u ire a c le a r g ra sp of fac t s) i s l os t to
,
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM I7

Of th e p ossib l e units wh i ch will serve f or th e stu dy of a rra ngem ent , I

ta ke th e c u b e ; a nd I h a ve fou nd th a t wh enever I took a ny other u nit I
go t wr ong p u z zl ed a nd lost my w a y
, , With th e c u b e one doe s not ge t .

a long ve r f a st b u t e ve ry th i ng 1 8 p erfectl y o b vi ou s an d si m p l e a nd
y , ,

b u ild s u p i nto a wh ole of which every p art is evident .

O u r work th en will b e this : a stu dy by m e ans of cu b e s, of th e fa cts of ,

a rra nge m ent ; a nd th e p roc ess of l e a rning wi ll b e an a c ti ve one of a c t u a ll y

pu tting u p th e cu b es Thu s w e will b ring ou r mind s into contac t
.

WTth n atu re
A New E ra of Th ou gh t
.

I sh a ll r etu rn a ga in to H inton s b ook s sev er a l ti m es b u t m ea n ’

,

whil e it is ne c e ss a ry to es ta bli sh ou r r e lati on to th e id ea s whic h

Ka nt s probl em t ou c h es
’
.

Wh a t is sp ace ?
Ta ken a s obj ec t th a t is p erc eive d by ou r consci ou snes s sp a ce
, , ,

is f or u s th e f orm of the u niverse or th e f o rm o f th e m a tt er in th e

un iv e rs e .

Sp ac e p o sse s ses a n i nfi nit e e xt ens i on in a ll direc ti ons B u t it .

c a n b e m e a s u r e d in on ly th r ee dir e c ti ons in d ep en d ent of o ne

a no th e r ; in l ength br e a dth a nd h eight ; th e s e dir ec ti ons w e c a ll

, ,

th e di m ens i ons of s p a c e a nd w e sa y th a t o u r sp a ce h a s thr ee ,

dim ensi ons : it is thr ee dim ensi ona l -

.

By independent direction w e m ea n in this c a se a line a t right

angl es to a noth er lin e .

O ur g eom e try ( or th e s ci ence of m ea su r em ent of the ea rth or

, ,

m a tte r in sp a c e) kno w s only three su c h lines which are m u tu a lly ,

a t right a ngl es to o ne a no th e r a nd n o t p a r a ll e l a m ong th em

s e lv e s .

S h ou ld w e m e a n by independent direction th e lin e whi c h is not

at right a ngl es i e whi c h d oes not form with th e oth ers a n a ngl e
, . .
,

of 9 0 d e gr ee s b u t a n a ng l e sa y
, of 3 0 d eg re es th en w e w ou ld , , ,

h a v e th e nu m b er of dim ens ions not thr ee b u t ni ne , .

I t is s een fr om thi s t h a t th e three dimensiona lity of ou r sp a ce is -

s i m ply a g eom e tri c a l c on diti on a n d d ep en d s u p o n th e f a c t th a t ,

w e a re u sin g rig h t a n gl es a s a u nit of m e a su re m e nt .

B u t a t th e sa m e ti me in ou r sp a c e a nd ou r u niv er se w e kno w
,

only thr e e p erp endi c u l a r s i e only t h ree i n d ep end ent right , . .

,

angl es .

B u t why thr ee only a nd not ten or fift een ? ,

Thi s w e do not know .

Th ti q o t tio i o mpil d b y M O p n ky o v yi g Hi t o id a
e en re u a n s c ed o mitti g all r us e s c n e n n n s
’
e s an n
t
.
.
non e sse n ial s .
-
Tra ns l .
I8 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

And h er e is a noth er v ery s ignifi c a nt f a c t : eith er b ec au se of som e

m y st eri ou s prop erty o f th e u niv e rse or b ec a u s e of s o m e m ental
,

lim it a ti on w e c ann ot e v en i m a gin e to ou r selv es m or e th a n thr ee

,

i ndep end ent dir ec tions .

B u t w e sp ea k of th e u niv er se a s i nfi nit e a n d b ec au se th e firs t ,

con diti on of infi n ity is i nfi nit y in a ll directions a nd in a ll p o s s ibl e

r el a tions s o w e m u s t pr es u pp os e in sp a c e a n i nfi nit e nu m b e r of
,

di m ensi ons : th a t is w e m u st pr esu pp ose a n infinit e nu m b er of

,

li nes p erp en di cu l a r a nd not p a r a lle l to ea c h oth er : a nd y et ou t of

th ese lin es w e know f or some reason only three
, , .

I t is u su a lly in som e su c h gu i se th a t th e qu esti on of high er

dim ensi onality a pp ea rs to norm a l h u m a n c onsc i ou sness .

S i nce w e ca nno t c onstru c t m ore th a n thr ee m u tu a lly ind e

p end ent p erp en di cu l a rs a nd if th e thr e e dim ensi ona lity of our
,
-

s pac e is c on diti on a l u p on t hi s w e a re f o r ce d to a d mit th e indu b it

,

a bl e f a c t of th e li m it e d n ess of ou r s p a ce in r e l a ti on t o g eom e tri c a l

p ossibiliti es : t h ou gh of cou rs e if th e prop erties of sp ac e a re c rea te d

by som e limitati on of consci ou sness th en th e limite dness li es in ,

ou r se lv es .

No m a tt er wh a t thi s limite d ness d ep en d s on it is a fac t that it ,

e xi st s .

A giv en p oint c a n b e th e v e rt e x of only eight ind ep ende nt

t etrah edr ons Thr ou gh a given p oint it is p ossibl e to dra w onl y
.

thre e p erp endi cu l a r a nd not p a ra ll e l s tra ight lines .

Up on thi s a s a b a si s w e d efi ne th e dimensiona lity of sp a ce by

,

th e nu m b er o f lines it is p ossibl e to draw in it whi c h a re m u tu a lly

a t rig h t a ngl e s o ne with a noth er .

T h e li ne u p on whi c h th ere c a nnot b e a p erp en di c ul a r th a t is , ,

a noth er line c ons tit u t es linea r or one dim ens i ona l sp a c e

, ,
-
.

U p on th e su rf a c e tw o p e rp endi cu lars a re p o ssibl e This is .

su p erfi c i a l or tw o di m ensi ona l s p a ce

,
-
.

”
I n s p a ce thr ee p erp en di c u lars are p ossibl e Thi s is solid or .
,

three dim ensiona l sp a c e

-
.

T h e id ea of th e f ou rth dimension a rose from th e a ssu m pti on

th a t in a dditi on to th e thr ee di m ensi ons known to ou r geom etry
th er e exi st s still a fou rth f or som e r ea son u nknown a nd ina cc essi
,

ble to u s i e t h a t in a dditi on to th e thr e e known to u s a m y s

, . .
, ,

t eriou s fou rth p e rp endi cul a r is p o s sibl e .

Thi s a ssu m pti on is pra c ti c a lly f ou nd e d on th e c onsid er a ti on

th a t th er e a re thi ngs a nd ph enom ena in th e world u nd ou bt edly
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM I9

rea lly qu ite i ncomm ensu r a bl e in ter m s of l ength

existi ng, bu t ,

brea dth a nd thickness a nd lying a s it w ere ou t sid e of three ,

di mensi ona l sp ace .

By rea lly existing w e u nd erst a nd that whi c h prod u ces d efi nit e

action whic h p o ssess es c ert a i n fu nc ti ons whi ch a pp ea rs to b e th e
, ,

c au se of som e thi ng e l se .

Th a t whic h does not exist c annot prod u ce a ny ac ti on h a s no ,

fu nc tion c a nnot b e a c au s e
, .

B u t th er e a re difl ere nt m o d es of exi st ence Th er e is physica l

’
.

e xi s t ence r ecogniz e d by c ert a in s ort s of a c ti ons a nd fu nc ti ons

, ,

a n d th e r e is meta phy sica l e xi s t e nce r ecogniz e d by its actions ,

a nd its f u nc ti ons .

A hou se exi st s a nd th e idea of good a nd evil e xi s t s

, B u t th ey .

do not exi st in like m a nner O ne a nd th e sa m e m e th o d of proof of .

exi s t enc e d oes no t s u ffice f o r th e pr oof of th e exi s t ence of a h ou s e

a nd f or th e pr o o f o f th e exi st e nc e of a n id e a A h ou se is a physica l .

fa ct a n id ea is a metaphy sica l f a ct Phy sic a l a nd m et a phy sic a l

, .

f ac t s exist b u t th ey e xi s t diffe rently

, .

I n o rd er to pr ov e th e id ea of a divi son i nto g oo d a nd e vil i e , . .

,

a m e t a phy s i ca l f a c t I h a v e o nly to pr o v e its poss ibility

, Thi s .

is a lre a dy suflicie ntly est a b li sh e d B u t if I s h ou ld pro v e th a t a .

h ou se i e a phys i ca l fa c t may exi st it d oes not a t a ll m ea n th a t

, . .
, , ,

it exists r ea lly If I prove th a t a m a n may o wn th e h ou se it is no

.

proof th a t h e o wns it .

O u r r e l a ti on to a n id ea a nd to a h ou s e a re q u it e diff er ent I t is
—
.

’
p ibl by c ert i
oss e a a n e fl o t to d es tr o y a h ou e
r s to b u rn to wr ec k ,

it Th e h ou se will c ea se to exi st B u t su pp os e y o u a ttem pt to

. .

d estroy by a n effort a n id ea T h e m o re y ou try to co ntest a rgu e

, , .
, ,

refu te ridi cu l e th e m or e th e id ea is likely to sprea d gr ow

, , , ,

s tr ength en And contra ry w ise sil e nce o blivi on non action

. no n , , ,
-

,
”
r esi s ta nce will e xt ermina te or in a ny ca se will w ea ken th e id ea , .

S il e nce oblivi on will no t wr ec k a h ou s e will not h u rt a s to ne

, , , .

I t is c l ea r t h a t th e exi s t enc e of a h ou s e a nd t h a t of a n id ea a re
’
qu it e difl erent e xi s tences .

O f su c h difierent exis tences w e kno w v ery m a ny A b ook e xi st s .

,

a nd a l so th e contents of a book Notes exi st a nd so d oes th e mu sic .

,

th a t th e notes combine to ma ke A co in exi s t s a nd s o d oes th e pu r .

,

ch asing va lu e of a coin A word e xi st s a nd th e energy whi c h it

.
,

c ont a i ns .
20 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

We di scern on th e one h a n d a wh ol e seri es of physica lf acts a nd

, ,

o n th e o th e r h a n d a s e ri e s of meta phy sica l f ac ts

, .

As f a c t s o f th e fir s t kind exi st s o a l s o do f a c t s of th e s econ d

,

ki n d e xist bu t differ ently

, .

Fr om th e u su a l p o sitivi s t p oin t of vi ew it will seem na iv e in th e

high es t d egr ee to s p ea k of the pu rch as ing va lu e of a coin s ep a r a t ely
fr om th e c oin : of th e energy of a w ord s ep a r a t ely fr om th e word :
of th e c ontents of a book s ep a r a t el y fr om th e b o ok a n d so ,

on . We a ll kn o w t h a t th es e a re only wh a t p eopl e s a y
“ ”
,

th a t in r ea lity p u rch as ing va lu e energy of a word a nd contents of a

, ,

book d o not e xi st th a t by th e se conc epti ons w e only d enot e a seri es

,

of ph eno m en a in som e w a y l ink e d with c o in w o rd b o ok b u t in , , ,

su b s t a nc e qu it e s ep a r a t e fr om th em .

B u t is it s o ?
We d e cid e d to a cc ept n o thing a s giv en cons e qu ently w e sh a ll ,

not nega te a nyt h i ng a s giv en .

We se e in things in a dditi on to wh a t is ext erna l som ething in

, ,

tern a l We kno w th a t this interna l e l em ent in thi ngs c ons titu t es

.

a c ontinu ou s p a rt of things u su a lly t h eir princip a l su bsta nce And

, .

quite na tu rally w e a sk ou r s elv es wh ere is thi s i nterna l e l em ent

, ,

a nd wh a t d o es it r epr es ent in a n d by it s e lf we s ee t h a t it is not .

e m br a ce d W ithin ou r s p a ce We b egi n to c onc eiv e of th e id ea of a

.

“ ”
hi gh e r s p a ce p osse s sin g m or e di m ensi ons th a n ou rs O u r sp a c e .

th en a pp ears to b e s om eh o w a p a rt of high e r sp a ce i e w e b egi n , . .

,

to b eli e v e th a t w e kno w f eel a nd m ea s u r e o nly p a rt of s p a c e t h a t

, , ,

p a rt whi ch is m e a su re a b le in t e rm s of l ength W idth a nd h eigh t , .

As w a s id b efor e w e u su a lly r ega rd sp a c e a s a form of th e

sa ,

u niv e r s e or a s a f or m of th e m a tt e r o f th e u niv e r s e
, T o m a k e this .

“ ”
c l e a r it is p os s ibl e t o s a y t h a t a cu b e is th e f o rm o f th e m a tt e r
“ ”
in a c u b e ; a s ph e r e is th e f orm of th e m a tt e r in a s ph e re ;
“
sp a ce
”—
a n infi nit e sph er e
— is th e f o rm o f th e e ntir e m a tt er o f
th e univer s e .

H P Bl a v a tsky in T h e S ec re t D oc trin e h a s this to sa y

. .
,

a b ou t s p ac e

T he p erfi c ial a b su rdity of a ssu ming th a t S p a ce itself is me a sura b le

su

in a ny direc ti on is of littl e c ons e qu enc e Th e f a milia r ph ra se ( th e.

fou rth dimensi on of sp a ce ) c a n only b e a n a bb revi a tion of th e fu lle r

—
form th e Fou rth dimension of M a tter in S pace
“ ”
T h e p rogre s s .
 T ERTI UM ORGANUM 2I

of e volu tion may be destined to introduce u s to new ch aracteri stics of

m atter .

B u t th e f orm u l a d efi ni ng sp a c e a s th e form of m a tt er in th e
”
u niv e r s e s u ff er s fr om thi s d efi c i en c y th a t th e r e is intro d u ce d in ,
”
it th e conc ept of m a tt er i e th e u nknow n , . .
, .

I h a ve a lr ea dy sp oken of tha t d ea d end siding x = y y = x to , , ,

whic h a ll a ttem pt s a t th e phy s ic a l d efi niti on of m a tt er i ne vit a bly

l ea d .

Ps ych ol ogi c a l d efi nitions l ea d to th e sa m e thing .

“
I n a w e ll known b ook T h e Phy s i ol o gy of th e S ou l
, A I , . .

G erz en sa ys :
We ca ll ma tte r everything whic h direc tly or indirectly off ers resi st
a nce to m oti on di rectly or indirectly pro du ce d by u s ma nifesting a
, ,

re m a rka b le an alogy with ou r pa ssive sta tes .

And w e c a ll force (moti on) th a t whi ch direc tly or indirec tly com
mu nic a tes movem ent to u s or to oth er b odies th u s m anifesting th e ,

grea test si militu de to o u r a ctive sta te s

C onse qu ently m a tt er a nd m otion a re som ething lik e pro
,

jections of ou r a ctiv e a nd p a ssiv e sta t es I t is c l ea r th a t it is .

p oss ibl e to d efi ne th e p a s siv e st a t e only in t erm s o f th e a c tiv e ,

a nd th e a c tiv e in t e r m s of th e p a s sive a g a in tw o u nkno wns d e b

,

fini ng one a noth e r .

E D ou gl a s Fa wc ett in a n a rti cl e entitl e d I d ea li sm a nd th e

.
,
” “ ”
Pr obl em of Na t u r e in Th e " u es t (April di scu sses ,

m a tter from thi s p oint o f vi e w .

Matter (li ke force) does not give u s a ny trou b l e We kn ow a ll a b ou t .

”
it f or th e ve ry good rea son th a t we invented it By m a tter w e think of
, .

s ensu ou s obj e ct s I t is m enta l c h a nge of c oncrete bu t too c omplic ate d

.
,

fa cts which a re difficult to d ea l with

, .

S trictly spe a king m a tter e xi sts only a s a c onc e p t Tru th to tell th e

, .
,

c h a rac te r of m a tte r e ven wh en tre a te d onl y a s a c oncep ti on is so u n

, ,

ob vi ou s th a t th e m a j o rity of p ersons a re u na b l e to tell u s exa ctl y wh a t

they m ean by it .

An i m p ort a nt f a c t is h ere brou ght t o light : ma tter a nd f orce a re

j u s t logica l concepts i e onl y words a c c e pt e d f or th e d esigna ti on
, . .
,

o f a l e ngthy s e ri e s of c o m pli c a t e d f a c t s I t is diffi cu lt f or u s edu .

,

c a t e d a l m o s t e x c l u s iv e ly a l ong p h y s i c a l li n es t o u n d e r s t a n d thi s ,

c l e a rly b u t in su b s t a nc e it m a y b e s t a t e d a s f o ll o w s :
, Wh o h a s
s een ma tter a nd f orce a nd wh en ? We s ee thi ngs se e p h enom ena
, , .

M a tter ind ep en d ently of th e su b st a nce from whi ch a given t h i ng

,

is m a d e or o f whi c h it c onsi st s w e h a v e ne v e r s ee n a nd ne v e r
, ,

“
Th S e t Do t i
e cre T h T h o o p hi al P b li hi g S o i ty
c r ne , e e Thi d E ditio p 271 v ol I
s c u s n c e . r n, .
, . .
22 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

will b u t the given su bs ta nce is no t q u ite ma tter thi s is wood

s ee ; , ,

or iron or s tone S i m il a rly w e s h a ll ne v e r see f orce sep a ra t e ly

.
,
“
from motion Wh a t d oes thi s m e a n ? I t m ea ns th a t ma tter
.

” “
a nd orce a re j u s t su c h a b s tr a c t c onc epti on s as va l u e or ,
“ ” “ ” ”
l a b or a s th e p u rc h a si ng v a l u e of a c oi n or th e cont ent s
,
“
of a b o o k ; it m ea ns th a t m a tt e r is su c h s t u ff a s dr ea m s a re m a d e
” “ ”
of . And b eca u se w e c a n n e v er t ou c h thi s s tu fl a nd c a n see it
only in dr e a m s so w e c a n ne v e r t ou c h phy s i ca l m a tt e r nor se e
, , ,

n or h ea r , n or ph o t o gr a ph it sep ara tely f rom th e object We cogniz e

, .

thi ngs a nd ph enom ena which a re b a d or goo d bu t w e nev er ,

“ ”
c o gniz e ma tter a nd orce se p a rat e ly fr om th ings a nd ph e

nomena .

M a tt er is a s m u c h a n a b str a c t concepti on a s a re tru th goo d a nd ,

e vil .

I t is a s im p os sibl e to pu t m a tt e r o r a ny p a rt of m a tte r i nt o a
“
c h em i c al r e t ort o r c r u c ibl e a s it is i m p oss ibl e to s e ll E gyp tia n
” “ ”
da rknes s in vi a l s H o w e v e r a s it is s a id th a t E gypti a n d a rkness
.

is sold a s a bl a c k p o wd e r in Ath o s th erefor e p erh a p s e v en m a tt e r , ,

s om e wh er e by s om e one h a s b een seen

*
, , .

I n ord er to di sc u ss qu e s ti ons of this o rd e r a c ert a in pr ep a r a ti on

is necessa ry o r a high d e gre e of i nt u iti on ; b u t u nfortu na t ely it is
,

c u st om a ry t o c ons id e r f u n d a m e nt a l q u e s ti ons of c osm og ony v e ry

lightly .

A m a n e a sily a d m it s h is i nc om p et enc y in m u si c d a nc i ng or , ,

high er m a th em a ti cs b u t h e a lwa y s m a inta in s th e privil ege of

,
“
h a ving a n opinion a nd b eing a j u dg e of q u es ti ons r elati ng to firs t
”
prin cipl es .

I t is diffic u lt to di scu ss with s u c h m en .

For h ow will y ou a ns w e r a m a n w h o l o o ks a t y ou in p e rpl e xity ,

knock s on th e t a bl e wit h h is fi nger a nd s a ys Th is is ma tter I , .

”
know it ; f eel " H ow c a n it b e a n a b s tr a c t c onc epti on ? T o a ns w er
thi s is a s d ifficu lt a s to a ns w e r th e m a n w h o sa y s : I see th a t th e
”
su n ri s es a n d se t s "

R et u rning to th e c onsid er a ti on of sp a ce w e sh a ll u nd er no c ir ,

c u m sta n c e s i ntro d u c e u nk no w n q u a ntiti e s in th e d e fi niti o n o f it .

We sh a ll d efi ne it only in term s o f th ose tw o da ta whi c h w e d ec id ed

to a c c ept a t th e v ery b egi nni ng .

Th e world a nd consciou sness a re th e f a c t s whi c h w e d e c id e d to

r ecog niz e a s exi sti ng .

Thi i i o y whi h th E gl i h p aki g m y a il y fai l t o d ta d S om u

s s r n c e n s s e n p lo a e s un e rs n e ns c ru u us
m o ks o f t h m o a t y o f Ath o fa m o th o g h o t G a mad p t t a d
.

n e n s er s, d R us r u u re e c e a n u s si e a ra c i c e i is s i
o f lh E gyp t a d a k i litt l vial th m aki g a p t a l t o f th d l ty d p ty o f th
” O
,
o t ,

se ng i n r ne ss n e s, us n c i ou e cre u i an ie e
 CHAPTER III
Wh a t m y w l a n a b o t th fo th dim n ion by a t dy of th geo
a e e r u e ur e s s u e
m t i l la t ion W ith in
e r ca re p a ? Wh a t hould b th lat ion
s o ur s ce s e e re
b tw n a th d im n ional bo dy nd n of fo dim n ion ? Th
e ee ree -
e s a o e ur e s s e
fo d im n io na l b dy th t a ing of th mov m nt of a th
ur -
e s o as e r c e e e ree

dim n ional b o dy in th di tion whi h i n t onfin d with in it

e s e r ec c s o c e .

A fo dim n ional bo dy ontaining n infinit n mb of th

ur -
e s as c a e u er ree

dim n ional bo di A th dim n ional b o dy a tio n of a fo

e s es . r ee -
e s as s ec ur

dim n ional n Pa ts of bo di nd nti b o di in th

e s o e . nd in r es a e re es ree a

fo dim n ion Th in omm n ability of a th dim n ional

ur e s s . e c e sur ree -
e s

nd a fo
a dim n ional bo dy A m a t ial a tom
ur -
a tion of a
e s . er as sec

fo dim n ional lin

ur -
e s e.

N th er of his b ooks T h e Fou rth Di m ens i on Hin ton

a no , ,

m a k es a n int eres ti ng r em a rk a b ou t th e m et h o d by which

w e m a y a pproa ch th e qu e sti on of th e high e r dim ens i ons .

Th is is wh a t h e s a ys :
Ou rp a ce itse lf b ears within it rel ations throu gh whi ch w e
s
c a n e sta b li sh re l a ti ons to oth e r (high er) s p a c e s .

For w ithin sp a ce a re give n th e conce ption of p oint and li ne line and ,

pl ane whic h re ally involve th e rela tion of s p ace to a higher sp ace

, .

If we tr a t e u p on this th ou ght a nd consid er th e v e ry

c onc en ,

grea t diff erenc e b etween th e p oi nt a nd th e lin e b etween th e line ,

a nd th e su rf a c e su rf a c e a nd solid w e s h a ll ind ee d c o m e to u nd e r
, ,

s tan d h ow m u c h of th e ne w a n d i nconc e iv a bl e th e f ou rth dim e n

s i on h o ld s f or u s .

As in th e p oi nt it is i m p ossibl e to i m a gi ne th e li ne a nd th e
l a ws of th e line ; a s in th e li ne it is i m p oss ibl e to i m a gine th e sur
fa c e a nd th e l a ws of th e s u rfa c e ; a s in th e su rf a ce it is i m p ossibl e
t o i m a g i ne th e so lid a nd th e l a w s o f th e so lid s o in ou r s p a c e ,

it is im p os sible to im a g ine th e b o dy h a vi ng m ore th a n thr e e

dim ensi ons a nd i m p ossible to u nd ers t a nd th e l a ws of th e exi s t
,

e nc e of su c h a b o dy .

B u t s tu dyin g th e m u tu a l r el a ti ons b e tw een th e p oint th e li ne , ,

th e su rf a c e th e s o lid w e b egi n t o l e a r n s om ething a b ou t th e

, ,

fou rth di m ens ion i e of fou r dim ensi ona l sp a ce We b egin to

, . .
,
-
.

25
 26 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

l ea rn wha t it ca n be in c om pari son with ou r thr ee di m ensional -

s p a c e a nd wh a t it ca nnot be
, .

This l a s t w e l ea rn firs t of a ll An d it is esp ec i a lly i m p ort a nt

.
,

b eca u se it sa v es u s from m any d eeply in cu lc a te d illu sions whic h ,

a re v e ry d e tri m ent a l t o right kn o wl e dg e .

We l ea rn wh a t ca nnot be in fou r di m ensi ona l space a nd thi s -

p erm its u s to set forth wh a t ca n be th ere .

Let u s con sid er th e s e r e l a ti ons withi n ou r sp a ce a nd let u s s ee ,

wh a t c oncl u s ions w e c an d eriv e from t h eir i nvestiga tion .

We know th a t ou r geom etry rega rd s th e li ne a s a tra c ing of th e

m o v em ent of a p o int ; th e s u rf a c e a s a tra c i ng of th e m ov em ent
of a li ne ; a n d th e s olid a s a tr a c i ng of th e m o v em ent of a su rf a c e .

O n th ese prem i se s w e pu t to ou r s elv es thi s qu e s ti o n : I s it no t

“
"
p ossibl e to r ega rd th e fou r di m ens ion a l b ody a s a tra c ing of th e
-

m o v em ent o f a thr ee dim ensi ona l o ne ?

-

B u t wh a t is this m ov em ent a nd in wh a t dir ec ti on ?

,

T h e p oint m ovi ng in s p a c e a nd l ea vi ng th e tr a ci ng of its m ov e

, ,

m ent a li ne m ov es in a dir e c ti on no t cont a i ne d in it b e c au s e in a

, , ,

p oi nt th er e is no dir ec ti on wh a ts oev er .

T h e line m o vi ng in sp a c e a nd l ea vi ng th e tr a ci ng of its m ov e
, ,

m ent th e s u rf ac e m o v es in a dir ec ti on not cont a ine d in it b eca u s e

, , ,

m oving in a direc ti on c ont a i ne d in it a li ne will c onti nu e to b e a ,

Th e f
sur a ce, m ovi ng in sp a c e , a nd l e a vi ng a tr a c i ng of its m ov e
m ent th e s o lid , m o v e s a l so in a dir e c ti on not c ont a i ne d in it I f
, .

it sh ou ld m ov e oth erwi s e it wou ld r em a in alwa y s th e su rfa c e I n

, .

“ ”
o rd e r to l e a v e a tr a c i ng of it se lf a s a s o lid o r t h r ee di m e ns i ona l ,
-

figu re it m u st set of f rom itself m ov e in a dir ec ti on whic h in itself

, ,

it h as not .

I n a na l ogy with a ll thi s th e solid in ord e r t o l ea v e a s th e

, ,

tra ci ng of its m ov em ent , th e fou r di m ensi on a l figu r e (hyp ers ol id )

-

s hall m ov e in a dir ec ti on n ot c onfi ne d in it ; or in o th e r w o rd s it

‘

shall com e ou t of it s e lf , s et off f rom itself , m ov e in a dir ec ti on whi c h

is not pres e nt in it L a t e r on it will b e sh own in wh a t m a nne r w e

.

s h a ll u n d er s t a n d t hi s .

B u t f or th e pr esent w e c a n s a y t h at th e dir ec ti on of th e m o v e
m ent in th e f ou rt h di m ensi on li es ou t of a ll those directions which
a re possi ble in a three dimens iona l figu re
-
.

We c onsid er th e line a s a n i nfi nite nu m b er of p oi nt s ; th e su rfa c e a s

a n i nfi nit e nu m b e r of li nes ; th e s olid a s a n i nfi nit e nu m b er of su rfa c e s .
 T ER T I U M ORGAN UM 27

In ana logy with thi s it is p ossibl e to consid er th a t it is neces sa ry

to re ga rd a f ou r di m e ns i ona l b o dy a s a n i nfi nite nu m b e r of thr ee
-

di me nsi ona l o ne s a nd fou r di m ensi ona l sp a c e a s a n i nfi nite nu m

,
-

b e r of thr ee di m ensi o na l s p a c es
-
.

M ore ove r w e kno w th a t th e li ne is li mi te d by p oi nt s th a t th e

, ,

s u rf a ce is li m it e d by li ne s th a t th e so lid is lim it e d by su rf a ces

, .

I t is p ossibl e th a t a fou r di m ensi ona l b o dy is li m ite d by three -

dimensiona l bodies .

O r it is p ossibl e to sa y th a t th eline is a di s ta nc e b etween tw o

p oin ts ; th e su rfa ce a di st a nc e —
b etwee n tw o li nes ; th e s olid b e
tw een tw o rfa c es
su .

O r a ga in th a t th e li ne s ep a ra t e s tw o p o i nt s or se v e ra l p oi nt s fro m
,

o ne a no t h e r (f or th e s tr a ig h t li n e is th e sh o rt es t di s t a nce b e tw ee n

tw o p oi nt s ) ; t h a t th e su rf a ce sep a r a t e s two or s e v er a l li nes fr om e a c h

o th er ; th a t th e s o lid se p a r a t es s e v e r a l su rf a c e s o n e fr om a no th e r ;

s o th e cu be se p a r a t es six fl a t su rf a c es one fr om a no t h e r
— its f a c e s .

Th e li ne bi n d s se v era l s ep a ra t e p oi nt s i nto a c ert a i n w h o l e ( th e

s tr a ight th e c u rv e d th e br ok en li n e ) ; th e su rf a ce bi n d s s e v e r a l
, ,

li nes into s om ethi ng wh ol e (th e qu a dril a t eral th e tri a ngl e) ; th e ,

so lid bind s s e v e r a l su rf a c e s i n t o s om e thi ng wh ol e (th e cu b e th e ,

pyramid ) .

I t is pos sible th a t f ou r dimensiona l spa ce is th e dista nce between a

-

grou p of solids , s epa ra ting these s olids , y et a t th e s a me time binding ,

them into some to u s inconceiva ble whole, even th ou gh they seem to be 1

sepa ra te f rom one a noth er .

M or eover w e r e ga rd th e p oi nt a s a s ection of a li ne ; th e li ne a s a
,

s ec ti on of a s u rf a c e ; th e su rf a c e a s a s ec ti o n o f a s o lid .

By a na l ogy it is p ossibl e to r ega rd th e s olid (th e c ube sp here

, , ,

pyra m id ) a s a s ection of a f ou r dim ens iona l b o dy a nd ou r entir e -

three di m ens i ona l sp a c e a s a sec tion of a fou r di m ens iona l sp ac e

- -
.

I f e v ery t h r ee di m ensio na l b ody is th e s ec ti on of a f ou r dim en

-

s i ou a l o ne th en e v e ry p oi nt of a t h r e e di m ens i o na l b o dy is th e
,
-

s e c ti on of a f ou r di m e ns i o na l li ne -
I t is p ossi b l e to r e ga rd a n .

“ ”
a t om o f a phy s i c a l b o dy not a s s ometh ing m a teria l b u t a s a n , ,

i nt er s ec ti on of a fou r di m ensi ona l li ne by th e pl a ne of ou r con

-

s e i o u sn e s s .

Th e vi e w of a thr ee di m e nsi ona l b o dy a s th e s ec ti on of a fou r

-

di mens iona l one l ea d s to th e th ou g h t th a t m a ny (f or u s) sep a r

a te b o di es m a y b e the s ections o
f pa rts of o ne f ou r di m e nsio na l -

b ody .
28 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

A s im pl e exa m pl e will c l a rify thi s th ou ght I f w e i m a gine a .

horiz ontal pl a ne int er secting th e top of a tree a nd p a r a ll el to th e

, ,

sur f a c e o f th e ea rth th en u pon this pla ne th e sec ti ons of br a nc h es

,

will seem sep a ra t e a nd not b ou nd to one a noth er Y et in our

, .

s p a ce fr om our s t a ndp oin t th es e a re se c ti ons of bra nc h es of one

, ,

tree c om pri s ing togeth er one top nou ri sh e d from one r oot c a sting
, , ,

on e sh a d o w .

O r h er e is a no th er int er esting exa m pl e expr ess ing th e s a m e id ea ,

giv en by Mr Lea db eater th e th eosophic a l writ er in one of hi s

.
, ,

b ook s If w e t ou ch th e su rfa ce of a t a bl e with ou r fi nger tip s t h en

.
,

u p on th e sur f a c e will b e j u st five c ir c l es a n d fro m thi s pl a n e pre

,

s entm ent it is i m p oss ibl e to c ons tr u e a ny id ea of th e h a n d a nd of ,

th e m a n to wh om thi s h a nd b el ongs
’
Up on th e t a bl e s s u rf a c e will
.

b e five s ep ara te c ir c l e s H ow from th e m is it p ossibl e to i m a gi ne

.

a m a n with a ll th e ri chn es s of his phy s i ca l a nd spiritu a l life ? I t is

,

imp ossibl e O ur r el a tion to th e fou r dim ens i ona l w orld will b e

.
-

a n a l ogou s to th e r e l a ti on of th a t c on s c i ou sn ess whi c h sees five

c ir c l es u p on th e t a bl e to a ma n We s ee j u st finger tip s ; to u s
.
“ ”

th e fou rth dim ens ion is inconce iv a bl e .

We kn o w t h a t it is p ossibl e to represent a th ree dim ensi ona l b ody -

u p on a pl a ne th a t it is p oss ibl e to dr a w a cu b e a p olyh e dr on or

, ,

a sph er e Thi s will not b e a r ea l c u b e or a r ea l s ph er e b u t th e pro

.
,

je c t i o n of a c u b e o r o f a s p h e r e o n a pl a n e W e m a y c o nc e iv
. e of
th e thr ee dim ensi ona l b o di es of ou r s p a ce s om ewh a t in th e na tu r e
-

of images in ou r s p a c e of t o u s i nc o m pr e h en sibl e f o u r di m ens i o na l -

b odi es .
 CHA PTER I V
wha t di tio n m y th fo th dim n ion li ? Wha t i mot ion ? Tw
nd m o t io n in t im —
rec a e ur e s e s o
kind of mo tion—m o t ion in p a
s w hi h s ce a e c a re

ont ain d in v y m ov m nt Wh a t i t im ? N id a n
c e e er e e . s e o e s co

t in d in th
a o n ption of tim Th n w d im n ion of p a nd
e e c ce e . e e e s s ce, a

m o tion p o n th a t dim n ion

u T im th fo th d im n io n of e s . e as e ur e s

pas I mp o ibility of nd tanding th fo th d im n ion with

ce . ss u ers e ur e s

t th id a of m o t io n T h id a of m o t io n nd th tim n “ ”
ou e e . e e a e e se se .

T h tim n
e a limit ( fa ) of th p
e se se a s n Hint on n su r ce e
“
s a ce se se . o

th l w of u fa th a fa Ri m ann id a “ ” ’
e a Th s r c es . e e er as s ur ce . e s e
on ning th t an lation of tim into p a in th fo th dim n
c c er e r s e s ce e ur e

ion sP nt p a t nd f t
. re se Wh y w d o n t
, s th p a t nd
, a u ure . e o see e s a

th f t e Lif f ling f n w y
u u re . W ndt n th b
e as a ee o o
’
e s a . u o e su

j t of ec n o knowl dg
o u r se su us e e .

E h a v e e s t a bli s h e d b y a com p a ri s on of th e r el a ti o n
o f l o w e r di m en s i ona l figu r e s to h ig h e r d i m en si o na l

o ne s th a t it is p os sibl e to r eg a rd a f o u r dim e n -

s i o u a l b o dy a s th e tr a c i n g o f th e m o ti o n o f a

thre e di m en si ona l b ody u p on th e di m e nsi on not

-

c o nt a i ne d in it ; i e t h a t th e dir e c ti on of th e . .
,

m o ti o n u p o n th e fo u rth di m e nsi o n li es o u t sid e of a ll th e dir ec ti ons

w h i c h a re p oss ibl e in t hr ee di m ensi ona l s p a c e -
.

B u t in wh a t dir ec ti on is it ?
I n o rd er to a ns w e r thi s q u e sti o n it will b e nec es sa ry to di sc o v er
w h e t h e r w e d o not kno w s om e m o ti on n ot c o nfi ne d in t h r e e
di m ensi ona l sp a ce .

We kno w t h a t e very m oti on in sp a c e is a ccom p a ni e d by t h a t

whi c h w e c a ll motion in time M or eo v er w e kn ow th a t e v erything .
,

e xi s ti ng e v e n if n o t m o vi ng in sp a c e m o v e s e t e r na ll y in ti m e
, ,
.

And e q u a lly in a ll c a se s w h e th e r sp ea ki ng o f m oti o n or a b se nc e ,

of m oti on w e h a v e in m i n d a n id ea of w h a t w a s b e f o r e wh a t n o w
, ,

b ecom es a nd wh a t will foll o w a ft er I n oth er wo rd s w e h a v e in

, .
,

m i n d th e id e a of ti m e Th e i d e a of m o ti on of a ny ki nd a l so th e
.
,

id e a of a b s enc e of m oti on is i ndi sso l u b ly b ou n d u p with th e id ea

o f ti m e . Any m oti o n or a b s ence of m o ti on pr ocee d s in ti m e a nd
c a nn o t pr oc ee d o u t of ti m e C ons e qu ently b e for e sp ea ki ng of .
,

what m oti on is w e m u s t a ns wer th e qu esti on wh a t is ti m e ?

, ,

29
30 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

Ti m e is th e m ost for mid a bl e a nd diflicu lt probl em whi ch c on

front s h u m a nity .

K a nt r ega rd s ti m e a s h e d oes space : a s a s u bj ec tiv e for m of o u r

r eceptivity ; i e h e s a ys th a t w e crea te time ou r s elv es a s a fu nc ti on
. .
, ,

o f ou r r ec eptiv e a pp a r a t u s f or c o nv e nie nce in p e r c e ivi ng th e ou t

,

s id e w o rld . R e a lity is c onti nu ou s a nd c onst a nt b u t in ord er to ,

m a k e p o ss ibl e th e p e rc epti on of it w e m u st di s s ev er it i nt o sep a

,

rat e m om ent s ; i m a gi ne it a s a n i nfi ni t e s eri es of sep a rate m om ent s

o u t of whic h th e r e e xi s t s f or u s o nly o n e I n o th e r w ord s w e .
,

p erc eiv e r ea lity a s t h ou gh th r ou gh a n a rr o w s lit a nd wh a t w e ,

a re s eeing thr ou gh this s lit w e c a ll th e pr e s ent ; wh a t w e did s ee

a n d no w d o n ot se e
— th e p a st a nd what w e d o not qu it e s ee b u t
,

a re exp ecti ng
— th e f u t ur e .

R eg a r di ng eac h ph enom enon a s a n efiect of a noth er or oth ers , ,

a nd this in its t u r n a s a c a u se of a thi rd ; th a t is r e g a r ding a ll ,

p h enom ena in f u nc ti ona l i nt erd ep en d enc e one u p on a noth e r by ,

thi s v ery a c t w e a re c ont em pl a ti ng th em in ti m e b eca u s e w e ,

pi c tu r e to ou rs elv es quit e c l ea rly a n d pr ec i s ely firs t a c a u se th en ,

a n eff ec t ; fir s t a n a c ti on th en its f u nc ti o n a nd c a nno t con t em

, ,

pl a t e th em o th erwi se Th u s w e m ay say th a t th e id e a of ti m e is
.

b ou n d u p with th e id ea of c a u s a ti on a nd f u nc ti o na l i nt erd ep end

enc e . Withou t ti m e c a u sa ti on c a nnot exi st j u s t a s withou t ti m e ,

m oti on or th e a b s ence o f m o ti o n c a nnot e xi s t .

“ ”
B u t our p e rc epti on conc e rni n g o u r b ei ng in ti m e is e nt a ngl ed
a nd m i s ty u p t o i m pr o b a bility .

Fir s t o f a ll let u s a na lyz e ou r r el a ti on t o wa rd th e p a st pr es ent ,

a nd f u t u r e Us u a lly we think th a t th e p a s t a lrea dy does not exis t

. .

I t h a s p a s sed di sa pp ea r e d a lt er e d tr a nsfor m e d it se lf i nto s om e

, , ,

t h i ng e l se T h e fu tu r e a l s o d oes not exist— it d o es not exi s t y et

. .

I t h a s not a rriv e d h a s no t fo r m e d By th e pr es e nt w e m ea n th e
, .

m om ent of tra ns iti o n o f th e f u t u r e i nt o th e p a s t i e th e moment , . .

,

of tra ns ition of a p h enomenon from one non exis tence into a noth er -

one . O nly f or th a t s h ort m om ent d oe s th e ph enom eno n exi s t f or

u s in r e a lity ; b e f o r e it e xi st e d in p ot e nti a lity a ft erw a rd it will
, ,

e xi s t in r e m e m br a nc e B u t thi s s h o rt m o m e nt is in s u b s t a nc e o nly
.

a fi c ti o n : it h a s n o m ea su r e m e nt We h a v e a f u ll right to sa y th a t
.

th e pr ese nt d o e s no t e xi s t We c a n ne v e r c a t c h it Th a t w h i c h
. .

w e did c a tc h is a lway s th e pa s t"

32 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

We a re m o vi ng u p on a pl a ne a nd r ecogniz e a s r ea lly e xi s ti ng
,

o nl y th e s m a ll c ir c l e lig ht e d by ou r c o n s c i ou s n ess E v e rything ou t .

o f thi s c ir c l e w h i c h w e d o n o t s e e w e n eg a t e w e d o n o t lik e t o
, , ,

a d m it th a t it e xi s t s We a re m ovi ng u p on th e pl a ne in one dirce

.

tion Thi s dire c tion w e c onsid e r a s et ern a l a nd i nfinit e B u t th e

. .

d ir ec ti on a t righ t a ngles to it t h os e li ne s whi c h w e a re int ers ec ti ng

, ,

w e do n ot lik e to r ecogniz e a s e t e rna l a n d i nfi n it e We i m a gine .

th em a s goi ng i nto non exi s t enc e a t once a s soon a s w e h a ve

-

p a ss e d th em a nd th a t th e li nes b e fo re u s h a v e not y et ri s en ou t
,

of n on e xi st enc e
-
I f presu pp osin g th a t w e a re m ovi ng u p on a
.
,

s ph e r e u p on its e q u a t o r or o ne of its p a r a ll e l s th en it will a pp ea r

, ,

th a t w e r ec o gniz e a s r ea lly exi sting only one m eridi a n : th ose whic h

a re b ehi n d u s h a v e di sa pp ea r e d a nd t h os e a h ea d of u s h a v e n ot

a pp e a r e d y e t .

We a re going forwa rd l ike a bli nd m a n wh o feels p a vi ng s t ones ,

a n d l a nt e rns a nd w a ll s o f h ou s e s with h is s ti c k a nd believes in th e

r ea l existenc e of only th a t whi c h h e tou ch e s now whic h h e feels ,

now . Th a t whi c h h a s p a s se d h a s di sa pp ea re d a nd will ne v er re

tu rn " Th a t whic h h a s not y et b een d oes not exi s t Th e bli n d .

m a n r em em b ers th e r ou t e whi c h h e h a s tra v e r se d ; h e exp e c ts th a t

ah ea d th e w a y will conti nu e b u t h e sees neith er fo rwa rd nor b a c k
,

wa rd beca use h e does not s ee a nything b eca u se h is i ns tru m ent of

— —
,

knowl e dge th e s tic k h a s a d efi nit e a nd not v ery grea t l ength , ,

a nd b ey on d th e r e a c h of h is s ti c k n on exi s t enc e b egi ns -

.

Wun dt in one of h is b ook s c a ll e d a tt enti on to th e fa c t th a t

, ,

ou r f a m ou s five o rg a n s of se nse a re in r ea lity j u s t feelers by whi c h

w e f e e l th e w orld a r ou n d u s We liv e groping a b ou t We never

. .

s ee a ny thing We a re a lwa ys j u st feeli ng e v erything With th e

. .

h elp of th e mi cr osc op e a nd th e t e l escop e th e tel egr a ph a nd th e ,

t el eph one w e a re e xt ending ou r feel ers a littl e so to s p ea k b u t w e , ,

a re no t b egi nnin g to s ee T o s a y th a t w e a re s eeing wou ld b e

.

p oss ibl e only in c a se w e c ou ld kno w th e p a s t a nd th e fu tu r e B u t .

w e do n ot s ee a n d b eca u s e of thi s w e c a n ne v e r a ssu r e ou rse lv e s of

,

th a t whi c h w e ca nnot feel .

Thi s i s th e r ea son why w e c ou nt a s r ea lly exi s ti ng only th a t

~

c ir c l e whi c h ou r f ee l e r s gr a s p a t a giv en m o m ent B eyond th a t .

d a rkn ess a nd non exi st ence -

.

B u t h a v e w e a ny right to think in thi s w a y ?

Le t u s i m a gi n e a c o ns ci ou s ne ss that is not b ou n d by th e c ondi
ti ons of sensu ou s r ec eptivity S u c h a c onsc i ou sness c a n ri se a b ove
.

th e pl a ne u p on whi c h w e a re m ovi ng ; it c a n s e e f a r b ey ond th e

 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 33

li mits of th e c ir c l e enligh tene d by ou r u su a l consc i ou s ness ; it c an

se e th a t not only d oes th e li ne u p on whi c h w e a re m o vi ng e xi s t ,

bu t al so a ll li nes p erp endi c u l a r to it whi c h w e a re i nt ers ec tin g ,

whic h w e h a v e e v er int ers e ct ed a nd whic h w e sh a ll i nte rs ec t

, .

Af t er ri s ing a b ov e th e pl a ne this c onsc i ou sness c a n s ee th e pl a ne ,

c a n c onv inc e it self th a t it is r ea lly a pl a ne a n d n ot a s i ngl e li ne , .

Th en it c a n see th e p a s t a nd th e f u tu r e lyin g t ogeth er a nd exis t

,

ing s i mu lt a neou sly .

Th a t c ons ci ou sness whic h is not b ou nd by th e c onditi ons of

se ns u ou s r ec eptivity c a n ou tr u n th e s t u pid tr a v e l e r a s c e n d th e ,

m ou nt a in to see in th e di st a nce th e to wn to whi ch h e is go ing a nd ,

b e convinc e d t h a t this t o wn is not b ei ng b u ilt a ne w f or his a rriv a l ,

b u t exist s q u it e i nd ep end ently of th e s tu pid tra v e l e r And th a t .

’
consc i ou sne ss c a n l oo k ofl a nd see o n th e h o riz o n th e t o w e rs o f

th a t c ity W h ere th a t tra vel er had b e en a nd b e c onvinc e d that,

th ose t o wers h a v e not fa ll en th a t th e c ity c ontinu es to st a y a nd

,
’
live j u st a s it st a y e d a nd live d b efo re th e tra ve l er s a dv ent .

I t c a n ri se a b o v e th e pl a ne of ti m e a nd see th e sprin g b ehin d

a nd th e a u t u m n a h e a d see si m u ltaneo u s ly th e b u ddi ng fl o w er s
,

a nd rip enin g fr ui t s . I t c a n m a ke the blind m a n r ecover his sight

a nd s ee th e roa d al ong whi c h h e p a ss e d a nd that whi c h s till li es

b efo r e him .

T h e p a s t a nd th e f u tu r e c anno t not exis t b ec a u s e if th ey do not

,

exis t t h en ne ith e r d oes th e pr es ent e xi s t Un qu es ti ona bly th e y

.

e xis t som ew h ere t og eth e r b u t w e d o n ot s ee th e m

, .

Th e pre s ent c omp a r e d with th e p a s t a nd th e f u t u r e is th e

, ,

m os t u nr ea l of a ll u nr ea liti es .

We a re forc e d to a dmit th a t th e p a st th e present a nd th e ,

fu tur e do not diff er in a nything one from a noth er : th ere exi s ts

,

j u s t on e p res en t— th e E terna l Now o f H i n d u phil os ophy B ut we .

do not p erc e iv e thi s b ec au se in e v ery giv en m om en t w e exp eri

,

ence j u s t a littl e bit of th a t pr ese nt a n d this a l one w e c ou n t a s

,

e xi st ent d enyin g a r ea l e xis t ence t o e v erythin g e l se

, .

If w e a d mit t his th en ou r vi e w of e v erything with whi ch we

,

a re su rr oun d e d will c h a ng e v e ry c on sid e r a bly .

Usu a lly w e r ega rd ti m e a s a n a bs traction m a d e by u s du ring the

,

observa tion of rea lly exis ting motion Th a t is w e thin k th a t

.
,

o b s e rvi n g m oti on , or c h a ng es of r e l a ti on s b etw ee n things a nd

c o m p a ring th e r e lati ons whi c h exi s t e d b efo r e whic h exis t now , ,

34 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

a nd whi ch m a y e xi s t in th e fu tu r e th a t w e a re d e d u c ing th e
,

id ea of ti m e We sh a ll se e l a t er on h o w f a r thi s vi ew is c orr ec t
. .

Th u s th e id e a of ti m e is com p os e d of th e c on c e ption of th e
p a st of th a t of th e pr e sent a n d of t h a t of th e fu tu r e
, , .

O u r c on c epti on s of th e p a st a nd pr ese n t th ou gh not v e ry ,

c l ea r a re y e t v e ry m u c h a lik e
, As t o th e fu tu re th er e e xi st s a grea t
.

v a ri e ty of vi e ws .

I t is nec ess a ry f or u s to a na lyz e th e theories of the fu tu re a s th ey

exi s t in th e m i n d o f cont em p or a ry m a n .

Th er e a re in exi stenc e tw o th eori es— th a t of th e pr e ord a ine d

fu tu r e a n d th a t of th e fr ee fu tu r e
, .

Pr eordin a tion is e s t a bli s h e d in t h i s w a y : w e sa y th a t eve ry

fu tu r e e v en t is th e r e su lt of th ose whi c h h a pp ene d b e fo re a nd is ,

c r ea t e d su c h a s it W ill b e a n d not o th e rwi se a s a c onse q u enc e of a

d efi n it e dire c ti on of forc es whic h a re c ont a in e d in pr ec e di ng ev ents .

Th i s m ea ns in o t h e r w ord s th a t fu tu r e e v ents a re wh o lly c on

, ,

t a in e d in pr ece di ng on es a n d if w e cou ld kn o w th e for c e a n d direc

,

ti on of a ll e v ent s whi c h h a v e h a pp ene d u p to th e pre s ent m om ent ,

i e if w e kn e w a ll th e p a s t by thi s w e c ou ld kn o w a ll th e fu tu re
. .
, , .

And s om e ti m es kn o wi n g th e present moment t h o ro u g h ly in a ll its

, ,

d et a il s w e m a y r ea lly foretell th e fu tu r e I f th e prop h ec y is no t

, .

f u lfill e d w e sa y th a t w e did not know a ll th a t h a d been a nd w e d is

, ,

c ov e r in th e p a s t so m e ca u s e whi c h h a d e s c a p e d o u r o b s e rv a ti on .

Th e id ea of th e fr e e f u tu r e is fo u n d e d u p on th e p os sibility of
v o l u nt a ry a c ti on a nd a ccidenta l ne w com bina ti on s of c au ses T h e .

f u tu r e is r ega rd e d a s qu ite i n d efin it e o r d efi ne d on ly in p a rt

, ,

b ec a u s e in e v ery giv en m om ent ne w for c es a nd new ev ents a nd new ,

ph enom ena a re b o rn whi c h lie in a p ot enti a l s t a t e not c au sel es s , ,

—
b u t so i n c o mm e nsu ra bl e wit h c a u ses a s th e firi n g o f a c ity fro m
on e s p a rk t h a t it is i m p ossibl e to d et ec t or m ea su re t h e m
-

Thi s th eory a ffirm s t h a t o ne a nd th e sa m e a c tion c a n h a v e

diff er ent r esu lts ; one a n d th e s a m e c a u s e diff er en t effec t s ; a nd it
,

i ntr o d u ces th e h y p oth esi s of q u ite a rbitr a ry v oliti ona l a c ti on s on

th e p a rt o f a m a n bri ng i ng a b ou t pr of ou n d c h a nge s in th e su b s e
,

q u e n t ev ent s of h is o w n lif e a n d th e liv es of o t h e rs .

S u pp ort er s o f th e pr eordi na ti on th eory cont en d on th e con

tra ry t h a t v oliti o n a l i n v o l u n t a ry a c ti on s d ep en d a l s o u p on c a u ses
, ,

m a ki ng th em n ec e s sa ry a n d u na v oid a bl e a t a g iv en m om ent ; t h a t
th er e is nothi ng a c cid ent a l a n d th a t th er e c a nn ot b e ; t h a t w e c a ll
,

a c c id e n t a l o n ly t h o s e t h i n g s th e c a u s e s o f whi c h w e d o n o t se e by
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 35

r ea son of ou r li mita tions ; a nd th a t differ ent eff ec ts of c a u s es se em

ingly th e s a m e occ u r b eca u ses th e c a u ses a re d ifl erent in r ea lity
’

a nd o nly s e e m si m il a r f or th e r ea so n th a t w e d o no t u nd e r s t a nd

th em w ell enou gh n or s ee th e m su ffi c i ently c l ea r .

Th e di sp u t e b etw een th e th e ory of th e pr eord a i ne d f u tu r e a nd

th a t of th e fr ee fu tu r e is a n i nfi nit e di sp u t e Neith er of t h ese .

th eori es c a n s a y a n ything d ec i siv e Thi s is so b eca u se b oth

.

th eori es a re too lit e ra l too i nfl exibl e too m a t eri a l a nd one r ep u

, , ,
“ ”
d ia tes th e o th e r : b o th sa y e it h e r t h i s o r th e o th e r
, I n th e .

on e ca s e th e r e r esu lt s a c o m pl e t e c o ld pr e d e s ti na ti on ; th a t which

, ,
—
will be will be noth ing ca n be ch a nged t h a t whic h will b ef a ll to
m orro w w a s pr e d esti ne d t ens of th ou s and s of y ea r s a go Th er e .

r esu lt s in th e o th er c a se a l ife u p on som e sort of nee dl e p oi nt -

c a ll e d th e present whi c h is su rrou n d e d on a ll s id es by a n a by ss of

,

non exist enc e a jou rney in a cou ntry which does not yet exis t a lif e
-

, ,

in a w orld whi c h is b orn a nd di e s e v e ry m om ent in whic h nothing ,

ever returns And b oth th e s e opp o sit e vi e w s a re e qu a lly u ntru e

.
,

b eca u se th e tru th in th e giv en c a se a s in so m a ny oth ers is con

, , ,

ta ine d in a u ni on of t w o opp osit e u n d er s t a n di ngs in o n e .

I n e v ery giv e n m o m ent a ll th e f u tu r e of th e w o rld is pr e d estine d

a n d is e xi s ti n g b u t is pr e d es ti n e d con diti ona lly i e
, it will b e , . .
,

s u c h o r a noth e r f u t u r e a ccordi ng t o th e dir e c ti o n of e v ent s a t a

giv en m om ent u nl ess t h e r e ent ers a new fac t a nd a new f a c t c a n

, ,

e nt e r o nly fr om th e s id e o f consciou s nes s a n d th e will r esu lti ng

fr om it I t is nec ess a ry to u nd erst a n d thi s a nd to m a st er it

.
, .

B esid es thi s w e a r e hi nd er e d from a right c onc epti on of th e

r el a ti on of th e present t o w a rd th e fu tu r e by ou r m i su nd er st a nd
ing of th e r e l a ti on of th e pr esent to th e p a st T h e diff e renc e of
.

opi ni o n e xi st s o nly conc e r ni n g th e fu tu re; c o n c e rn i ng th e p a s t a ll

a gr e e th a t it h a s p a ss e d th a t it d oes n ot e xi s t n ow — a nd th a t it
,

wa s su ch a s it h a s been I n t h i s l a s t li es th e ke y to th e u n d e r
.

s t a n d i n g oi th e i nc o rr e c t ne s s of o u r vi e w s of th e f u t u r e As a .

m a tt e r of f a c t in r ea lity o u r r e l a ti on b o t h to th e p a s t a nd t o th e
,

fu tu r e is f a r m or e c om pli c a t e d t h a n it se em s to u s I n th e p a s t .
,

b ehind u s li es not on l y th a t w h i c h r ea lly h a pp ene d bu t th a t which

, ,

cou ld h a ve been I n th e s a m e w a y in th e f u t u r e li es not only th a t

.
,

whi c h will b e bu t every th ing th a t ma y be

, .

Th e p a st a n d th e f u t u re a re e q u a lly u nd et e r m i ne d e q u a ll y ,

e xi st in a ll th eir p ossibiliti e s a n d e qu a lly e xi s t si m u lt a n eou sly with

,

th e pr es ent .
36 T ER T IUM ORGAN UM

By ti m e w e m ea n th e dis ta nce s ep a r a tin g e v ent s in th e ord e r of

th eir su c cessi on a nd bin ding th em indiffe rent wh oles Thi s d is .

t anc e li es in a dir ec tion n ot conta ine d in three dimensiona l sp a ce -

t h er e fore it will b e th e new dimension of sp a ce .

This n ew dimension s a tisfi es a ll p os s ible requ irements of th e

fou rth dimension on th e grou nd of th e p receding rea soning .

I t is i ncomm ensu ra bl e with th e dimensions of three dimensi ona l -

sp ace, as a y ear is in comm en su r a bl e w ith S t P eters bu rg . . I t is

p erp endic u l a r to a ll dir e c ti on s of thr ee dim ensi ona l space a nd is
-

n ot p a r a ll e l t o a ny of th e m .

As a d e d u c ti on fro m a ll th e pr ece di ng w e m a y sa y th a t time ( a s

it is u su a lly u n d er s too d ) i nc l u d es in it se lf two idea s : that of a c er
t a in to u s u nkn o wn sp a c e (th e fou rth di m ension) a nd th a t of a ,

m oti on u p on t hi s sp a ce O u r c onst a nt m i s t a k e c ons i s t s in th e

.

fa c t th a t in ti m e w e ne v er see two idea s b u t s ee a lwa ys only one

, .

Usu a lly w e s e e in time th e id ea oi m oti on b u t c a nno t sa y fr om

-

wh enc e wh er e whi th er nor u p on wh a t sp a c e A tt em pts h a v e

, , , .

b een m a d e h er etofor e to u ni t e th e i d ea of th e fou rth dim e nsi on

with th e id ea of tim e B u t in th os e th eori es which hav e a tt em pt e d
.

to c om bi n e th e id e a of tim e with th e id ea of th e f our th di m ensi on

a pp ea r e d a lw a y s th e id e a of s om e s p a tial e l e m en t a s exi s ting in

tim e a nd a l ong with it w a s a d mitte d motion u pon tha t sp a ce

, .

Th ose w h o wer e constru c ting th es e th eori es e vid ently did not

u n d e r s t a n d that l e avin g ou t th e p o ss ibility o f m o ti on th ey w e re

a dv a ncing th e d em a n d f or a new ti m e b eca u se m otion c a nn ot

,

proce e d ou t of ti m e An d a s a r es u lt ti m e goes a h ea d of u s like

.
,

ou r s h a d o w r e ce din g a cco rdin g a s w e a ppr oa c h it

, Al l our p er .

c eption s of m o ti on h a v e b ecom e conf u se d I f w e im a gine th e new

.

di m ensi on of s p a ce a nd th e possibility of motion u p on thi s new

dim ensi on ti m e will still el u d e u s a n d d e c l a r e th a t it is u nex
, ,

pl a in e d e xa c tly a s it w a s u nexpl a ine d b efor e

, .

I t is nec es sa ry to a d mit th a t by one t erm time w e d esigna t e d , , ,

pr op erly tw o id ea s
,
— “
a c ert a in s p a c e a nd
“
m oti on u p on th a t
”
s pa ce . Thi s m otion d oes not e xi s t in r e a lity a nd it se em s to u s ,

a s e xi s ti ng only b e ca u s e we do not s ee th e s p a ti a lity of ti m e Th a t .

is th e s ens a ti on of m oti on in ti m e (a nd m oti on o u t of ti m e d oe s

, ,

n ot e xi s t ) a ri ses in u s b ec au se w e a re l ookin g a t th e w o rld a s

th ou g h thr ou g h a n a rro w slit a nd a re s eeing the lines of in
,

tersection of th e ti m e pl a ne with ou r thr ee dim ensi on a l s p a c e

- -

o nly .
 T ER T I UM ORGANUM 37

Th erefo r e it is n ec ess a ry to d ec l a re h ow profou ndly incorr ec t

is o u r u su a l th eo ry th a t th e id ea of ti m e is d e du ce d by u s from
th e o b serv a ti on of m o ti on a nd is r ea lly nothi ng m or e th a n th e
,

id ea of th a t su cc essi on whi ch is o b s erve d by u s in m oti on .

I t is nec ess a ry to r ecogniz e qu ite th e r ev er se th a t th e id ea of .

m oti on is d e d u ce d by u s o u t of a n i nc om pl e t e sensa ti on of ti m e or ,

of th e ti m e s ense i e
-

, o u t of a s ens e o r s ensa ti on o f th e f ou rth

. .
,

di m ension b u t ou t of a n incomplete sensa ti on Thi s in com pl et e

, .

se n sa ti o n o f ti m e (o t e
f h f ou rth di m en s i o n —
) th e s ensa ti on
—
throu gh th e slit giv es u s th e sensa ti on of m oti on th a t is cr ea tes , ,

a n ill u s i on of m oti on whic h d oes no t exi s t in r ea lity b u t ins t ea d ,

of w hi c h th er e e xi s t s in r ea lity on ly th e ext en sio n u p on a dir e c ti on

i nconceiva bl e to u s .

O ne o th e r a sp e c t of th e q u esti on h a s v e ry gr ea t signific a nce .

“ ”
Th e fou rth di m ens i on is b ou nd u p with th e id ea s of ti m e a nd
“
m oti on
. B u t u p to thi s p oint w e s h a ll not b e a bl e to u nd er
st a n d th e fou rth dimension u n l es s w e s h a ll u n d er s t a n d th e fifth

dim ens ion .

Att em ptin g to l ook a t ti m e a s a t a n obj ec t , K a nt sa ys th a t it

h a s o ne di m e nsi on : i e h e i m a gi nes ti m e a s a line e xt endi ng
. .
,

from th e infi nit e fu tu r e i nto th e i nfi nit e pas t Of one p oi nt of this

—
.

li ne w e a re c onsci ou s a lwa y s only one p oi nt And thi s p oint .

h a s no di m e ns i on b ec a u s e that which in th e u su al s ense w e c a ll

th e pr es e nt is th e r ecent p a st a nd som eti m es a l so th e n e ar fu t u r e
, , .

Thi s wou ld be tru e in re la tion to o u r illu sory p er ception of time .

B u t in r ea lity eternity is not th e infinit e dim ens i on of ti m e , b u t th e

o ne perpendicu lar to time; b ec au s e , if e t ernity exi s t s , th en e v ery

m om ent is e terna l We c a n di sco v e r in ti m e two dimensions T h e

. .

s ec on d di m e nsi on of ti m e , i e , et ernity , will b e th e fifth dim en

. .

s i on of spa c e Th e line of th e firs t dim ens i on of ti m e ext end s in

.

th a t o rder of s u ccess ion of ph enom ena whic h a re in c a u sa l i nter

—
d ep en d ence first th e c a u se th en th e e ffe c t : b efor e , now , a fter
—
, .

Th e line of th e sec ond di m ensi on of tim e th e line of eternity ex h -

ten d s p erp en di cu l a rly to th a t li ne .

I t is i m p ossibl e to u n d ers ta nd th e id ea of ti m e with ou t c on

c e iving to ou rse lv es th e id e a o f e t e rnity ; it is lik e wi se i m p ossibl e

to u n d er st a nd sp a c e if w e h a v e no id ea of e t er nity

—
.

Fr om th e sta ndp oin t of et ernity time do es not diffe r in a ny ,

thing from th e oth er lines a nd dim ens ions of sp a c e l ength ,

38 T ER T IUM O R G A NUIW

br ea dth a nd h eight Thi s m ea ns th a t j u st a s in space exi st th e

, .

’
things th a t w e d o not see or s p ea king difl erently not a l one th a t
, ,
“ ”
whi c h w e se e so in ti m e e v ent s exi st b efor e o u r c onsc i ou sness
,

h a s tou ch e d th em a nd th ey s till e xi st a ft er ou r c onsc i ou sne ss h a s

,

l eft th em b ehi n d C o nse qu ently extension in time is e xt ensi on

.
,

i nto un kno wn sp a c e a nd th er efor e ti m e is the fou rth dimension of

,

s p ace .

But asb een s h own a lr ea dy ti m e is not a si m pl e b u t a co m

h as , ,

pl e x c o c epti o
n n A n d w.e s a a hi —
h ll h v e t s in vi e w it consi st s of a
c o n cepti on of u nknown sp a ce v a ni s hin g in th e p a s t a nd f u t u r e a nd
, ,

o f illu s ory m o ti on u p on thi s s p a c e .

It is nec essa ry f or u s to r e ga rd ti m e a s a sp a tia l concep tion con

s idere d wit h r e l a ti o n to o u r tw o d a t a
—th e u niv erse a nd c on
sc iou sn es s .

Th e id ea of ti m e a pp ea r s wh e n c onsc i o u snes s c om es in c ont a c t

with th e world t h rou gh sensu ou s r ec eptivity I t h a s b e en alr ea dy .

sh o wn that b ecau se of th e pr o p e rti es of s en su ou s r eceptivity , con

s c iou sn ess s e es t h e w o rld a s t h r ou gh a n a rr o w s lit .

O u t o f t h i s th e f oll o wi ng qu esti ons a ri se :

1 Wh y d oes th er e e xi s t in th e w orld ill u si on a ry m oti on ? Th a t
.

is why d oe s not c on sc i ou sne s s s e e thr ou gh this s lit th e sa me thing

,

a t a ll times ? Why b ehind th e slit d o c h a nge s procee d c r ea ti n g

, ,

th e ill u si on of m oti o n i e , in wh a t m a nn e r , a nd h ow d oe s th e
, . .

f ocu s of ou r c onsc i ou sness ru n ov er th e world of ph enom ena ? I n

a d d iti on t o a ll t his it is n ece ss a ry to r em em b e r th a t thr ou gh th e

v e ry s a m e s lit thr ou gh whi c h it s e es th e world c onsc i ou sness ,

o b s e rv es it se lf a s p a rt o f th e w orld a n d se e s in it s e lf c h a ng es s im
,

ila r to th e c h a ng e s in th e r es t of thing s .

2 Wh y c a nno t c on sc i ou s n e s s e xt en d th a t s lit ?
.

We sh a ll end ea v or t o a nsw er th ese q u esti on s .

Fir s t of a ll w e s h a ll r em a rk t h a t withi n th e li m it s of ou r u s u a l
ob s e rv a ti o n c o ns c i ou snes s is a lw a y s in th e sa m e c on diti ons a nd

c a nn o t e s c a p e th e s e c onditi on s I n o t h e r wo rd s it is a s it w er e
.
,

c h a i n e d t o s o m e pl a n e a b o v e whi c h it c a nno t ri se Th ese condi .

tions or t h a t p la ne w e c a ll M A TT E R O u r c o n sc i ou sne ss liv es s o to

.
,

s p e a k u p on th e very p la ne a n d n e v e r ri s e s a b o v e it
, , I f consc i ou s .

n ess c ou ld ri se a b o v e thi s pl a ne s o u n d ou bt e dly it w ou ld see,

u n d er n e a th it se lf s imu lta neou s ly a f a r gr ea t e r n u m b e r of ev ent s

,
40 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

see n a t on c e This sh o ws th e r el a tivity of m oti on a s d ep ending

.
,

f or u s u p on th e limit a ti on of th e m om ent whic h in c l u d es only a ,

v ery s m a ll p a rt of th e m om ents O f lif e p erc eive d by u s .

We h a v e a p e rf ec t right to s a y not th a t time is d educe d from

“ ”
,
”
m oti on b u t th a t m oti on is sense d b ec a u s e of th e time sense
,
-
.

We h a v e th a t s ense th er efore w e sense m oti on T h e ti m e sense

, .
-

is th e s en sa ti on of c h a nging m om ent s If w e did not h a v e thi s .

“
ti m e sens e w e c ou ld not fee l m otion Th e ti m e sense is it self
-
.
-

,
“
in su b st a nc e th e limit or th e su rf ace of our s p a c e s ense
, Wh er e -
.

“ ” “ ”
th e s p a c e sens e en d s
-
th er e th e tim e sense b e gins I t h a s
,
-
.

“ ”
b e en m a d e cl e a r th a t ti m e is id e nti c a l in its pr op erti es with
”
s pa c e i e it h a s a ll th e signs o f sp a ce extens ion H owe v er
, . .
, .
,

w e d o n ot f eel it a s sp a ti a l ext ens i on b u t w e f ee l it a s time th a t , ,

is a s s om ething s p ecifi c in expre s sibl e in o th er w o rd s u nin ter

, , , ,
“ ”
ru pte dly b oun d u p with m oti on Thi s ina bili ty to sense ti m e
.

s p a ti a lly h a s its origin in th e f a c t th a t th e ti m e sen se is a mis ty -

sp ace s ens e; by m ea ns of ou r ti m e s e n se w e f e e l o b s c u r e ly th e ne w
- -

ch a r a c t e ri s ti cs of sp a c e w hi c h e m e rg e fr om th e s p h e r e of thr ee
,

dim ensi ons .

B u t wh a t is th e ti m e sens e a nd wh y d oes t h er e a ri se th e ill u si on

-

of m o ti on ?

T o a ns w er thi s qu e sti on a t a ll sa ti sf a c t o rily is p oss ibl e only by

s t u dying o ur con sc i ou sn e s s ou r I , .

“ ”
I is a com pli c a te d qu a ntity a nd within it s elf goes on a c on ,

tinu ou s m oti on Ab o u t th e n a t ure o f thi s m o ti on w e sh a ll sp ea k

.

l a ter b u t thi s v ery m otio n ins id e of our I c rea t es th e ill u si on of

,

m oti on a r ou n d u s m o ti on in th e m a t e ri a l w o rld
, .

Th e t d m a th em a ti c i a n R i e m a nn u n d er st oo d th a t wh en
no e
high er di m ens ions of sp a ce a re in qu es tion time by some mea ns , ,

tra ns la tes itself into sp a ce a n d h e r eg a rd e d th e MA T E R IA L A T OM a s

,

the entra nce of th e f ou rth dimens ion into th ree dimensiona l s p ace -
.

I n o ne o f his b ook s Hint on w rit e s v e ry i nt e re s ti ngly a b o u t

”
su rf a c e t ens i on s .

Th e l tionshi p of a s urf a c e to a soli d or of a soli d to a hi gh er solid

re a

is one which w e o fte n fin d in na tur e .

A su rfa c e is nothin g m ore nor less th a n th e rel a tion b etween tw o

th ings T w o b odie s tou c h ea c h oth e r T h e s u rfa ce is th e rel a tionship
. .

of o ne to th e o th e r .
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 41

If ou r sp ace is in th e sa m e c o rel a tion with high er sp a c e a s is th e -

su rfa ce to ou r s p a c e th en it m a y b e th a t o u r s p a c e is re a ll y th e s u rf a c e
, ,

th a t is th e pl a c e of c onta ct of tw o higher di mensiona l sp a ce s ,

-
.

I t is a fa ct worthy of notice th a t in th e su rfa c e of a fl ui d diff erent

laws obtain from those whic h h ol d th rou gh ou t th e m a s s There a re a .

wh ole seri es of fa c ts whic h a re g roup ed together unde r th e na m e of

su rfa c e te nsi o ns whi c h a re of g rea t i m p ort a nce in phy sic s a n d by whic h
, ,

th e b e h a vi or of th e s u rf a c es of li qu i d s is gove rne d .

And it m a y well b e th a t th e l a ws of ou r u niverse a re th e s u rfa ce te n

si ons of a h i gh e r un ive rse .

If th e su rfa ce b e re g a rde d a s a m e di u m lyi ng b etween b o die s th e n ,

indee d it will h ave no wei ght b u t b e a p owerfu l mea ns of tra nsmitting ,

vi bra tions Moreover it wou ld b e u nli ke a ny other su b sta nc e a nd it

.
, ,

wou ld be i mpossib le to g e t ri d of it H oweve r p e rfec t a va cu u m b e m a d e .

,

th ere wou ld b e in thi s va cu u m j u st a s mu c h of this u nknown m e diu m

(i e of th a t su rfa c e) a s the re w a s b efore
. .
, .

Matter wou l d p a ss fre ely throu gh thi s m e diu m vib ra tions of .

th is me diu m wou l d tea r a su nde r p ortions of matter And involun .

ta rily th e concl u si on wo u l d b e d ra wn th a t thi s m e diu m w a s unli ke a ny

or di na ry m a tter Th ese wou l d b e very diff erent p rop ertie s to
.

reconc ile in one a nd th e sa me su b sta nc e .

N ow is th ere a nything in our exp erience which corre sp ond s to thi s

m e di u m ?
Do w e su pp ose th e exi stence of a ny m e di u m throu g h whi c h ma tte r
freely m oves which y e t by its vib ra ti ons destroy s th e combina tions of
m a tte r—som e m e di u m whi c h is p resent in e very va cu u m h owever per
,

f e c t whic h p enetra te s a ll b odie s is wei gh tl ess a nd y e t c a n never b e

, , ,

l a i d h o l d of .

Th e s u b st a n c e whic h p ossesses all th ese q u alities is c alle d th e

e th e r .

T h e p rop erti e s of th e eth er a re a p erp etu a l obj ect of inve sti ga ti on in

s ci enc e . Bu t t a king i nto c onsi dera tion th e idea s exp re sse d b efore
it woul d b e intere sting to look a t th e wo rl d su pposing th a t w e a re not in
“ ”
it b u t on th e e ther ; whe re th e eth er is th e su rfa ce of conta ct of tw o
b odies of high er dimension s *
.

H inton h er e express es a n u nu su a lly i nter esting th ou ght a nd ,

“ ”
brin gs th e id ea of th e e th er n ea r e r to th e id ea of ti m e T h e .

m a t e ri a li sti c or e v en th e energ e ti c u nd ersta ndi ng of c o nt em p ora ry

,

phy i s c s o f th e e —
th e r is p erf ec tly fru itl ess a d ea d end siding For -
.

“
Hinton th e eth er is not a s u b s t a nce b u t o nly a su rfa ce th e ,
“ ”
b ou nd a ry of something B u t of wh a t ? Aga in not th a t of a .

s u bs ta nce b u t th e b o u n d a ry
, th e su rf a c e th e li mit o f one form , ,

o f receptivity a n d th e b eg i nni ng of a no t h e r

I n one s ent enc e th e w a ll s a nd f e nce s of th e m a t eri a li s ti c d ea d

4 ) en d sidi ng a re br ok e n d o wn a nd b fo r ou r th
e e o u ght o p e n wid e

horiz ons of r egi ons u nexpl or e d .

Hi t o n A N w E n. o f Th o ght pp 52 56 57
e ra u , .
, . .
 CHAPTER V
Fo d im n ional p a T mp o al b ody I/ing S h ri “
ur-
e s s Th e
ce . e r -
a a ra .

fo m of a h m an b ody f om b i th t o d a th I n mm n bil
r u r r e . co e s u ra
ity of th dim n i n l nd fo dim n io nal b odi N wt o n ’
reeb e s o a a ur -
e s es . e s

fl nt ue Th n ality of o n t ant q ant it i

s . e u n wo ld T h
re c s u es i ou r r . e
ight nd th l f t h and n th
r a dim n ion l nd n fo dim n
e e s i ree -
e s a a i ur -
e

i n l pa
s o a D iff n b tw n th dim n io nal nd fo
s ce . e re ce e ee r ee -
e s a ur

dim n ion l p a
e sNo t t wo d iff nt p a b t diff nt m th
a s ce . ere s c es u ere e

d of
o s ptitivity of n
rec e nd th am wo ld o e a e s e r .

OUR D IME NS I ONAL s p a c e if w e try to i m a gi ne it to

-

o u r s e lv es will b e th e i nfi nit e r ep e titi on of ou r s p ac e of

, ,

ou r i nfi nit e t h r ee di m en si ona l s ph e r e a s a li n e is th e -

i nfi nit e r ep etiti on of a p oi nt .

M a ny t h ings t h a t h a v e b een s a id b efor e will b e c om e

m u c h c l ea r er to u s wh e n w e dw e ll on th e f a c t th a t th e
fou rth di m en si on m u s t b e sou g h t f or in time .

I t wi ll b ecom e c l ea r wh a t is m ea nt by th e fa c t t h a t it is p ossibl e
to r eg a rd a f ou r dim en si ona l b o dy a s th e tr a c i ng of th e m ov e m en t
-

in sp a ce of a thr ee di m ens i ona l b o dy in a dir ec ti on not c onfi n e d

-

withi n th a t sp a ce No w th e dir ec ti on no t c onfi n ed in t h r e e

.

dim en si ona l sp a ce in which a ny thr ee di m ensi ona l b o dy m ov es -

thi s is th e dir ec ti on of ti m e Any thr ee dim ens i ona l b o dy exist .

-

ing is a t th e s a m e ti m e m ovi ng in ti m e a n d l ea v es a s a tra c i ng

,

of its m ov e m en t th e t e m p oral or f o u r di m ens i on a l b o dy We ,

-

ne v e r s ee nor f e e l thi s b o dy b e c a u s e o f th e li m itati ons of ou r r e ,

c eptive a pp a r a t u s b u t w e se e t h e s ection of it on ly whi c h sec ti on

, ,

w e c a ll th e t h r e e di m en s i on a l b o dy
-
Th er ef or e w e a re in err or in .

thi nki ng t h a t th e t h r ee di m ensi on a l b o dy is in its elf s om ethi ng

-

r eal I t is th e projection of th e fou r di m ens i on a l b ody its pic

.
— -

—
tu r e th e i m a g e of it on ou r p la ne .

Th e fou r di m en s i ona l b o d y is th e i nfi nit e nu m b er of three

-

di m ensi ona l ones Th a t is th e f ou r dim en si on a l b ody is th e in

.
,
-

fi nit e nu m b er of moments of exis tence of th e thr e e dim ensi on al -

one —it s s t a t es a nd p ositi ons Th e t h r e e di m ensi o na l b ody whi ch -

w e s ee a pp ea r s a s a s ingl e fig u re—o n e o f a seri es o f pi ct u res on a

.

c i ne m a t ogr a p hi c film a s it w e r e .
44 T ER T I UM ORGANUM

F ou r di
-
m e ns on a
i l s pa c e — —
time is
r e ally th e di s tance b etween
f orm s st a t es a nd p ositi ons of one a n d th e s am e b o dy (and
, , ,

diff er ent b o di es i e th ose seeming difl erent to u s) I t sep a r a tes

, . .
, .

th os e s t a t es fo rm s a nd p os iti ons e a ch fr om th e oth er a nd it

, , ,

bin d s th em a l so into som e to u s inc om pr eh ensibl e wh ol e This .

in c ompr eh ensibl e wh ol e c a n b e form e d in tim e ou t of one physi c a l

b o dy— a nd ou t of dizf erent b o dies .

I t is ea s i e r f or u s to i m a gin e the tempora l whole a s r elat e d to one

physic a l b o dy .

I f w e c ons id er th e phy si ca l b o dy of a m a n w e wi ll fin d in it ,
“ ”
b esid es its m a tt er something it is tru e c h a nging b u t u nd ou bt , , ,

e dly one a nd the s a me fr om b irth un til d ea th .

This s om ething is th e Linga S h arira of Hind u phil osophy i e -

, . .
,

the form on which ou r phy sica l body is mou ld ed ( H P Bl a vat sky . . .

“ ”
T h e S ecr e t D oc trine ) E a st ern phil osophy r eg a rd s th e phy
sic a l b o dy a s som ething imp erma nent whic h is in a c on diti on of ,

p erp etu a l in t erch a nge with its su rr ou n dings T h e p a rti cl es .

c om e a nd g o .A fter one s econd th e b o dy is a lr e a dy not a b sol u t ely

th e sa m e a s it w as on e secon d b ef or e T o d a y it is in a c on .
-

sid er a b le d egr e e not th a t whic h it w a s y es t e rd a y Aft er se v en .

y ea rs it is a qu ite dilf erent body B u t d espit e a ll this someth ing .

,

alwa ys p er si s ts fr om birth to d ea th c h a nging its asp ec t a littl e , ,

b u t r em a i nin g th e sa m e Thi s is th e I zinga S ha ri ra

.
-
.

T h e Izinga S h arira is th e f or m th e image it c h a nges b u t re

-

, , ,

m a ins th e sa m e Th a t i m a ge of a m a n whic h w e a re a bl e to repre

.

s ent to ou r se lv es is no t th e Linga S h a rira B u t if w e try to repre

-
.

s ent t o our se lv es m ent a lly th e im a g e of a m a n from birth to

d eath with a ll th e p a rti c ul a riti es a nd tr a its of childh oo d m a n

, ,

h oo d a nd s enility a s th ou gh ext end e d in ti m e th en it will b e th e

, ,

I /inga S h a rira
-
.

Form p ert a ins to a ll things We s a y th a t e verything c onsi s ts of

.

”
ma wr a nd form Und e r th e c a t egory of m a tter
“
. a s a lr ea dy ,

s tat e d , th e c a u s e of a l engthy seri es of mix e d se nsa ti ons is pr e di

c a te d b u t m a tt er with ou t f or m is not com pr eh ens ibl e to u s ; w e

,

c a nn o t e v e n th ink of m a tt e r with ou t f o r m B u t w e c a n think a nd .

i m a gine form with ou t m a tt er .

Th e thing, i e , th e uni on of f or m a nd m a tt er is ne v er cons ta nt;

. .
,

it a lwa y s c h a nges in th e c ou rse of ti m e Thi s id ea a fford e d .

Ne wt on th e p ossibili ty of b u ilding his th eory of flu ents a nd

f luxions .
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 45

Ne wt on ca m e to th e c onc l u si on th a t consta nt qu a ntities do not

e xi s t in Na t u r e
—
Va ri a bl e s d o exis t flowing flu ents only
.
, .

v e l oc iti es with whi ch difl erent fl u ents c h a nge w er e c all e d by

'

Th e
Ne wt on fluxions .

From th e st a n dp oint of this th eory a ll things kno wn to u s

, ,
—
m en pl a nt s a ni m a l s pl a nets a re fl u ents a nd th ey diff er by th e
, ,

m a gni tu d e of th eir fl u xio ns B u t th e thing c h a ngin g contin u .

,

ou sly in ti m e som e ti m es , v ery m u c h a nd qui c kly a s in , ,

th e c a se of a living b ody f or ex a m pl e s till r em a i ns one a nd the ,

sa me . T h e b ody of a m a n in y ou th th e b o dy of a m a n in s enil ,

ity—th ese a re one a nd th e sa m e th ou gh w e kno w th a t in th e ,

o ld b o dy th er e is n o t on e a t om l eft th a t w a s in th e y ou ng o ne .

T h e m a tt er c h a ng es b u t someth ing r em a ins one un d er a ll c hanges

, ,

thi s som ething i s th e Linga S h a rira Ne wt on s th eory is v a lid

’
-
.

f or th e thr ee dim ensi ona l world e xi sting in ti m e

-
I n thi s w orld .

t h er e i s nothi ng c onsta nt All I s v a ri a bl e b ec au s e e v ery c onsecu

.

tiv e m om ent th e thing is a lr ea dy n ot th a t whi ch it w a s b efor e .

W e nev er s ee th e Linga S h a rira w e s ee a lw a ys its p a rts a nd th ey

-

, ,

a pp ea r t o u s v a ri a bl e B u t if w e ob se rv e m or e a tt entiv ely w e
.

shall s ee th a t it is a n ill u s i on Things of thr ee dim ensi ons a re nu .

r ea l a n d v a riabl e Th ey c annot b e r ea l b ec au se th ey d o not exi s t

.

in r e a lity j u st a s th e imagina ry sections of a so lid do not exi st

, .

F ou r di m ensi ona l b odies a l one a re r ea l

-
.

I n o ne of th e l ec tu r es c ontaine d in th e b ook A Pl ur ali s ti c ,

”
Uni v e rse Pr of Ja m es c a ll s a tt enti on to Pr of B erg son s r em ark
, . .
’

th a t s ci ence stu di es a lwa y s th e t of th e u niverse only i e not th e , . .

,
“ ”
u ni v e r se in its en tir e ty bu t th e moment th e t em p oral s ec ti on
, ,

of th e u ni v ers e .

Th e prop erti es of fou r dim ensi ona l s p a c e will b ec om e c l ea rer

-

to u s if w e c om p a r e in d et a il thr ee dim ensi ona l s p a c e with th e -

su rf a c e a nd disco v e r th e diff e r e nc e exis ti ng b e tw een th em

, .

“ ”
Hi nton in his b ook A Ne w E ra of Th ou ght exa mines th es e
, , ,

d ifl e renc es v ery a tt entiv ely H e r epr e s ent s to hi m s e lf on a pl a ne.

, ,

tw o e q u a l r ect a ng ul a r tri a ngl es c u t ou t of p a p er th e right a ng l es , ,

of whi c h a re pl a c e d in opp os it e dir ec ti ons Th ese triangl es will b e .

e q u a l b u t for s ome reas on q uit e difl ere nt

, T h e right a ng l e of one .

is dir ec te d to th e right th a t o f th e o th e r to th e l eft , I f a ny one .

want s to m a ke th em qu ite s i mil a r it is p ossibl e to do so onl y with ,

46 T ERT IUM ORGANUM

th e h elp of thr e e di m ensi on a l sp a c e Th a t is it is n ec essa ry to

-
.
,

t a ke one tri a ngl e tu rn it o v er a nd pu t it b a ck on th e pl a ne Th e n

, , .

th ey will b e tw o e qu a l a nd exa ctly simila r triangl es B u t in ord er

, .

to eff ec t thi s it w a s nec ess a ry to tak e one tri a ngl e fr om th e plan e

,

int o thr ee di m ensi ona l sp ac e a nd tu rn it o v er in th a t spac e

-

, .

If th e tri a ng l e is l eft on th e plane th en it will neve r be p ossibl e ,

to m a ke it i d enti ca l w ith th e oth er k eepi n g th e s am e r e lati on of ,

a ngl es of th e one to th ose of th e o th er I f th e tri a ngl e is m er ely .

r o tate d in th e pl a ne thi s si m il a rity will n ev er b e esta bli sh e d I n .

o ur w orld th e r e a re fig u r es q uit e a nal o gou s to th es e tw o triangl es .

We know certain sh a p es which a re e qu a l th e one to th e other whic h ,

a re e xa ctl y s i mil a r a nd y e t wh i c h w e c a nn o t m a ke fi t into th e s a m e

,

p ortion of sp a ce eith er p ra ctic a lly or by i m a gin a tion

, .

If w e look a t ou r two h an ds w e see th is c lea rly thou gh th e tw o h a nd s ,

rep resent a c om plex c ase of a sym m etri c a l simil a rity Now th ere is one .

w a y in wh ic h th e ri gh t h an d a nd th e left h a n d m ay p ra cti c a lly b e

b rou gh t into likene ss If w e ta ke th e righ t h a nd glove and th e left h and
.

gl ove th e y will not fi t a ny m ore th a n th e ri g ht h a n d will c oinc i d e with

,

th e left h a nd ; b u t if w e tu rn one glove in si de o u t th e n it will fi t N ow , .

su pp ose th e s a m e thin g d one with th e solid h a n d a s is d on e with th e

glove wh en it is tu rn e d in si de ou t w e m u s t su pp ose it so to sp ea k , , ,

p u lle d th rou gh itself If su c h a n op era ti on were p ossib le th e

.
,

right h a nd wou l d b e tu rned into a n exact m o del of th e left h a nd *

.

Bu t p erati on w ou ld b e p os sibl e in th e high er dim en

su c h an o

si ou a l sp a c e o nly j u s t a s th e o v e rt u rni ng o f th e tri a ngl e is p o s sibl e

,

o n ly in a s p a ce r e l a tiv ely high er th a n th e pl a ne E ven g ra nting .

th e e xi s t enc e of f ou r di m ens i ona l sp a c e it is p os s ibl e th a t th e

-

tu rni ng of th e h a n d i nsid e ou t a nd th e p u lli ng of it thr ou gh itself

is a pr a c ti c al i m p oss ibility o n a c cou nt o f ca u ses i n d ep e n d en t of
geom etri c a l c on diti ons B u t thi s d o es n ot di m ini sh its v a l u e a s
.

a n e x a m pl e Thi ngs lik e th e t u rni ng of th e h a n d insid e ou t a re

.

p ossibl e th eor eti c a ll y in fou r di m ensi ona l sp a c e b ec a u se in thi s -

s p a c e diff e r ent a nd e v e n di s t a nt p oi n t s of o u r sp a ce a nd time

,

t ou ch or h a v e th e p ossibility of c ont a ct All p oi nt s o f a s h e et of

, .

p a p er lyi ng on a t a bl e a re sep a r a t e d one fr om a no t h er b u t by ,

t a ki ng th e s h e et from th e t a bl e it is p oss ibl e to fold it in su c h a

w a y a s to b ri ng t og et h e r a ny g iv e n p oi nt s I f on o n e c o rn e r is .

writt en S t P eters bu rg a n d on a noth er M a dra s nothing pr ev ents

.
, ,

th e p u tti ng t o get h e r of th es e c o r n er s And if o n th e third c o rn e r .

is writt en th e y ea r 1 8 1 2 a nd o n th e fou rth 1 9 1 2 t h ese c orn e rs c a n

, ,

tou ch e a ch oth er too I f on on e c orner th e y ea r is writt en in re d

.

C H Hi t o
. . A N w E o f T h o g ht p 4 4
n n,
“
e ra u
"
. . .
48 T ERT IUM ORGANUM

B Ri em a nn expresse d it : th e m a t eri a l a tom is th e

. en tra nc e of th e
fou rth di m ension into thr ee di m ensi onal sp a ce
-
.

For a nea r e r a ppro a c h t o th e probl em of high e r di m ensi ons a nd

of hi gh e r s p a c e it is n ec essa ry firs t of a ll t o u n d e r st a n d th e cons ti

ti on a nd pr op erti es of th e hi g h er dim ensi ona l r eg i on in com p a ri son

with th e r egi on of thr ee dim ens ions Th en only will a pp ea r th e
.

p ossibility of a m or e exa c t inv e stiga ti on of thi s r egi on, a nd a c l a ss i

fica tion of th e l a ws gov erni ng it .

Wh a t is it th a t it is necessa ry t o u nd erst a nd ?
I t seem s to m e th a t fir st of a ll it is nec ess a ry to u nd er s t a n d th a t
w e a re consid ering not two r egi ons sp a tially difl erent a nd ,
”
not tw o r egi ons of whi c h on e ( a g a i n s p a ti a lly , geom etri c a lly )
c ons tit u t es a p a rt of th e o th er , b u t t w o m e t h o d s o f r e c e ptivity o f

on e a n d th e s a m e u niq u e w orld o f a sp a ce w hi c h is u niqu e .

F u rth er m or e it is nec es sa ry to u n d erst a nd t h a t a ll obj ec ts

kn o wn to u s exi st not only in th ose c a tegori es in w hi ch th ey a re
p er ceiv e d by u s b u t in a n infi nit e nu m b er of o th ers in w h i c h w e
,

do not a nd c a nnot sense th em An d w e m u s t l ea rn fir st to think

.

things in o t h er c a t egori es a nd th en so f a r a s w e a re a bl e to im
, ,

a gine th e m th er e in O nly a ft e r d oi ng this c a n w e p os sibly d e v e l op

.

th e f a c ul ty t o a ppr eh en d th em in hi gh er s p a c e — a nd t o s en s e
“ ”
high er sp a ce its elf .

O r p erh a p s th e firs t necessity is th e dire c t p erc e pti on of e v e ry

thing in th e ou tsid e world whi ch d oes not fit i nto th e fr a m e of
th r ee dim ensions whic h exi st s ind ep en d ently of th e c a t egori es of
—
,

ti m e a nd sp a c e ev erything t h a t f or thi s r ea s on w e a re a cc u s tom e d

to c onsid e r a s n on e xi s t e nt
-
I f va ria bility is a n i n di ca ti on of th e
.

thr e e dim ens i on a l world th en let u s s e a rc h f or th e cons ta nta nd th e r e

-

by a pproa c h to a n u n d ers t a ndi ng of th e fou r di m ensi ona l world

-

We h a ve b ecom e a ccu st om e d to c ou nt a s rea lly exis ti ng onl y

th a t whi c h is m ea su r a bl e in t er m s o f l ength br ea dth a nd h eight
, ,

b u t a s h a s b een s h o wn it is n ec es s a ry to exp a nd th e limi t s o f th e

rea lly exis ting . M ensu ra bility is too r ou gh a n i ndi c a ti on of e xi st
e nce , b ec a u s e m ensu ra bility its elf is to o c on diti one d a conc ep
ti on We m a y s a y th a t f or a ny a ppr oa ch to th e ex a c t i nv estig a
.

ti on o f th e hig h e r di m ensi ona l r egi on th e c erta i nty obt a i ne d by

th e i mm e di a t e s e n sa ti on is pr o b a bly i n di sp en sa bl e t h a t m u c h
,

th a t is immea su ra ble e xi s ts j u st a s r ea lly a s , a nd e v en m or e r ea lly

th a n, m u c h th a t is m ea su r a bl e .
 CHAPTER VI
M th o d of inv tiga tion of th p o bl m of h igh dim n ion T h e
e s es e r e er e s s.
analogy b tw n imagin y wo ld of diff nt d im n ions T h
e ee ar r s e re e s . e
n d im n io nal wo ld n a lin Sp a t im of a n “ ” “ ”
o e -
e s nd r o e. ce a e o e
dim n ional b ing Th two dim n ional wo ld n a plan
e s e . e -
e s r o e.

Sp a nd tim thce m a tt
”
a nd m o tio n of a t wo
“
e,
” “
e er,
” “
er a
“ ”

d im n ional b ing R ality nd ill ion n a plan T h imp i

e s e . e a us o e . e os s

bility of ing n angl An a ngl see m o t ion T h in m p a e . e as . e co re

h n ibility t o a t wo dim n io nal b ing of th f n tion of thing in

e s e s e e u c s s

wo ld Ph nom na nd no m na of a two—
-

ou r r . d im n ional b ing
e e a u e e s e .

H w o ld a p lan b ing om p h nd th thi d dim n ion ?

o c u e e c re e e r e s

S ERIE S of a na l ogi es a nd c om p a ri sons a re u s e d f o r

th e d efi niti on of that whi c h c a n b e a nd th a t whi c h ,

c anno t b e , in th e r egi on o f th e high e r di m ens i o n .

F ech ner H inton , a nd m a ny o th ers em ploy this ,

m eth od .

“
Th ey i m a g i ne world s of one a nd o f tw o di m ensi ons a nd ou t , ,

of th e r e l a ti o ns o f l o w e r di m ensi ona l w orld s t o high e r ones t h e y -

de d u c e p oss ibl e r el a ti ons of ou r w orld to one of fou r dim en

s i ons ; j u s t a s ou t o f th e r e l a ti ons of p o i nt s to li ne s of lin e s to ,

su rf a ces a n d of s u rf a c es t o so lid s w e d e d u c e th e r e l a ti ons of ou r

,

so lid s to fou r di m en si onal on e s -

.

Le t u s try to i nv es tiga t e e v erything th a t this m eth o d of a na l ogy

c an yi e ld .

Let us i m a gi ne a w orld of one dimension .

I t will b e a line Up on t h is line let u s i m a gin e living b eings

. .

Up on thi s li ne whi c h r epr esent s th e u niv erse f or th em th ey will

, ,

b e a bl e to m o v e forw a rd a nd b a c kward only a nd th es e b e i ngs will

.
,

b e a s th e p oi nt s or s e gm ent s of a li ne Not h i n g will e xi s t f or t h e m

, .

o u t si d e t h e ir lin e a nd t h e y will not b e a w a r e o f th e lin e u p on

h

w h i c h th e y a re livi ng a n d m o vi ng F or th er e will e xi st only tw o .

p oi nts a h ea d a nd b ehi nd or m a y b e j u s t one p oi nt a h ea d

, , .

Noti c i ng th e c h a nge in s ta t es of t h ese p oints th e one di m ensi ona l ,

-

b ei ng will c a ll th ese c h a ng es ph enomena I f w e su pp ose th e li ne .

u p on whi c h th e o ne di m en s i on a l b e i ng liv e s t o b e p assi ng thr ou gh

-

'

th e difl ere nt obj e c t s of ou r w orld t h e n of a ll th es e o bj e c t s th e ,

49
50 T ER T I UM ORGANUM

on e -
di m ensi ona l b ei ng will p er c eiv e one p oi nt only ; if di ffer ent
b odi es int e rsec t his li ne th e one di m en si ona l b ei ng will sense th em
,
-

on ly a s th e a pp ea r a n ce th e m o r e or l e ss pr o l ong e d exi s t en c e a nd
, ,

th e di sa pp e a r a nc e of a p oi nt Thi s a pp ea r a nc e exi s t enc e a nd

.
, ,

di s a pp ea r a n c e of a p o i nt will c ons titu t e a ph enomenon Ph e .

n o m en a a cc o rdi ng to th e c h a r a c t e r a nd pr op erti e s of p a ssing o b

,

j e c t s a n d th e v e l o c ity a n d pr o p e rti es o f th e ir m o ti o n s f or th e on e ,

di m ensi on a l b ei ng will b e c onst a nt or v a ri a bl e l ong or s h ort ,

tim e d p e ri o di ca l o r u np eri odi c a l B u t th e on e di m ensi ona l b ei ng

, .
-

will b e a b s ol u t e ly u na bl e to u n d ers ta n d or e xpl a i n th e c on

s t a n c y o r v a ri a bility th e d u r a ti on or br e vit y th e p eri o di c it y or
, ,

u np erio dic ity o f th e ph enom e n a o f his w o rld a n d will r e g a rd ,

t h em s im ply a s pr op erti es p ert a i ni ng to th em Th e s olid s i nt e r .

s e c ting hi s lin e m a y b e di ff e r ent b u t f or th e o ne di m e nsi on a l b e i ng

,
-

a ll ph e n o m en a will b e a b sol u t e ly identica l

— j u s t th e a pp ea ra n c e or
h
t e di sa pp ea r a n ce o f a p o i n t— a n d p h eno m e n a will di ff e r only in

d u r a ti on a nd gr ea t er or l ess p eri o di city .

S u c h s tra ng e m onot ony a nd s i m il a rity o f th e div e r s e a nd h et er o

g en e ou s ph en om en a of ou r w o rld will b e th e c h a ra c t eri s ti c p ecu
lia rity of th e one di m ens i ona l w orld -
.

M or eov e r if w e a ssu m e th a t th e one dim ensi ona l b ei ng p os

,
-

s esses m e m o ry it is c l ea r th a t r eca lli ng a ll th e p oi nt s se e n by h im

,

a s ph en om en a h e will r e f e r t h e m to ti m e
, T h e p oi nt whi c h w a s
.

thi s is th e ph enom en on a lr ea dy non e xis t ent a nd th e p oi nt whi c h -

m a y a pp e a r t om orr o w : thi s is th e ph enom e non w h i c h d o e s not

exi s t y et All of o u r sp a ce e x c ept one li ne will b e in th e c a t egory
.

o f ti m e ,i e som e thing wh er efr om ph enom ena c om e a n d i nto

. .
,

whi c h th ey di sa pp ea r And th e on e di m en s i ona l b ei ng will d e

.
-

c l a r e th a t th e i d e a o f ti m e a ri s e s f or h im ou t of th e o b s e rv a ti o n of

m o ti on th a t is to sa y ou t of th e a pp ea r a nc e a n d di sa pp e a ra nc e
, ,

of p oi nt s Th es e will b e c on sid er e d a s t em p or a l p h en om ena b e

.
,

gi nni ng a t th a t m om ent wh en t h ey b ecom e vi s ibl e a nd en d ing ,

ceas ing to exis t — a t th a t m om en t wh en th e y b ecom e i nvi sibl e .

T h e one di m en si ona l b ei ng will n ot b e in a p ositi o n to i m a g i ne

-

t h a t th e ph enom enon goes on e xi sti ng som e wh er e t h ou gh in vi si ,

bly to h im ; or h e will i m a gi ne it a s e xis ting som ewh er e on h is line ,

far a h ea d of h im .

We c a n i m a gin e thi s o ne di m ensi ona l b ei ng m ore vividly Let

-
.

u s t a k e a n a t o m h ov e ri ng in s p a c e o r s i m ply a p a rti c l e o f d u s t
, , ,

c a rri e d a l ong by th e a ir a n d le t u s i m a gi n e t h a t t hi s a t om o r pa r
,
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 5l

tic le d u st p osses ses a c onsci ou sness i e sep a r a t es h i m s elf fr om

of , . .
,

th e ou ts id e w orld a nd is c ons c i ou s only of th a t whi c h li es in th e

,

li ne of his m oti on a n d with whi ch h e hi m se lf c om es in c ont a ct H e

, .

will th en b e a on e di m ensi ona l b ei ng in th e f u ll sense of th e word

-

He c a n fly a nd m ov e in a ll dir ec ti o ns b u t it will a lw a y s s eem to h im ,

t h a t h e is m oving u p on a singl e line ; ou tsid e of thi s line will b e f or

—
h im o nly gr e a t Nothingness th e wh ol e u ni v erse will a pp e a r t o
h m a s one li ne H e will f e e l no ne of th e t u r ns a nd a ngl e s of h is
i

line f or to f eel a n a ngl e it is n ecessa ry to b e c onsc i ou s of th a t

,

w h i c h li es to right or l eft a b ov e o r b el ow I n a ll o t h e r r esp ec t s

, .

s u c h a b ei ng wi ll b e a b sol u t e ly id e nti c a l wit h th e b e f or e d es c rib e d -

i m a gi na ry b e ing livi ng u p on th e i m a g i na ry line E v er y thing t h a t .

h e c om e s in c o nt a c t wit h t h a t is e v e ryt h i ng t h a t h e is c onsc i ou s

, ,

of will s eem to h im t o b e e m e rg i ng fr om ti m e i e
, from n othing , . .
, ,

a n d v a ni s h i ng i nt o ti m e i e i n to no t h ing This nothing will b e

, . .
, .

a ll ou r w orld All ou r w o rld e x c ept one lin e wi ll b e c a ll e d time

.

a n d will b e c o u n t e d a s a ctu a lly n on e xi s t en t -

.

Le t xt c onsid er th e tw o dim en si on a l world a nd th e b ei ng

u s ne -

livi ng on a pl a ne T h e univ erse of t h i s b ei ng will b e o ne gr ea t

.

pl a ne Le t u s i m a gi n e b eings on thi s pl a ne h a vi ng th e sh a p e of
.

p oi nts li nes a nd fl a t geo m etri c a l figu r es

, , Th e obj e c t s a n d .

so lid s of t h a t w o rld will h a v e th e sh a p e of fl a t g eo m etri ca l

fig u r es too .

I n wh a t m a nne r will a b eing living on su c h a pl a ne u niv ers e

c o gniz e h is w o rld ?

First of a ll w e ca n a ffirm th a t h e will n ot feel th e pl a n e u p on

w h i c h h e liv es H e will not d o so b ec a u se h e will fe e l th e o bj ec t s
.
,

i e fi g u r e s w h i c h a re on thi s pl a ne H e will feel th e li nes whi ch

. .
, , .

li m it t h e m a nd f or t h i s r ea son h e will not f ee l hi s pl a ne f or in t h a t

, ,

c a se h e w ou ld no t b e in a p os iti o n t o di s ce rn th e li n es T h e li nes .

will di ff e r from th e pl a n e in th a t th e y prod u ce s en s a ti ons ; t h er e

for e t h e y exi st T h e pl a ne d oes not pr od u c e s ensa ti on s ; t h er e for e
.

it d oe s not e xi s t M o vi ng on th e pl a ne th e tw o di m ensi on a l
.
,
-

b ei ng f e eli ng no sensa ti on s will d ec l a r e th a t nothing no w exi s ts

, , .

Af t er h a vi ng e nc ou nt e r e d so m e fi g u r e h a vi ng sense d its lines h e , ,

will sa y th a t som et h ing a pp ea r e d B u t g ra d u a lly by a pr oc e ss of .

,

r ea soni ng th e tw o di m ensi on a l b ei ng will com e to th e c onc l u si on

,
-

th a t th e figu r es h e enc o un t ers e xi st on someth ing or in something , .

52 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

Th er e u p on h e m a y na m e su c h a pl a ne (h e will no t kno w i nd e e d , ,
“ ”
th a t it is a pl a ne) th e e th er Ac c o rdi ngly h e will d ec l a re th a t
.

“ “
th e e th er fill s a ll sp a c e b u t difiers in its qu a liti es from m a t
,
“ ”
t er . By m a tter h e wil l m ea n lin es H a ving com e to this con .

c lu sion th e t w o di m en si o na l b e i ng will r eg a rd a ll pr o c e sses a s

-

“ ”
h a pp ening in h is eth er i e in his space H e will not b e in a
, . .
, .

p ositi on to i m agine a nything ou t sid e of thi s e th er th a t is ou t of , ,

h is pl a ne I f a nything proc ee din g ou t of his pl a ne com es in c on

.
, ,

t a c t with his c onsc i ou sness th en h e will e ith er d eny it or r ega rd it

, ,

a s s om e thing su bj ec tiv e th e c r ea ti on of h is o w n im a gi na ti o n or
, ,

e l se h e will b e li ev e th a t it is pr oc ee di ng right o n th e pl a ne in the ,

eth er a s a re a ll o th e r ph enom en a
, .

S en si ng li nes only th e pl a ne b ei ng will n o t sense t h em a s w e do

, .

Firs t of a ll h e will s ee no a ngle

, I t is extr em ely e asy f or u s to .

v e rify thi s by exp e rim ent If w e will h old b efore ou r ey es tw o .

m a t c h es i ncli ne d on e to th e o th er in a h oriz ont a l pl a ne th en w e

, ,

sh a ll s ee one line T o s ee th e a ngl e w e s h a ll h a v e to lookf rom a bove

. .

T h e t w o di m ensi ona l b eing c a nnot l oo k from a b o v e a nd th er efo re

-

c a nno t see th e a ngl e B u t m ea su ri ng th e di st a nc e b etw een th e

.

“ ”
li nes of diff ere nt solid s of his w orld th e tw o di m ensi ona l b e in g ,
-

w ill com e continu a lly in cont a c t with th e a ngl e a nd h e will r ega rd ,

it a s a stra nge prop erty of th e li ne w h i ch is som etim es m a nifes t ,

a n d s om e ti m es is n ot Th a t is h e will r efer th e a ngl e to tim e

.
, ,

h e will r eg a rd it a s a t em p orary e v a nes cent ph e nom enon a c h a nge , ,

“ ”
in th e s t a t e of a s olid or a s motion I t is difficu lt f or u s to u n
, .

d ers ta nd thi s I t is difficu lt to i m a gi ne h ow th e a ngl e c a n b e re

.

g a rd e d a s m oti on B u t it m u s t b e a b sol u t ely s o a nd c a nnot b e

.
,

o th e rwi s e If w e try to r epresent to o u rs elv es h ow th e pl a ne

.

b ei ng s tu di es th e s qu ar e th en c ert a inly w e sh a ll find th a t f or th e

,

pl a n e b ei ng th e s qu a r e will b e a moving body Let u s i m a gi ne .

th a t th e pl a ne b ei ng is opp osit e one of th e a ngl es of th e s qu a r e .

—
H e do es not see th e a ngl e b ef or e h im is a li n e b u t a li ne p osses s ,

ing v ery c u ri ou s prop erti es Appr oa c h ing this li ne th e tw o .

,

di m ensi ona l b e ing ob serv es th a t a stra nge thing is h a pp ening to

th e lin e .One p oi nt r em a i ns in th e s a m e p os iti on a nd oth e r ,

p oints a re withdra wing ba ck from b ot h sid es We r ep ea t t h a t th e .

,

t w o di m e nsi on a l b ei ng h a s n o id ea of a n a ngl e
-

A ppa rently th e .

li ne r em a i ns th e s a m e a s it w a s y et som ethi ng is h app eni ng to it , ,

with ou t a d ou bt T h e pl a ne b e ing will sa y th a t th e line is m ovi ng

.
,

b u t s o r a pidly a s to b e i m p e rc eptibl e to si g h t I f th e pl a ne b eing .

 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 53

goes a wa y from th e a ngl e a nd fo ll o ws a l ong a sid e of th e s q u a r e ,

t h e n th e sid e will b ecom e i m m obil e Wh en h e com es to th e a ng l e .

,

h e will noti ce th e motion a ga i n Af t e r going a rou nd th e s q u a r e .

se v e r a l ti m es h e will es t a bli s h th e f a c t of r e gu l a r p e ri o di ca l m o
, ,

ti on s of th e li ne " u it e pr ob a bly in th e mind of th e pl a ne b eing

.

th e s q u a r e will a ssu m e th e f or m of a b o dy p osses sing th e pr op e rty

o f p e ri o di c a l m o ti ons invi s ibl e to th e ey e b u t pr o d u ci ng d efi nit e
, ,

—
physi c a l effects (m o l ec u l a r m otion) or it will r em a i n th er e a s a
p ercepti on of p eri odi c a l moments of re s t a nd m otion in o ne c om
pl e x line a nd still m ore pr ob a bly it will seem to b e a rota ting
,

body .

" uite p ossibly th e pl a ne b ei ng will r ega rd th e a ng e a s l h is ow n

su bj ec tive p ercepti on a nd will d ou bt wh eth er a ny o bj ec tiv e ,

r ea lity c orr esp on d s to thi s su bj ective p ercepti on Ne v e rth el ess .

h e will r efl ec t th a t if th ere is a ction yi e ldi ng to m ea su r e m ent so , ,

m u s t th ere b e th e c a u se of it c onsi sti ng in th e c h a nge o f th e s t a t e ,

of th e li ne i e in m oti on
, . .
, .

T h e li nes vi sibl e to th e pl a ne b ei ng h e m a y c a ll ma tter a nd th e ,

a ngl es
—motion Th a t is h e m a y c a ll th e brok en line wit h a n
.
,

a ngl e moving m att e r

, And tru ly to h im s u c h a li ne by r ea son o f
.

its prop e rti es will b e qu it e a na l ogou s to m a tt e r in m oti on .

I f a cu b e w ere to r est u p on th e pl a ne u p on whi c h th e pl a ne

b ei ng liv es th en this c u b e will not e xi s t f or th e tw o di m ensi ona l
,
-

b eing b u t only th e s qu a r e f ac e of th e c u b e in c onta ct with th e

,

—
pl a ne will e xi st f or him a s a li ne with p eri odi ca l m oti ons C or , .

responding ly a ll o th e r s olid s lyi ng o u t s id e of h is pl a ne in c ont a c t

, ,

with it or p a ssing thr ou gh it will not e xi st f or th e pl a ne b eing

, , .

T h e pl a nes of cont a c t or c r oss sec ti ons of th ese b o di es will a l one -

b e sense d B u t if th es e pl a ne s o r s ec ti o ns m o v e or c h a ng e t h en
.
,

th e t w o dim ensi on a l b ei ng will thi nk i n d eed t h at th e ca u s e of

-

, ,

th e ch a nge or m oti on is in th e b odi es th em se lv es i e right t h er e , . .

,
.

on hi s pl a ne .

As h a s b een sa id th e tw o di m ens i ona l b ei ng will r e ga rd th e

,
-

str a ight li ne s only a s i m m o bil e m a tt e r ; irr e gu l a r li ne s a n d cu rv e s

will s eem to h im a s m oving S o f a r a s rea lly m oving li nes a re .

concern e d th a t is li nes li m iti ng th e c r o ss s e c ti ons or pl a ne s of

, ,

c ont a c t p a s s i ng t h r ou gh or m o vi ng a l ong th e pl a n e th es e will b e

, ,

f or th e tw o di m ensi ona l b ei ng som e thing i nconc eiv a bl e a nd in

-

commensu ra ble I t will b e a s th ou g h t h ere w er e in th em th e

.

presence of s om e thing ind ep end ent d ep en ding u p on it self only , ,

54 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

a nima ted This effec t will pr oc ee d fr om tw o c au ses : He c a n

.

m e a su r e th e i m m obil e a ngl es a nd c u rv es th e pr op erti e s o f whi c h ,

th e tw o dim en si ona l b ei ng c a ll s m oti on f or th e r e a son th a t th ey

-

a r e i m m obil e ; m o vi n g figu r e s o n th e c o ntr a ry h e c a nn o t m e a su r e

, , ,

b ec a u se th e c h a nge s in t h em will b e ou t of his c ontro l T h ese .

c h a n g e s will d ep e n d u p on th e pr op e rti e s of the wh ole body a nd its

m oti on a nd of t h a t wh o l e b ody th e tw o di m ensi ona l b ei n g

,
-

will kno w on ly one sid e or s ecti on Not p er c e iving th e exi s t enc e of

.

thi s b o dy a nd cont em pl a ting th e m oti on p ert a i ning t o th e s id es

,

a n d s e c ti ons h e proba bly will rega rd th em a s living beings H e will .

a ffirm t h a t th er e is s om e t hing in th em w hi ch diff er enti a t e s th e m

from oth er b o di es : vita l ene rgy or e v en s ou l T h a t som ethi ng

, .

will b e r ega rd e d a s in conc e iva bl e a n d r ea lly wi ll b e i nconceiv a bl e

,

t o th e t w o di m ensi on a l b ei ng b eca u se to hi m it is th e r es u lt of
-

a n i ncom pr eh en s ibl e m o ti on o f in co nc eiv a bl e solid s .

If w e i m a gin e a n i mm obil e c ir c l e u p on th e pl a ne th en f or th e ,

t w o di m en si on a l b e ing it will a pp ea r a s a m o vi n g lin e with s o m e

-

v ery str a nge a nd to h im i nconc e iva bl e m oti on s .

T h e tw o di m ensi ona l b ei ng will ne v er s ee th a t m o ti on P erh a p s

-

h e will c a ll su c h m oti o n molecu la r motion i e th e m o v em ent of , . .

,
“ ”
minu t es t invi sibl e p a rti c l e s o f m a tt er .

M or eov e r a c irc l e r ot a ting a rou n d a n a xi s p a ssi ng throu gh its

,

c en t e r f o r th e tw o di m en si on a l b e i ng will di ff e r in som e inc on

-

c eiva ble w a y fr om th e i m m o bil e c ir c l e B oth will a pp ea r to be

.

moving bu t moving dijf erently

, .

For th e tw o di m ensi on a l b ei ng a c ir c l e or a s qu a r e r o t a ti ng
-

a r ou n d its c en t er on a c c ou nt of its d ou bl e m oti on will b e a n inex

,

pli c a bl e a n d i ncom m ensu ra bl e ph enom enon l ike a ph enomenon ,

of lif e f or a m o d ern phy s i c i s t .

Th er ef or e f or a t w o dim en si ona l b ei ng a s tr a ight li ne will b e

,
-

—
im m obil e m a tt er ; a br ok en or a c u rv e d li n e m a tt er in m oti on ;
a d
n a m o vi n g li n e
— living m a tt er .

T h e c ent er of a c ir c l e or a s qu a r e w ill b e i na cce s sibl e to th e

pl a ne b ei ng j u st a s th e c ente r of a sph e r e or o f a c u b e m a d e of
,

s olid m a tt e r is in a cc ess ibl e t o u s— a nd f o r th e t w o di m ens i o n a l -

b ei ng e v en th e id ea of a c ent e r will b e i ncompreh ensibl e s ince h e ,

p os se sses n o id ea of a c ent e r .

H a ving no id e a o f p h enom en a proc e e d i ng ou t sid e of th e pl a ne

“ ”—
th a t is ou t of h is s p a ce
, th e pl a n e b ei ng will thi nk o f a ll ph e
nom en a a s pr ocee di ng o n his pl a n e a s h a s b een s t a t e d An d a ll .
56 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

as f a nt a sti c a nd entir ely u nsc i entifi c I t will s eem so to h im b e .

c a u s e h e will ne v e r b e in a p o s iti on to r epr esent th e wh e e l to

him self i e th e p a rt s of th e wh eel on b oth sid es of th e pl a ne

, . .
, .

Aft e r a rou gh s t u dy o f th e co l o r of th e lines a nd know ing th e ,

o rd e r of th e ir s e q u e nc e th e pl a ne b e in g p e r ce ivin g o n e o f th em
, , ,

sa y th e bl u e on e will thin k th a t th e bl a c k a nd th e whi t e o ne s h a v e

,

a lr e a dy p a s s e d i e di sa pp ea re d c ea se d to exi st gone into the

, . .
, , ,

p a s t; a n d th a t th o s e lin es w hi c h h a v e n o t y e t a pp e a r e d—th e y el
low th e green a nd s o o n a nd th e new whit e a nd bl a c k o nes still
—
, , ,

to c o e m do not y et exi s t b u t lie in th e fu t u r e , .

Th er efor e th ou gh not c onc eiving th e for m of h is u niverse a nd

, ,

r egarding it a s infi nit e in a ll dir ec tions th e pl a n e b eing will ne v er ,

th eless in v o l u nt a rily th ink o f th e p a s t as s itu at e d s om e wh e r e a t

o ne s id e of a ll a nd of th e f u t ur e a s s om e wh er e a t th e o th er s id e of
,

this to tality I n su c h m a nner will th e pl a ne b eing conc eive of the

.

idea of time We see th a t thi s id ea a ri ses b ec a u s e th e tw o dim en

.
-

s ion a l b e ing s enses onl y two ou t o f thr ee di m e ns i ons of s pa c e ; th e

third dim ension h e senses only aft er its eff e c ts b ecom e m a nifes t
u p on th e pl a ne a nd th e r ef or e h e r eg a rd s it a s som e thin g difl erent
,

fro m th e fir s t t w o di m ensions of sp a c e c alling it time , .

Now let u s i m agin e that thr ou gh th e plane u p on whic h th e tw o

di mensi ona l b e ing liv es two wheels with m u lti col ore d sp okes are
,
-

r ota ting a nd a re rot a ti ng in opp osite directi ons T h e sp ok es of .

one wh ee l c om e fr om a b o v e a n d g o b e l o w ; th e s p ok es of th e o th e r

c om e from b e l o w a nd g o a b o v e .

Th e p la ne being will never notice it .

He will ne v e r noti ce t h a t wh ere f or o ne line ( whi c h h e s ees)

—
th er e lies th e past f or a noth er lin e th er e li es th e fu tu r e Thi s .

th ou ght will n ever e v en com e into his h ea d , b eca u se h e will c on

c e ive of th e p a st a nd th e f u tu r e v e ry c onf u se dly , r e g a rdi ng th e m

a s conc ept s , not a s a c tu a l f a c t s B u t at th e sa m e ti m e h e will b e

.

firml y convince d t h a t th e p a st goes in one direction a nd th e fu t u re ,

in a no th e r Th er ef or e it will see m to hi m a wild a b su rdity th a t on

.

one s id e s om e thing p a s t a n d something f u tu re c a n lie t og e t h e r , a nd

o n a n o — —
t h er s ide a nd a l so b esid e th es e tw G som ething fu tu r e a nd
something pas t T o th e pl a ne b ein g th e id ea th a t som e ph eno m e na
.

com e wh enc e o th e rs g o , a nd vi ce v e r sa , will s eem e q u a lly a b su rd .

He will t ena c i ou sly thi nk th a t th e f u tu re is t h a t wh er efro m e v ery

 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 57

thing c om es , a n d past is th a t wh ere to e v erything goes a nd

th e
wherefrom nothing retu rns He will b e tot a lly u na bl e to u n d er
.

s t a n d that e v ent s m a y ari s e fro m th e p a s t j u s t a s th ey do fr o m th e

fu tu r e .

Th u s w e s ee th a t th e pl a ne b ei ng will r egard th e ch a nges of

co l or of th e lin e s lyi ng o n th e pl a n e v e ry na iv e ly T h e a pp ear .

a nc e of diflerent sp ok es h e will r e ga rd a s th e c h a ng e of c o l o r of one

'

a nd th e s a me line a nd th e r ep e at e d a pp e ar a nc e of th e s a m e c o l or e d
,

sp o k e h e will r e g a rd e v ery ti m e a s a new a pp ea r a nc e of a giv en

c ol o r .

B u t ne v erth e l ess h a ving noti c e d p eri o di c ity in th e c h a nge of

,

th e c ol or of th e li nes u p on th e s u rf a ce h a vi ng r em em b er e d th e ,
”
ord er of th eir a pp ea r a nce a nd h a vi ng l ea rne d to d e fi ne th e
, ti m e
of th e a pp ea r a nc e of c e rt a i n sp ok es in r el a ti on t o s om e o th er

m or e c ons t a nt ph enom eno n th e pl a ne b ei ng wi ll b e in a p osi ,

ti on to for et ell th e c h a nge of th e li ne fr om one c ol or to a no th er .

Th er eu p on h e will say th a t h e h a s s tu died thi s ph enom enon that

h e c a n a pply to it th e m ath em ati c a l m e th o d —c a n c a l c u l a t e
,
“ “

”
it.

I f w e ours elv es ent er th e world of pl a ne b ei ngs th en its in -

h a bita nt s will sense th e lines li mi ti ng th e sections of ou r b odies .

Th es e s ec tio ns will b e f or th em living beings; th ey will not kn o w

'

fr om wh ence th ey a pp ear why th ey a lt er or whith er th ey dis ap

, ,

p e ar in su ch a mira cu lou s ma nner S o a lso th e s ec ti ons of a ll ou r in .

,

a nim a t e b u t m o ving o bj ec t s will seem i n d ep en d ent livi ng b ei ng s .

I f th e c onsc iou sness of a pl ane b ei ng sh ou ld su sp ect ou r exi st

ence a nd sh ou ld c om e int o so m e sort of c omm u ni on with o u r c on
,

sc iou s ness th en to h im w e w ou ld a pp ea r a s high er omn i s c i ent

, , ,

p ossibly omnip o tent bu t a b ove a ll i ncompr eh ensibl e b ei ngs of a

,

qu ite inconceiva ble ca tegory .

We cou ld see his wo rld ju st a s it is a nd not a s it see m s to h im , .

We cou ld see th e p a st a nd th e fu tu re ; cou ld foret ell dir ec t ,

a n d e v en c r ea t e e v ent s

We cou ld kn ow th e v ery su b stanc e of thi ngs—c ou ld kno w what

.

” ”
m a tt er (th e s tr a ight line) is wh a t m o ti on (th e broken ,

lin e th e c u rv e th e angl e) is We cou ld see a n a ngle and w e cou ld

, , .
,

see a center All thi s w ou ld giv e u s a n e norm ou s a dv a nt a ge o v er

.

th e tw o di m ensi ona l b ei ng
-
.
58 T ER T IUM ORGANU M

In a ll of ph enom ena of th e world of th e tw o di m ensi ona l

th e -

b ei g w e c o ld e c
n u s e o n s id r bly
e a m o n —
r e th a h e sees or c ou ld s ee
qu it e oth er things th a n h e .

And w e c ou ld t e ll hi m v e ry m u c h th a t w a s n e w a m a zi ng a n d , ,

n
u ex p e t
c e d a b o u t t h e p h e n o m e n a o f hi s w o rld — pr ovid e d i nd ee d , ,

th a t h e c ou ld h ea r u s a nd u ndersta nd u s .

Firs t of a ll w e cou ld t ell h im t h a t wh a t h e r eg a rd s a s ph e

n om en a — a ngl es a n d c u rv es f or ins ta nc e
, a re pr op erties o f hi g h er
b

“ ”
figu res ; th a t o th er ph enom en a of his world a re not ph en om en a ,
“ ” “ ”
b u t onl y p a rt s or se c ti ons of ph enom ena ; th a t wh a t h e c a ll s
s o lid s
”
are o nly sec ti on s of so lid s — a n d m a ny m or e thi ng s b e
,

s id es .

We sh ou ld b e a bl e to t ell h im t h a t on b oth s id es of h is pl a ne
(i e of h is sp a c e or e th er) lies infinit e sp a c e ( whi ch th e pl a ne
. .
,

b eing c a ll s ti m e) ; a nd t h a t in thi s s p a ce lie th e c a u ses of a ll h is

ph en om ena a nd th e ph enom ena th e m s e lve s th e p a st a s w ell a s
, ,
“ ”
th e f u t u r e o n es ; m or e o v e r w e m ight a dd th a t p h en om ena th e m
,

se lv e s a re no t s om e thi ng h a pp eni ng a n d th en c ea s in g to b e b u t ,

c o m bin a ti on s of pr op e rti es of h ig h e r solid s .

B u t w e sh ou ld e xp eri enc e c onsid er a bl e diffi cu lty in expl a i ni ng

a n ythi n g t o th e pl a n e b e i ng ; a n d it w ou ld b e v e ry d iffi c u lt f or h im

to u n d e r s t a n d u s Fir st of a ll it w ou ld b e difficu lt b ec au s e h e
.

wou ld n ot h a v e th e concepts corr esp on ding to ou r c oncepts H e .

“ ”
wou ld l a c k nec ess a ry wo rd s .

“ ” —
F or i ns t a n c e s ec ti o n
, thi s wou ld b e f or hi m a qu it e ne w
a n d i n c on ce iv a bl e w o rd ; th e n
“
a n gl e
— a g a i n a n i nc o n ce iv a bl e
“ ”—
word ; c ent er s till m o r e i n c on c e iv a bl e ; th e third p e rp en di c u lar
— so m et h i ng i nc om preh ens ibl e lying ou tsid e of h is geom e try
, .

Th e f a ll a c y of h is c oncepti on of ti m e wou ld b e th e m os t diffic u lt

thi ng f or th e pl a n e b ei ng to u n d e rs ta n d H e c ou ld n e v e r u n d er
.

s t a n d th a t th a t w h ich h a s p a ss ed a n d th a t which is to be a re e x

is ting s i m u lt a n eou sly o n th e li nes p e rp e n di c u l a r to h is pl a ne An d .

h e c ou ld n e v e r c o nc eiv e th e id ea t h a t th e p a s t is id enti c a l with th e

f u t u r e b eca u se ph enom ena c o m e fr o m b oth sid es a nd g o in b oth
,

d ir ec ti ons .

B u t th e m ost d ifficu lt thi ng f or th e pl a ne b ei ng w o u ld b e to

“ ”
c o nc eiv e th e id ea t h a t ti m e i nc l u d e s in it s elf two idea s : th e id ea
of s p a c e a n d th e id e a of m o ti on u p on t h i s sp a c e
, .

We h a v e s h o wn t h a t w h a t th e tw o di m ensi ona l b ei ng living on

-

th e pl a n e c a ll s m oti o n h a s f or u s qu it e a difl erent a sp ec t .

 T ER T IUM ORGAN UM 59

b ook T h e F ou rth Dim ensi on u nd er th e h ea di ng

I n h is , Th e
”
Fir st Ch a pt er in th e H i st ory of F ou r space H i nton wr ites -

,
:

Pa rm enides a nd th e A siatic thinkers with wh om h e is in cl ose

,

a ffinity p rop oun d a th e ory of e xistenc e whic h is in c l o se a c c ord with a

,

c once p tion of a p ossi b l e rel a ti on b etween a hi gh e r a nd l ower d i m ensi ona l

sp ac e . I t is one whic h in a ll a ge s h a s h a d a strong a ttra ction f or

p ure intelle ct a nd is th e natu ra l m ode of th ou ght f or th ose w h o refra in
,

from p roj ecting their own volition into na tu re un de r th e guise of c ausa lity .

According to Pa rm eni de s of th e sc hool of E lea th e a ll is one un mov ,

ing a n d un ch an ging T h e p erm a nent a mi d th e tra nsient th a t footh ol d

.
fi

f or th ou gh t th a t soli d gro u n d f or feeling on th e di scove ry of whi ch

d epend s a ll ou r lif e—is no ph antom ; it is th e i ma ge a mi d st deceptio n of
, ,

tru e b eing th e eternal th e u nm ove d th e one Thu s sa y s Pa rmeni des

, , , . .

B u t h ow is it p ossib le to exp l a in th e shifting sc ene th ese mu ta tions of ,

things ?
“
I llu sion a nswers Parmeni des Di stingu ishing b etween tru th a nd
e rror h e te ll s of th e true d o c trin e of th e o ne —
, .

, th e fa l se op inion of a
c h a nging worl d He is n o l ess m e m ora b le f or th e m a nn er of his a dvo
.

c a c y th a n f or th e cau se h e a d voc a te s .

C a n th e mi nd c onceive a m ore d eligh tfu l inte llec tu a l pic tu re th a n

th at of Pa rmeni de s p ointing to th e one th e tru e th e unch a nging and , , ,

y et on th e oth er h a n d rea dy to di scu ss a ll m a nne r of fa l se opi nion "

I n su pp ort o f th e tru e O pini on h e p rocee de d by th e ne ga tive w a y of
s h owing th e s elf c ontra d ic ti ons in th e i d ea s of c h a n ge a nd m oti on
-
.

T o exp re ss h is d o ctri ne in th e p on derou s m odern w ay we m u st m a ke

th e sta te m e nt th a t m oti on is ph enomena l no t rea l , .

Le t u s rep resent hi s d octrine .

Im a gine a sh eet of still wa ter into which a sla nting stic k is b eing
lowe re d with a m otion vertic a lly downwa rd s Let 1 2 3 (Fig be .
, , .

three c onsecu tive p ositions of th e sti ck A B C W i ll b e three con .

, ,

ne c tive p ositi ons of th e m e eting of th e sti c k with th e su rfa ce of th e

wa ter As th e stic k p a sse s down th e m eeting wi ll m ove from A on to
.
,

B a nd C .

S u pp ose now a ll th e wa ter to b e re m ove d exce p t a film A t th e .

meeting of th e film a nd th e stic k th ere will b e a n interru ption of th e

film If w e su pp ose th e fil m to h a ve a prop erty li ke th a t o f a soa p b u b
.
,

b le of c l osing u p rou n d a ny p enetra tin g obj ec t th en a s th e stic k g oe s

, ,

vertic a lly downwa rd s th e interru ption in th e film will m ove on If w e .

p a ss a sp ira l throu gh th e film th e interse ction will give a p oint movi ng

in a c i rc le (sh own by th e d otte d line s in Fig .

For th e p l a n e b eing su c h a p oint m oving in a circl e in its pl a ne woul d , ,

p rob a bly c onstitu te a cosmi ca l ph enom enon something li ke th e motion ,

of a p l a n et in its o rb it .

S u pp ose now th e spira l to b e still a nd th e film to m ove verti ca lly

u pwa rd th e wh ole sp ira l will b e re p resente d in th e film in th e c on
,

secu tive p ositi ons of th e p oi nt of intersec tion * .

Hi t on Th Fo th Dim io pp 2 3 24 d 2 5
; g5 g
' n , e ur ens n, .
, an .

1
60 T ER T IUM ORGANUM
If in stea d of one spira l we ta ke a c omplic a te d c on struction consi sting
of s pira l s in c line d a nd stra i gh t line s
, , bro ke n and curve d lines a nd
, ,

if th e fil m m ove verti call y u pwa rd s w e sh a ll h a ve a n entire u nivers e of

mo vi ng p oints th e m ove m ents of wh ic h wi ll a pp ea r to th e p l ane b ein g
as o ri gin a l .

Th e p lane b eing will exp l a in these m ovements a s dep ending one u p on

a noth e r a nd in dee d h e will neve r h a pp en t o think th a t th e se m ove
,

ments a re fi ctitiou s a nd a re d ep end ent u p on th e sp ira l s a nd oth e r line s

ly ing ou tsid e his sp ace T .

R e tu r ning to th e pl a ne b eing a nd hi s p erc epti on of th e world ,

a nd a na lyzing his r e l ati ons t o th e thr ee dim en si on a l w o rld w e see -

th a t f or th e tw o di m ensi on a l or pl a ne b ei ng it will b e v ery ditfi

-

c u lt to u n d er s t a n d a ll th e comp lexity of th e ph en om ena of our

w orld a s it a pp ear s to u s H e (th e pl a ne b ein g) is a cc u st om e d to

, .

p erc e ive th e w orld a s b e ing too sim pl e .

Ta king into consid era ti on th e s e ctions of figu r es i ns t ea d of th e

figur es th em selv es th e pl a ne b e ing will c om p a r e t h em in r el a ti on
,

to th e ir l ength a nd th e ir gr ea t er or l esser c u rv a t ur e i e t h e ir f or , . .
,

him m or e or l ess r a pid m oti on .

T h e diff er enc es b e tw ee n th e o bj ec t s of o u r w orld a s th ey exi st ,

f or u s h e wou ld not u nd erst a nd T h e fu ncti ons of th e o bj ec t s of

.

ou r w orld w ou ld b e c om pl et e ly m y s t eri ou s to his m i n d— in c om

“ ”
pr eh ensibl e s u p erna tur a l
, .

Le t u s i m a gin e th a t a c o in a nd a c a n dl e th e di a m et er of whi c h
,

is e q u a l to t h a t of th e c o in a re o n th e pl a ne u p on whi c h th e tw o
,

di m e nsi ona l b e ing liv es T o th e pl a ne b ei ng t h e y will seem tw o

.

e q u a l cir c les i e t w o m o ving a nd a bs olu tely id e nti ca l lin e s ; h e will

, . .
, ,
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 6]

ne v e r di sc o v er a ny d iff er ence b e tw een th em Th e fu nc ti ons of th e .

c o in a nd o f th e ca n dl e in our w orld
— th e s e a re f or h im a b sol u t ely
a term incognita I f w e try to i m a gine wh a t a n enor m ou s evolu
.

tion th e pl a ne b e ing m u st p a ss thr ou gh in o rd er to u nd er st a nd th e

fu nc tion of th e co i n a nd of th e c a n dl e a nd th e diff er enc e b etw een
th ese fu ncti ons w e will u n d erst a n d th e na t u re of th e divi s ion be
,

tween th e pl a ne world a nd th e world of th r ee dim ens i ons a nd th e ,

c om pl e t e i m p oss ibili ty of e v e n i m a gini ng o n th e pl a ne a nything , ,

a t a ll l ik e th e thr ee di m ens i ona l w o rld with its m a n if old ne ss o f

-

func tion .

T h e prop erti es of th e p h e no m ena of th e pl a ne wo rld will b e

e xtr em e ly m ono tonou s ; th e y will difl e r by th e o rd er of th e ir a p
’

p ea ra n c e th
, e ir d u r a ti o n a n d th e ir p e ri,o di c ity S o lid s a n d t h e .
,

things of this world will b e fl a t a nd u nifo rm like sh a dows i e l ike , , . .

,

th e sh a d o w s of qu it e differ e nt so lid s whi c h se em to u s u nifo r m , .

E v en if th e pl a ne b ei ng cou ld c om e in c ont a c t with ou r consc i ou s

ne ss h e w ou ld n e v er b e in a p os iti on to u n d er st a n d a ll th e m a ni
,

f oldne s s a nd ri chne s s of th e phe nom ena of o u r w o rld a nd th e

v a ri ety of fu ncti on of th e thi ngs of th a t world .

Pl a ne b e ings wou ld not b e in a p os iti on to m a st er ou r m os t

o rdin a ry c once pt s .

I t wou ld b e e xtr em ely difficu lt for th em to u nd er st a n d th a t

ph enom ena identica l f or them a re in r ea lity diff er ent ; a nd on th e
, ,

o th er h a n d th a t ph en om en a qu it e s ep a r a t e f or th em a re in r e a lity
,

p a rts of one gr ea t p h e nom enon a nd e v en of o ne o bj ec t or one ,

b ei n g .

This l a s t will b e one of th e m ost difli cu lt thi ngs f or th e pl a ne

b eing to u n d e rst a n d I f w e i m a gin e ou r pl a ne b e in g to b e i nh a bit
.

ing a h oriz ont a l pl a ne i nt er s ec ti ng th e top of a tr ee a nd p a r a ll el

, ,

to th e su rf a c e o f th e ea rth th en f or su c h a b ei ng ea c h of th e v a ri
,

o u s s e c ti on s of th e br a nch e s will a pp ea r a s a q u ite s ep a ra te ph e

nom e no n or o bj e c t Th e id ea of th e tr ee a nd its br a nc h e s will

.

n e v e r o cc u r to h im .

G ene ra lly sp e a king th e u n d ers ta n di ng of th e m os t fu n d a m ent a l

,

a nd s i m pl e thi ngs of ou r w o rld will b e i nfi nit e l y l ong a n d diffi cu lt

to th e pl a n e b ei ng H e w ou ld h a v e to entir e ly r e constru c t h is
.

c oncept s o f s p ac e a n d ti m e Thi s wou ld b e th e firs t s t ep Unl ess

. .

it is t a ken nothing is a ccom pli sh e d Until th e pl a ne b e ing will

, .

i m a gin e a ll ou r u niv erse a s exi sting in ti m e i e u ntil h e r e fers to , . .

,

ti me everythi ng lyi ng o n b oth sid es o f h is pl a ne h e will ne v e r ,

62 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

un d erst a nd a nythin g I n ord er to b egin to u nd ers t a n d th e third

.

”
di m en si on th e inh a bit a nt of th e pl a ne m u st c onc e iv e of hi s tim e
c o ncept s sp a tia lly th a t is tr a ns l a t e hi s tim e i nt o s p a ce
, , .

T o a c hi ev e e v en th e sp a rk of a tru e u n d ers t a nding of ou r w orld

h e wi ll h a v e to r econstr u c t c om pl e t e ly a ll hi s id ea s— to reva lu a te a ll
va lu es to r e vi se a ll c on cept s to di ss e v e r th e u niti ng con c epts to
, , ,

u nit e th ose whi c h a re di s s ev er e d ; a n d wh a t is m os t i m p ort a nt to

, ,

c r ea t e a n i nfinit e nu m b er of ne w on es .

I f w e pu t d o wn th e five fingers of one h a nd on th e pl an e of th e

t w o dim ens i ona l b e ing th ey will b e f or him five s ep a r a t e ph e
-

nom en a .

Let try to i m a gin e wh a t a n eno rm ou s m ent a l evo l u ti on h e

us

wo ul d h a v e to un d ergo in ord er to u n d er st a n d th a t th es e five

sep a r a t e ph enom ena o n hi s pl a n e a re th e fing er tip s of th e h a n d of -

a l a rg e a c tiv e a n d i nt elli g ent b e ing

,
— man .

T o m a k e ou t s t e p by st ep h ow th e pl a ne b e ing w ou ld a tt a in
, ,

to a n u n d er s t a n di n g of ou r w orld lying in th e r egi on of th e to h im

,

—
m y s teri ou s third dimens ion i e p a rtly in th e p a s t p a rtly in th e
fu tu r e —w ou ld b e int er e sti ng in th e high est d egr ee Fir st of a ll
. .
, ,

.
,

in ord er t o u n d er s t a n d th e w orld of thr ee di m ensi ons h e m u s t ,

cea s e to be tw o di m e ns i o na l — h e m u s t b ecom e th r e e dim e nsi on a l

hi m se lf or in o th er word s h e m u st f eel a n i nt er es t in th e lif e of
, ,

th r ee di m ensi on a l sp a c e Af t er h a ving fe lt th e i nt er est of thi s

-
.

lif e h e w ill by s o d oi ng tr a nsc end h is pl a ne a nd will ne v er b e in a

, ,

p osition th er e a ft er to r e tu rn to it E nt eri ng m or e a nd m o r e within

.

th e c ir c l e of id e a s a n d c on c ept s whic h w er e e ntir e ly in com pr eh en

s ibl e to hi m b e f or e h e will h a v e alr e a dy b e co m e n o t t w o dim en
, ,
-

s iona l b u t thr e e di m ens i on a l

,
-
B u t a ll a l ong th e pl a ne b ein g will
.

ha ve been e ss enti a lly thr ee dim en si on a l th a t is h e will h a ve h ad

-

, ,

th e third di m e ns i on wit h ou t h is b ei ng c onsc i ou s of it him se lf

, .

T o become thr ee di m e nsi ona l h e m u st be thr ee di m e nsi o n a l Th en

- -
.

a s th e end of e nd s h e c a n a ddr ess hi m self to th e s e lf lib e r a ti on -

fr om th e illu s ion of th e tw o— dim ensi ona lity of hims elf a nd th e

world and to th e appr eh ensi on of th e thr ee di m ensi ona l world
,
-
.
64 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

Di m ensions pl a y h ere a v ery strange rol e I f w e d esigna t e .

th em by th e algebra i c sy mb ol s a b a nd 0 th ey have th e ch a ra c te r
, ,

of c ou nt e rf e it c r e dit bill s For thi s a b a nd c it is i m p ossibl e to

.
,

su b stitu t e a ny r e a l m a gnit u d e s whi c h a re c a p a bl e o f expr e ss in g

th e c orr e l a ti on s of di m en si ons .

Us u a lly di m ensi ons a re r epre sent e d by p o w ers : th e firs t th e ,

s ec on d th e t h ird ; th a t is if a li n e is c a ll e d a t h e n a s q u a r e th e
, , , ,
2
s id e s o f whi c h a re e qu a l to thi s li ne is c a ll e d a , a nd a cu b e th e , ,
3
fa c e of whi ch is e qu a l to this s qu a r e is c a ll e d a , .

This am ong oth er things ga v e H i nton th e fou nd a ti on on which

h e c ons tru c t e d hi s th eory of tess eracts fo u r dim ensi ona l so lid s a
,
—-
"
.

“ ”
B u t thi s is belles lettres of th e p u r es t sort Firs t of a ll b eca u s e .
,
“ ”
th e r epr ese nt a ti on of di m ensi ons by p o w er s is entire ly condi
tiona l I t is p os sibl e to r epr esent all p o we rs on a lin e For exa m
. .

p le, t a k e t h e se g m e n t of a lin e e q u a l t o fiv e m illi m et er s ; th en a

s eg m e n t e q u a l t o tw e n ty —
five mi lli m et ers will b e th e s qu a re of it ,
z
2
i e a ; a nd a segm ent of one h un dr e d a nd twenty five m illi
W
-
. .
,
s
m eters ill b e th e c u b c a b
.

Ho w s h a ll w e u n d ers t a n d th a t m a th em a ti cs d oes not feel di m en

s i ons
— th a t it is i mp ossibl e to expr ess m a th em a ti c ally th e difl er
enc e b etw e en di m ensi on s ?

I t is p os sibl e to u n d erst a n d a nd expl a in it by one thing only

na m e ly th a t this diz, f erence does not exist .

We rea lly kno w th a t a ll thr e e di m ensi ons a re in s u b st a nc e iden

tic a l th a t it is p ossibl e to r ega rd e a c h o f th e th r ee di m ens i ons
,

e ith e r a s f o ll o wi ng th e se qu ence th e firs t th e s econd th e th ird o r

, , , ,

th e o th er w a y a b ou t .Thi s a lo ne pro v es th a t di m ensi ons a re not

m a th em a ti c a l m a gnitu d es All th e r ea l pr op erti e s o f a thin g c a n
.

b e e xpress e d m a t h e m a ti c a lly a s qu a n titi e s i e nu m b ers sh o w , . .

, ,

ing th e r e l a ti on of th es e prop erti es to oth e r pr op erti es .

B u t in th e m a tt e r o f di m e ns i ons it is a s th ou gh m a t h em a ti cs
s ees m or e tha n w e d o o r f a rth er th a n w e d o th rou gh som e b ou n d
, ,

—
ari es whi ch a rr est u s bu t not it a nd s ees th a t no r ea liti es wh a t
e v er c orr esp ond to o u r c onc ept s o f di m ens i ons .

I f th e thr ee di m ensi ons rea lly c o rr esp ond e d to thr ee p owers ,

th en w e wo u ld h a ve th e right to s a y th a t only th es e t h ree p o w e rs

r efer to geom e try a nd th a t a ll th e o th e r high er p o w e rs b egi nnin g
, ,

with th e fou rt h lie b eyo nd geom etry

, .

B u t e v en thi s i s d e ni e d u s Th e r epr esent a ti on of di m e nsi ons by

.

p ower s is p erf ec tly a rbitr a ry .

 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 65

More a cc u rat ely geom e try from th e s t a n dp oi nt of m a th e

, ,

m a ti es is a n a rtifi c i a l sys t em f or th e s olving of probl em s b as e d

,

on conditiona l da ta d e d uc e d probably fr om th e prop erti es of

, , ,

ou r p sy c h e .

T h e s ys t e m of in v estig a ti on of hi gh e r sp a c e H int on c a ll s
metageometry a nd with m e tageom etry h e c onnects th e nam e s of
,

Lob a ch evsky G au ss a nd oth er i nvestiga tors of non E u clidi a n

, ,
-

geom e try .

We sh a ll now c onsid er in wha t r el a ti on th e qu esti ons t ou ch ed

u p on by u s s t a n d to th e th eo ri es of th e s e s c i enti s t s .

H i nton d e d u ces h is id ea s from K ant a nd L ob a ch evsky .

’
O th er s o n th e c ontrary pl a c e Ka nt s id ea s in o pp os iti on to
, ,
“
thos e of Lobach evs ky Th u s Rob erto B onola in Non E u c lidian .
,
-

”
G eome try d eclares that Lobach evsky s c onc epti on of space is
,
’

contrary to that of K a nt He sa y s .

T h e K anti a n d octri ne c onsi dere d sp ac e as a s u bj ective intuiti on a ,

necessa ry p resu pp ositi on of every exp e ri ence Lob ach evsky s d oc trine
’
.

w a s ra the r a lli ed to sensu a lism a nd th e cu rrent e mp iri ci sm a nd comp ell ed ,

geom etry to ta ke its p la c e a gain a m ong th e exp e ri m enta l sci ences

*
.

Whi c h of th es e vi e ws is tru e a nd in what r elati on do L obach e v ,

s ky s id ea s s t a nd to o u r probl em ?
’
Th e c o rr ec t ans w er to
this qu es ti on is : in no r el a ti on Non E u c li di a n geom etry is not .
-

meta geometry a nd non E u c lidi a n geom etry s tand s in th e s a m e

,
-

r el a ti on to m et a geom e try a s E u c lidi a n geom etry itself .

T h e r e su lt s of non E u c lidi a n geom etry whi ch h a v e s u b m itt e d

-

th e f u nd a m ent a l a xi om s of E u c lid to a r e v a l u a ti on a nd whi c h ,

h a v e fou n d th e mos t com pl et e expr essi on in th e w orks of B olyai ,

G au ss a nd Lob a ch evsky a re e mbrac e d in th e form u la

, ,

Th e axio ms of a given geometry express th e properties o f a given

sp a ce .

Th u sg eom etry on th e pl a ne a cc e pts a ll thr ee E u c li di a n a xi om s ,

1 . e. :

1 . A s tr a i g h t li ne is th e sh ort es t di s t a nc e b e tw e en t w o p oin t s .

2 . Any fi g u r e m a y b e tr a nsf err e d i nt o a no th er p os iti on w ith ou t

c h a ng i ng its pr op erti es .

3 . Pa r a ll e l li nes do not m ee t .

(This l a s t a xi om is for mu late d diff er ently by E u c lid ) .

I n g eom e try on a sph er e or on a c onc a v e s u rf a c e th e firs t t w o ,

a xi om s a l one a re tr u e b ec a u se th e m e ridi a ns w h i c h a re se parat e d

,

a t th e e q u a t o r m e e t at th e p ol es .

*I b i to B onola Nou E u c idil a n G e me o ty The O pe n Co t Pur blis hing Co Chi ag o 19 12 ,

pp g g gé
-
r . u .
, c ,

‘ 0
66 T ER T I UM ORGANUM

In geom etry on th e su rfa c e of ir r e gu l a r cu rva tu re only th e

fir s t a xi om is tr u e—th e s econd r ega rding th e tr a nsfer enc e of
,

figur es is i m p os sibl e b ec a u s e th e figure t a ken in one p a rt of a n

,

irr e gul a r su rf a c e c a n ch a nge wh en tr a nsferr e d i nto a noth er pl ac e .

Al so th e su m of th e angl es of a tri a ngl e c an b e e ith er m or e or l e ss

,

th a n tw o right angl es .

Th er efor e axioms expr ess th e diffe r enc e of prop erti es of va ri ou s

,

kinds of su rf a ces .

A g eom e tri c a l a xi om is a law of a giv en su rf a c e .

B u t wh a t is a su rf a c e ?
Lob ac h evsky s m erit c onsi st s in th a t h e fou n d it nec essa ry to
’

r evi s e th e fu n d a m enta l conc ept s of geom etry B u t h e ne v e r .

w ent a s f a r a s to r eva l u e th ese c onc epts from Kant s st a n dp oint

’
.

At th e s a m e ti m e h e is in no sens e contr a di c t ory to K a nt A .

s u rf ace in th e min d of Lo b a c h ev s ky a s a g eom e tri c i a n w a s only

, ,

a m ea ns f or th e gener a liz a tion of c erta i n prop erti es on whic h thi s

or that g eom etri c a l s y s t e m w a s c o ns tr u c t e d o r th e g en e r a liz a ti on
,

of th e pro p erti es of c ert a i n giv en li nes Ab ou t th e r ea lity or th e

.

u nr ea lity of a su rf a c e h e pr ob a bly n e v e r th ou ght

, .

Thu s on th e one h a nd B onola wh o a scrib e d to L ob ac h e vs ky

, ,
”
vi e ws opp osit e to Ka nt a nd th eir nearness to sens u a lis m a nd
,
“ ”
c u rr ent em piri c i s m ,is quit e wrong whi l e on th e o t h e r h a n d
, ,

it is not i m p ossibl e to conceive th a t Hin ton entir ely su bj ec tiv ely

a s c rib es to G a u s s a n d L ob a c h ev sky t h e ir i na u g u r a ti on of a n e w

era in philos ophy .

Non E u c lidi a n geom etry inc l u ding th a t of Lob a c h ev sky h a s

-

, ,

no r el a ti on to meta geometry what e v e r .

L ob a ch ev sky does not go ou tsid e of th e thr ee dim ensi ona l -

sph er e .

M etag eom etry r eg a rd s th e th r ee dim ensiona l s ph e r e a s a s ection

-

o f high e r sp ac e . Am ong m ath em a ti c i a ns R i em a nn w h o u n d e r

, ,

s too d th e r e l a ti on of ti m e to S p a c e w a s n e ar e s t o f a ll to thi s id ea
, .

T h e p oin t of thr ee di m en si ona l sp a c e is a s ec ti on of a m e t a

-

g eom etri c a l line I t is i m p os sibl e to genera liz e o n a ny sur fa ce

.

wh a t ev e r th e lines c onsid ere d in m e ta geom etry P erh a p s thi s .

l a st is th e m o s t i mp o rta n t f or th e d efi niti on of th e diff er enc e b e

tw e en g eom etri es (E u c lidian a nd non E u c lidi a n a nd m etag eom -

etry ) . I t is i m p os sibl e to r ega rd m et a g eom etri c a l li nes a s dis

t a nc es b etw e en p o ints in o ur sp a ce a nd it is i mp ossibl e to repre
,

s ent t h em a s f o r m i ng a ny fig ur es in o u r s p a c e .
 T ER T I UM ORGANUM 67

Th e id era ti on of th e p os sibl e prop erti es of lines lyi ng o u t

cons

of o u r sp a ce th e r e l a ti on of th es e li nes a n d th e ir a ngl es to th e
,

lines a ngl es s u rfa c es a nd solid s of ou r geom etry fo rm s th e su b

, , ,

jec t o f m eta ge om e try .

T h e inv estiga tors of non E u c lidi a n geom etry c ou ld not bring -

them selv es to r ej ec t th e cons id er a tion of su rfa ces Th er e is so m e .

thin g al m os t tr a gi c in thi s S ee wh a t su rfa ces B eltra mi i nv ent e d

*—
.

in hi s inv estiga ti ons of non E u c lidi a n geom e try o ne of h is -

su rfaces resembles the su rfa ce of a ventila tor a no th e r th e su rf a c e , ,

o f a funne l B u t h e cou ld not d ec id e to r ej ec t th e sur f a ce to c a s t

.
,

it as id e once a nd f or a ll to i m a gine th a t th e line can be independent ,

of th e su rf ace i e a se ri es of lin es whi c h a re p a r a ll e l o r nea rly pa r

, . .,

a ll e l ca nno t b e g ener a liz e d o n a ny su rf a c e or e v en in thr e e ,

di m ensiona l s p a c e .

And b e c a u s e of this b oth h e a nd m any o th er geo m e t ers de , ,

veloping non E u c lidi an g eom e try c ou ld n ot tr a nscen d th e thr ee

-

di m ensiona l world .

Mech a nic s r ec ogniz es the line in time i e su ch a line a s it is im , . .

,

p ossibl e by a ny m eans to i m ag ine u p on th e su rf a ce or a s th e dis ,

tance b etween th e tw o p oints of sp a ce Thi s li ne is t a ken into .

c onsid er a ti on in th e c al cu l a ti ons p ertaini ng to m a c hin es But .

geom etry n ev er tou ch e d thi s line a nd d ea lt a lways with its s ec tions ,

only .

Now it is p ossibl e to r e tu rn to th e qu es ti on : wh a t is sp ace? a nd

to di sc o v er if th e a ns w e r to thi s q u esti o n h a s b een fou nd .

Th e a ns w e r wou ld b e th e e x a c t d e fi niti on a nd e xpl a na ti on of

th e three dimensiona lity of sp a ce a s a pr op erty of th e w orld
-
.

B u t thi s is not th e a ns we r T h e three dimensiona lity of s pace a s .

-

a n o bj ec tiv e ph eno m enon r em a i ns j u s t a s enigm a ti c a l a n d inco n

c eiva b le a s b efo r e I n r e l a ti on to thr ee di m ensi ona lity it is nec es

.
-

s ary :

E ith e r to a cc ept it a s a thing given a nd to a dd this to th e tw o ,

data which w e es t a bli sh e d in th e b eginni ng

O r to r e c ogniz e th e f a lla c y o f all obj e c tiv e m e th o d s of r ea son
ing a nd r etu rn to a noth e r m e th o d ou tline d in th e b egi nn i ng of
, ,

th e b ook .

Th en on th e b asi s of th e two fu nd a m ent a l d a ta the world a nd

, ,

consciou sness it is necessa ry to establi sh wh eth er three dim en

,
-

I th R
n eia ditio o f T ti m O g
u ss ne m O p nky a ib d th er fa h o w pp 1 32 nd
u r a nu us ens s cr e e su r ce s s n on a
1 33 o f B t o L o b a h v ky w hi h i o b vio l y a lip o f t h p Th
. .

l f N E l di
ono a s Ge m t era -
uc i an o e ry c e s c s us s e en e se
fa w d d by B lt am w h o gav a w i t p t ation t o L o b a h v ki an g om t y T
, .

s ur ce s ere is cu ss e e r i, le ne n e r re c e s e e r . ra ns .
68 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

i
s ou a l sp a c e is a property of the world , or a prop erty f our knowledge
o

of the world .

B eginn ing with Ka nt wh o a ffirm s that sp a ce is a property of

,

the recep tivity of th e w or ld by ou r c onsciou s ness I i nt enti ona lly

,

d evi a t e d f a r fr o m thi s id ea a n d r ega rd e d s p a c e a s a prop erty of th e

world .

Al o ng with H in t on , I p os t u l a t e d th a t our spa c e it s elf b ea rs

withi n it th e r el a ti ons whic h p ermit u s to es tabli sh its r el a ti ons to
high er sp a c e, a nd on th e f ou nd a ti on of this p ostul at e I b u ilt a
wh ol e s eri e s of a n a l ogi es whi ch s om e wh a t c l a rifi e d f or u s th e
probl ems of sp a ce a nd ti m e a nd th eir m u tu a l c o r el a ti ons ; b u t
-

whi ch , a s w a s sa id did n ot expl a in a nythi ng c oncerning th e

,

princ ip a l qu esti on of th e ca u s es of th e three dimensiona lity of space

-
.

T h e m eth o d of a na l ogi es is ge ne r a lly s p ea kin g a r a th e r t or

, ,

m enting thi ng With it , y ou w a lk in a vi c i ou s c irc l e I t h e lp s y ou

. .

to e l u cid a t e c ert a in thi ngs , a n d th e r e l a ti on s of c ert a in thi ngs , b u t

in su b s t a nc e it ne v er giv es a dire c t a ns w e r to a nythin g .Af t er
m any a nd l ong a tt em pts to a n a lyz e c om pl e x pr obl em s by th e a id
’

of th e m e th o d of a n a l ogi es , y ou f ee l th e u sel essn ess of a ll y ou r

e ff o rt s ; y ou f ee l th a t y ou a r e w a lking a l on g s id e of a wall An d
.

th en y ou b egin to exp eri enc e si mply a h a tr e d a n d a v ersi on f or

a n a l ogi es , a n d y ou find it nec essa ry to sea r c h in th e di r ec t w a y

whic h l ea d s wh ere y ou nee d to g o .

T h e probl em of high er dim ensi ons h a s u su a lly b een a na lyz e d

by th e m eth o d of a n a l ogi es a n d only v ery l a t ely h a s sc i enc e b egu n
,

to e l a b or a t e th a t d ir ec t m eth o d , whi c h wil l b e s h o wn l a t er on .

If w e d esir e to g o s tr a ight with ou t d evi a ti ng , w e sh a ll k eep

,

s tri c tly u p to th e f u nd a m e nt a l pr op os iti on s of K a n t B u t if w e

.

for m u l a t e H inton s a b ov e m enti one d t h ou ght from th e p oint of

’

vi e w of th es e prop o siti ons , it will b e a s follows : We bea r w ithin ou r

s elves th e conditions of ou r sp ac e, a nd th erefore within ou rs elves we

s h a ll find th e conditions which w ill p ermit u s to es ta blish correla tions

between ou r sp ace a nd higher sp ace .

I n o th er w o rd s , w e s h a ll find th e con diti ons of th e thr e e dim e n -

s ion a lity of th e w orld in our p sy c h e in o u r r ec eptiv e a pp a r a t u s

,

a nd s h a ll find exa ctly th ere th e conditions of th e p oss ibility of th e

h igh er dimens iona l w orld .

Pr op o u n d i ng th e probl em in thi s w a y , w e pu t ou r se lv es u p on
th e d ir ec t p a t h a n d w e s h a ll r ece iv e a n a n sw e r to o u r q u esti on
, ,

wh a t is sp a ce a nd its t h r e e d i m e nsi ona lity ?

-
 T ERT IUM ORGANUM 69

Ho w m ay w e a pproac h th e l ti on of this probl em ?

so u

Plain ly by s tu dying o u r c ons ci ou sness a nd its pr op erti es

, .

We sh a ll fre e ou rs elv es from a ny a na l ogi es a nd s h a ll ent er u p on

,

th e c orr ec t a n d dir e ct p a th t o w a rd th e so l u ti on of th e f u n d a m en t a l
qu esti on a b ou t th e obj ec tivity or su bj ec tivity of sp a c e if w e sh a ll
,

d ecid e to s tu dy th e p syc hi c a l f or m s by whi c h w e p er ceive th e

world a nd to di sc ov er if th er e d oes not exist a corr esp ond ence b e
,

tween th em a nd th e three di m ensi ona lity of th e world—th a t is if

-

th e thr e e di m ensi ona l e xt ens i on of sp ac e with its pr op erti es d o es

-

, ,

not r esu lt fr om pr op erti es of th e p sy c h e whi c h a r e k no wn t o u s .

72 T ER T IUM ORGAN UM

ing of p erceptions sensa ti ons a re p ol a rizing in tw o c l ea rly d efi ne d

,

dir ec ti ons Th e firs t dir ec ti on of thi s gr ou ping will b e according

.

to th e ch ara cter of th e s ensa tions (T h e s ensa ti ons of a y ell o w col o r

.

will c om bin e wit h th e sen s a ti ons of a y e ll ow col or ; sensa ti ons of a

s ou r t a st e with t h os e o f a s ou r t a s t e ) T h e s ec on d dir e cti on will
.

b e according to th e time of th e recep tion of s ens a tions W h en vari ou s .

s ens a ti on s c ons tit u t ing a s in gl e gr ou p

, a nd c om p ou n di ng one ,

p erc epti on ent er si m u lta neou s ly th en th e m em ory of this d efinite

, ,

gr ou p of sensa ti ons is a scrib e d to a c om m on c au s e This comm on .

”
c a u se is proj ec t e d int o th e ou t s id e wo rld a s th e obj ec t a nd it is ,

assu m e d th a t th e giv en p erc epti on itse lf r e fl ec t s th e r ea l prop erti es

of thi s o bj e c t S u c h grou p r em em br a nc e c onstitu t es perception
.
,

th e p er cepti on f or e x a m pl e of a tr ee
,
— th a t tree
, Into thi s gr ou p “

e nt e r th e gr een c o l o r of th e l ea v es th e ir sm ell th e ir sh a do ws
, , ,

th eir r u stl e in th e wind etc All th es e thin gs t a ken t ogeth er f or m

, .

a s it w er e a f o cu s of r a y s c omin g ou t of c onsc i o u sness gra d u a lly ,

c on c e ntr a t e d u p on th e o u t s id e o bj ec t a n d co i nc idi ng with it e ith e r

w e ll or ill .

I n th e f ur th e r c o m pli c a ti on of th e p s yc hi c a l lif e th e m e m ori e s ,

of p e r c epti ons pro c ee d a s wi th th e m em o ri es of sens a ti ons lVIin .

“
gling to geth er th e m em ori es of p e rc eptions or th e i m a ge s of
, ,
”
p erc epti ons com bine in v a ri ou s wa ys : th ey su m u p th ey s ta n d
, ,

o pp o s e d th ey f o r m gr ou p s a nd in th e en d giv e ri s e t o c o nc ept s
, , .

Th u s ou t of v a ri ou s se nsa tions e xp eri enc e d (in gr ou p s ) a t ,

difl erent ti m es a c hild gets th e p e rc e pti on of a tr ee (th a t tr e e )

, ,

a nd a ft e rw a rd s o u t of th e i m a g e s o f p er c epti on s of diff er e n t
,
“ ”
tr ees th er e em erge s th e concep t of a tree i e not th a t tr ee , . .
, ,

bu t tr ees in ge n e ra l .

Th e f orm a ti on of p erc epti o ns l ea d s to th e f o rm a ti on of w ords ,

a nd th e a pp ea r a nce o f sp eech .

Th e b eginning of sp eec h m a y a pp ea r on th e l o w es t l ev el of
p sy c hi c lif e , d u ring th e p eri o d of living by s ensa ti ons a n d it ,

will b ecom e m or e c om pl ex d u ring th e p eri o d of living by p er

c eptions ; b u t u nl ess t h er e b e c oncept s it w ill not b e s peech in

th e tr u e m ea nin g of th e w ord .

O n th e l o w e r l ev el s of p sy c hi c life c ert a in s ensati ons c a n b e

e xpr e s se d by c ert a i n s ou n d s Th erefor e it is p os sibl e to e xpr ess
.

c o mm on i m pr es si o ns o f h o rr or a ng e r , pl ea s u r e Th ese s o u nd s
, .
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 73

m ay rve a s sign a l s of d a nger a s c omm a nd s d em a nd s thr ea t s

se , , , ,

etc b u t it is i m p o ss ibl e to sa y m u c h by m e a n s o f t h e m
,
.

I n th e fu rth er d e v e l op m ent of sp eec h if w o rd s or s ou nd s ,

expr es s p ercep tions a s in th e c a s e of c hildr en thi s m ea ns th a t th e

, ,

giv en sou n d or th e giv en word d esigna t es only that o bj ec t to whi c h

it r efers For ea c h new s imilar o bj ec t m u st exi s t a noth er new
.

soun d or a n e w w ord
, I f th e sp ea ker d esigna t es dilf erent obj ect s
.

by one a nd th e sa m e s ou nd or word it m ea ns that in h is O pini on ,

th e obj ec t s a re th e sa m e or th a t know ingly h e is c a lli ng diff e r ent

,

o bj e c t s by th e sa m e n a m e I n e ith e r ca s e it will b e diffi cu lt to

.

u n d er s t a n d h im a nd su c h s p ee c h c a nno t se rv e a s a n e x a m pl e of
,

c l e ar s p ee c h For i nst a nce if a c h ild c a ll a tr ee by a c ert a i n s ou n d

.
,

o r w o rd h a vi ng in vi e w th a t tree only a nd not k no wi ng oth er

, ,

trees a t a ll t h en a ny new tr e e w h i c h h e m a y se e h e will c a ll by a

,

n e w w ord or e l se h e will t a k e it f or th e s a m e tr ee
, T h e sp eec h .

“ ”
in whi c h w ord s corr e sp o n d to p e r c e pti o ns is a s it w er e m a d e u p
of prop e r no u ns T h er e a re no a pp ell a tive nou ns ; a nd not o nly
.

su b s t a ntiv es bu t v erb s a dj e c tiv e s a nd adv e rb s ; a ll h a v e th e

, ,
“
c h a r a c t e r of prop e r no u ns ; th a t is th e y a pply to a given a c ti on , ,

to a given qu a lity o r to a giv e n pr op e rty , .

Th e a pp e a ra nc e of w ord s of a common mea ning in h u m a n sp eec h

s ignifi e s th e a pp ea r a nce of c o nc e pt s in c ons c i o u sness .

S p ee ch c onsi st s of w ord s ea c h wo rd expr essi ng a c onc e pt C on , .

c ept a nd w o rd a re in su b s ta nce one a nd th e sa m e thi ng ; o nly th e

firs t (th e conc ept ) r epr esents so to sp e ak th e i nner sid e a nd th e , , ,

s e c on d (th e w o rd ) th e o u t e r s id e O r a s sa y s Dr R M B u c k e .
, . . .

”
(th e a u tho r of th e b o ok C os mi c “C o nsc i ou sness a b ou t whi c h I ,

sh a ll h a v e m u c h to sa y l a t e r on) A w ord (i e concept ) is th e , . .

,
”
a lgebra ica l s ig n of a t h i ng
’

It h as b een
tice d th ou sa nd s of times th a t th e bra in of a thinki ng
no
ma n doe s not excee d in size th e b ra i n of a non thinki ng wil d m a n in -

a nyt h i ng li k e th e p rop orti on in wh i c h th e mind o f th e th i nke r e xc e e d s

th e mind of th e sa va ge T h e re a s on is th a t th e b ra in of a H e rb e rt S p e nc e r
.

h a s ve ry littl e m ore work to d o th a n h a s th e b ra in o f a n a tive Au stra li a n ,

f or thi s re a son th a t S p enc e r d oes a ll his c h a ra cte risti c m e nta l work by

,

si gn s or c oun te rs whic h sta nd f or c onc e p ts while th e s a va e d oe s a ll or

g ,

ne a rly a ll h is by m e a ns of cu m b erso m e re c e p t s T h e sa va ge is in a p o si .

tion c omp a ra b le to th a t of th e a stronom er w h o m a kes h is c alc ul a ti ons

by a rith metic while Sp ence r is in th e p osition of one w h o m a kes th e m
,

by a lgeb ra T h e firs t will fill m a ny grea t sheets of p a p er w ith figu res

.

a nd go th rou g h i mm ense l a b or ; th e oth e r w ill m a ke th e sa m e c a lc u l a

tions on a n envelop e a nd with com p a ra tively little me ntal work *

.

R M B k
. . Co mi Con io
uc e. p 12 s c sc us ne ss , . .
74 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

In p eech word s expr ess c onc epts or id e a s By id ea s a re

o ur s .

m ea nt br o ad er conc ept s no t r e pr es enti ng th e grou p s ign of s im ,

ila r p erc epti on s b u t e m br a c i ng v a ri ou s grou p s of p er cepti on s o r

, ,

e v en grou p s of concep ts Th er efor e a n id ea is a c om pl ex or a n

.

a b s tr a c t c on cept .

I n additi on t o th e s i m pl e s ens a ti ons of th e sens e orga ns (c o l or ,

sou n d t ou c h s m e ll a n d t a s t e) in a dditi on t o th e s i m pl e e m o ti ons

, , ,

of pl e a s u r e p a in joy a n g e r su rpri se w on d e r cu ri os ity a nd m a n y

, , , , , ,

o th e r s th e r e is p a ssi ng thr o u gh ou r cons c i ou sness a seri e s of c o m

,

pl e x sens a ti ons a nd hi gh er (com pl ex) em otions (m or a l e sth eti c , ,

r eligi ou s) T h e c ontent of e m oti ona l f eelin gs e v en th e si m pl est

.
, ,

n ot sp ea king i n d ee d of th e c om pl e x c a n n e v e r b e wh olly c on
, ,

fi ne d to c onc epts or id e a s a nd th er efor e c a n n e v e r b e c orrec tly or ,

e x a c tly e xpr esse d in w o rd s Word s c a n o nly a ll u d e to it p oint to .

,

it T h e in t erpr eta ti on of e m oti on a l f eelings a nd emotiona l u nder

.

s ta nding is th e pr obl e m o f a rt I n com b ina ti ons of w ord s in th e ir .

,

m ea nin g th e ir r h yth m th e ir m u s i c ; in th e c om bina ti on of m e a n

, ,

ing rhyth m a nd m u si c ; in sou n d s col or s li n es f o rm s m en a re

,
— , , ,

c r e a ti ng a n e w w o rld a n d a r e a tt em ptin g th er e in t o e xpr ess a nd

,

tra nsmit th a t whic h t h e y f ee l bu t whi ch th ey a re u na bl e to ex ,

pr ess a n d tr a nsm it s i m ply in word s i e in c on cept s Th e em o , . .

, .

“ ”
tiona l t ones of l if e i e of f eelings a re b es t tra nsmitte d by
, . .
, ,

mu sic b u t it c a nnot expr e ss con cepts i e t h ou g h t

, P oetry en , . .
, .

d ea vors to expr ess b o th m u si c a nd th ou ght t ogeth er T h e c om .

bin a ti on of feelin g a nd th ou ght of high t ensi on l ea d s to intu ition ,

i e to a high er f orm of c onsc i ou sness T h u s in a rt w e h a v e

. .
, .

a lr e a dy th e fir s t exp e ri m ent s in a la ngu a g e of i nt u iti on or a la n ,

gu a ge of th e fu tur e Art a nti c ipat es a p syc hi c e vo l u ti on a nd

.
,

divi ne s its f u tu r e form s .

At th e pr esent ti m e m a nkin d h a s a tt a i ne d to t h r ee u n it s of
p s y chi c lif e : sens a tion perception conception (a nd id ea ) a nd a t
, , ,

t a ins only r a r ely th e four th u nit high er intu ition whic h fi n d s its , ,

e xpr ess i on in a rt .

If Kant s id e a s a re c orr ec t if sp a ce with its ch a ra cteri s ti c s is a

’

prop erty of ou r consc i ou snes s a nd not of th e externa l world th en , ,

th e thr ee dim en s i o n a lity of th e w orld m u s t in thi s o r som e ot h er

-

m a nner d ep e n d u p on th e constitu ti on of o u r p sy c hi c a pp a ra t u s .

I t is p os sibl e to pu t th e qu es ti on c onc r et ely in th e foll o wing

m a nner : Wh a t b e a rin g u p on th e thr e e di m ens i on a l e xt ensi on o f -

th e world h a s th e f a c t th a t in ou r p sy c hi c a l a pp a r a t u s w e di s cov e r
 T ER T I U M ORGAN UM 75

th e t gori es
ca e a b o v e d e s c rib e d
— se ns a ti o ns p e r c e pti o ns , , co nce pt s
a n d i nt u iti on s ?

We p os sess su ch p syc h i c a l a pp a ra t u s a nd th e world is three

a ,

dimensiona l Ho w is it p ossibl e to esta bli sh th e f a c t t h a t th e

.

t h r ee di m ens io na lity of th e world d ep end s u p on su ch a cons titu

-

ti on of ou r p syc hi c a l a pp a r a tu s ?
Thi s cou ld b e prov e n or di sprove n u ndenia bly only with th e
a id of e xp e ri m e n t s .

I f w e cou ld cha nge ou r psychic a ppara tu s a nd s h ou ld th en d is

co v e r t h a t the world a rou nd u s ch a nged t hi s w o u ld c o ns tit u t e f o r ,

u s th e pr oof of th e d ep e n d enc e o f th e pr op e rti es o f s p a c e u p on

th e pr o p e rti e s of o u r c on sc i o u s n ess .

For e xa m pl e if w e cou ld m a ke th e high e r i nt u iti on e xi s ti ng

, ,

no w o nl y in th e g e r m j u s t a s d efi nite e x ac t a n d su bject to ou r
, , ,

will a s is th e c onc ept a nd if th e n u m b e r of c h a r a c t eri s ti c s o f

,

s p a ce i nc r ea s e d i e if sp ac e b e c a m e fou r di m ensi o na l i nst e a d

, . .
,
-

o f b ei ng t h r e e di m ens i o n a l t h i s w ou ld a ffir m ou r pr e s u pp o s iti o n

-

, ,

a nd w ou ld pr o v e K a nt s cont enti on th a t sp a ce with its pr o p e rti e s

’
, ,

is a f orm of ou r sensu ou s receptivity .

O r if w e c ou l d di m i ni sh th e nu m b er of u nit s o f o u r p sy c hi c life ,

a nd d epriv e ou r s e lv es or so m eon e e l se of conceptions l ea vi ng th e ,

p sy c h e to a c t by p erceptions a nd s ens a ti ons only a nd if by so ,

d oing th e nu m b er o f c h a ra c teri stic s of th e sp a ce su rr ou ndi ng u s

di m i ni s h e d ; i e if f or th e p er son su bj ec t e d to th e t es t th e world
. .
,

b e ca m e tw o di m ensi ona l i ns t ea d of thr ee di m ensiona l a nd i nd e e d

- -

o ne di m e nsi o na l a s a r es u lt o f a s till gr ea t e r li m it a ti o n o f th e
-

p syc h i c a pp a r a tu s by d eprivi ng th e p e rson of p er c epti ons t h i s

,
—
wou ld a ffirm o u r pr esu pp ositi on a nd Ka nt s id ea c ou ld b e c o nsid ,
’

e r e d pro v e n .

Th a t is to s a y Ka nt s idea wou ld b e pro v en experimenta lly if w e

,
’

c ou ld b e c o nvi nc e d t h a t f or th e b e i ng p ossess i ng sens a ti o ns o nly ,

th e world is o n e di m e ns i ona l ; f or th e b ei ng p ossess i ng sensa ti o ns

-

a nd p e r cepti on s th e w o rld is t w o di m e n s i o n a l ; a n d f or th e b ei ng -

p ossessi ng in a dditi on to c oncept s a nd i d e a s th e h ig h er form s of

, ,

knowl edge th e worl d is fou r di m ensiona l

,
-
.

Or m or e ex a c tl y Ka n t s t h e si s in r e ga rd to th e su bj e c tivi ty
’
, ,

of sp a c e p e r cepti on c o u ld b e r eg a rd e d a s pr ov en ( a ) if f or t h e

b eing p os sessi ng se nsa tions only ou r entir e world with a ll its , ,

v a ri ety of form s sh ou ld s eem a single line; if th e u niv ers e of thi s

b ei ng sh ou ld p os ses s b u t one dim ensi on i e sh ou ld thi s b ei ng b e , . .
,
76 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

one -
dimensiona l in th e pr op erti es of its r ec epti vi ty ; a nd ( b ) if f or
th e b e ing p ossessing , in a dditi on t o th e f a cul ty of feeling s ens a
ti ons , th e faculty of fo rm in g p ercepti ons , th e world sh ou ld h a v e
a tw o dim ensiona l ext ensi on I f a ll our world with its bl ue sky ,
-
.

c l ou d s , gr een tr ees , m ou n t a ins a n d pr ec ipi ces , s h oul d s e em t o him

one pl a ne ; if th e u ni v e r s e of thi s b eing sh o u ld h a v e only tw o

dim ensi ons , i e , s h oul d this b e ing b e tw o dime nsi ona l in th e

. .
-

pr op e rti es of its r eceptivity .

M or e bri efly K a nt s th e si s wou ld b e pr ov en cou ld w e b e m a d e to

,
’

see th a t f or th e consc i ou s b ein g th e nu m b e r of c hara c t e ri sti c s of th e

w orld c hanges in accord a nce with th e changes of its p sychic a ppar

a tu s .

T o p erform su c h an exp erim ent , eff ec ting th e diminu tion of

—
p sychic c harac teris ti cs is imp ossibl e w e ca nnot a rbitrarily limit
’
our own , or a ny one el s e s p s y chi c apparat u s .

E xp erim ents with the a u gmenta tion of p sychic c harac teristics

hav e b e en m ad e a nd a re r ecord e d bu t in c onse qu ence of m a ny
,

diverse c au ses th ey a re insuffi ci ently c onvinc ing T h e c hi ef .

r e a son f or this is that th e a u g mentation of p sy chic fa cu lti es

yi eld s firs t of all so m u ch of newness in th e p sy chic r e a l m th a t
, ,

thi s newness ob scu r es the ch a nges pr ocee ding sim u ltaneou sly in th e
pre vi ou s p ercepti on of th e world .

T h e entir e b o dy of t eachings of r eligi o phil osop hi c m ov em en ts

-

hav e a s th eir a v owe d or hi dd en p u rp ose th e expa nsion of con ,

sciou snes s This al so is th e a im of mysticism of e v ery a g e and of

.

e v ery f a ith th e a im of occ u lti sm

, a n d o f th e O ri ent a l y oga
, Bu t .

th e pr obl em of th e exp a nsi on of consc i ousnes s d em a nd s sp ec i a l

s t u dy ; th e fi na l c hapt e r s of thi s b ook wi ll b e d e dic at e d to it a nd ,
“
it will b e th e su bj e c t of d et a il e d e x a mina tion in th e b ook T h e ,

Wi s dom of th e G o ds ”
.

For th e pr es ent in proof of th e a b ov e s t a t e d pr op ositi ons with

,

reg a rd to th e ch a nge of th e w orld in r el a ti on to p sychic c h a nges ,

it is suffi c i ent to c ons id er th e qu es ti on of th e di m inu tion of

p sy chi c c h a ra c t eri sti cs .

If exp eri m ents in this direc ti on a re i m p ossibl e p e rh a p s ob serva ,

ti on m a y furni sh wh a t w e seek .

Let u s pu t th e qu es ti on : Are th er e not b ei ngs in th e world

sta nding tow a rd u s in th e neces sary rela tion wh ose p sy c h e is of a,

l ower g ra d e t h a n ou rs ?
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 77

S u ch p sy chica lly inf eri or b eings u nd ou bt e dly exi st Th ese .

b ei ngs a re a nim a l s .

O f th e diff erenc e b etw een th e p sy c hi ca l nat u re of a n a ni m a l

“ ”
a nd of a m a n w e kno w v e ry littl e : th e u su a l c onv ersa ti on a l

p syc h ology d ea l s with it not a t a ll U su a lly w e d eny a ltogeth e r .

th a t a nim a l s h a v e m i n d s or el s e w e a sc rib e to th em o u r own psy

,
“ ”—
c h ology bu t
.
lim ite d t h ou gh h ow a nd in wh a t w e do not
kno w Aga in w e sa y th a t a nim a l s do not p ossess r ea son b u t
.
, ,

a re gov erne d by i ns ti nc t a s th ou gh th e y h a d n o se lf c onsc i ou s

-

n e ss b u t w e r e som e sort of a n au t om a ti c :a pp a r a tu s As to wh a t .

e x a c tly w e m ea n by ins tinct w e do no t ou rs e lv es kno w I am .

“ ”
s p ea ki ng not a l on e of p op u l a r b u t of so c a ll e d ,
sc i entifi c -

p sych o logy .

Le t u s try to di scov e r wh a t i nsti nc t is a nd l ea rn som ething ,

a b ou t a ni m a l p s ych o l ogy First of a ll let u s a na lyz e th e actions of

.

a ni m a l s a nd s ee w h e r e i n th e y difl er fro m ou r s
,
’
If th ese a c ti ons .

a re in stinc tiv e wh a t i nf e r e nc e is to b e dr a w n fr om th e f a c t ?
,
’
Wh a t a re t h os e a c tions in gen er a l a nd h ow do th ey difl er ? ,

I n th e a c ti o ns of livi ng b ei ngs w e di sc ri min a t e b etw een th ose

whi c h a re r efl e x i nstinc tiv e c onsci ou s (a nd au t om a tic) a nd
'

, , ,

i ntu itiv e .

R efl ex a ctions a re sim ply respons es by motion re ac ti ons u p on ,

e xt e rna l irrit a ti ons t a king pl a c e a lw a y s in th e s am e w a y r e g a rd

, ,

l ess oi t h eir u tility or fu tility exp e diency or inexp e di enc y in a ny

,

giv en c ase Th eir origin a nd l a ws a re du e to th e s im ple irrita bility

.

of a ce ll .

Wh a t is th e irrit a bility of a c ell a nd wh a t a re th ese l a ws ? ,

T h e irrit a bility of a cell is d efi ne d a s its f a cu lty to r e sp on d to

e xt e rna l irrit a ti on by a m oti on E xp erim ents with th e s i m pl est
.

m ono c ell a r orga ni s m s h a v e sh o wn th a t this irrita bility a c t s a c

-

c ordin g to d efi nit e l a w s T h e c e ll r esp onds by a m o ti on t o ou t sid e

.

irrit a ti on Th e forc e of th e r esp onsiv e m oti on incr ea s es a s th e

.

forc e of th e irrita tion is intens ifi e d b u t in no d efi nite pr op orti on ,

a lit y
. I n ord e r to prov ok e th e r esp ons iv e m o v em ent th e irri
ta tion m u st b e of a suf fi c i en t i nt ens ity E a ch exp eri enc ed irrita .

tion l ea v es a certa in trace in th e cell m a ki ng it m ore r e c eptive to ,

th e n ew irrit a ti ons I n thi s w e see th a t th e c e ll r e s p ond s to th e

.

repetitive ir rit a ti on of a n equ a lf orce by a m or e f o rc e f u l m o ti on th a n

th e firs t o ne And if th e irrit a ti ons b e r ep ea t e d f u rth e r th e cell

.

will r esp ond to th em by m or e a nd m or e for cefu l m oti ons u p to a ,

78 T ER T I UM ORGANUM

ce rtain limit H a vin g r ea ch e d this lim it th e c ell exp eri enc es

.

f a tig ue a n,d r es p o n d s t o t h e s a m e ir rit a ti o n by m or e a nd m or e

f e ebl e r ea cti ons I t is a s th ou gh th e c ell b ec om es a ccu stom e d to
.

th e irrita ti on I t b ec om es f or th e c e ll p a rt of a cons ta nt environ

.

ment a n d it c ea s es to r ea c t b eca us e it is r e a cting g ener a lly o nl y

, ,

to ch a nges in c on di ti ons whi c h a re c ons ta nt If fr om th e v ery .

b eginning th e irritati on is s o w ea k th a t it f a il s to pr ov ok e th e
r esp ons iv e m oti on it nev ert h el es s l ea v es in th e c ell a c ert a in
,

invis ible tr a c e Thi s c a n b e inf err e d fr om th e f ac t th a t by r e

.

p ea ti ng th ese w ea k irrit a ti o n s th e c e ll fi n a ll y b e gins to r ea c t to

,

th em .

Th u s in the la ws of irritabi lity w e ob s erv e a s it w e r e th e b e , ,

ginnings of m em ory f a tig e a n d h abit T h e c e ll pr o d u ces th e

u , , .

ill u s i on if not of a c ons ci ou s a nd r ea sonin g b eing a t a ny r a t e

, ,

o f a r em em b erin g b e ing h a bit f ormin g a nd su s ceptibl e to f a

,
-

tigu e If w e c a n b e th u s d eceive d by a c ell h ow m u ch m or e li a bl e

.
,

a re w e t o b e d ec eiv e d by th e gr e a t e r c o m pl e xity of a nim a l lif e .

B u t le t u s r e t ur n to th e a n a ly si s of ac tions By th e r efl ex a c .

ti ons of a n orga nis m a re m ea nt a c ti ons in whi ch eith er a n ent ir e

o rg a ni sm o r its sep a r a t e p a rts a c t as a cell i e within th e li mi t s , . .
,

of th e la w of v a ri a bili ty W e ob serv e su c h a c ti ons b oth in m en

.

a nd in anim a ls A m a n shu dd ers a ll ov er from un exp ec t e d

.

c old , or fr om a t ou c h His e y elid s wink a t th e s wift a pproa c h

.

or t ou c h of s om e obj ec t Th e fr e e ly h a n ging f oo t of a p ers on

.
-

in a sitting p os iti on m ov es f orw a rd if th e leg b e s tru c k on th e

t end on b el o w th e kne e Th es e m ov em ent s pro c ee d in d ep en d ently
.

of c ons c i ou sn es s t h ey m a y e v en pr o c ee d c ou n t e r t o c ons c i ou s
,

n e ss . U su a lly c onsc i ou sness r egi st er s th em a s a c c ompli sh e d

f a c ts Mor eo v e r t h ese m ov em ent s a re n ot a t a ll gov erne d by
.

e xp e di enc y T h e f oot m ov es f orw a rd in a ns w e r to th e bl o w o n

.

th e t e n d on e v e n th ou g h a kn if e o r a fir e b e in fr o n t of it .

By in s tin c tiv e a cti on s a re m ea n t a cti ons gov ern ed by exp edi

e nc y b u t m a d e w it h ou t c o ns c i ou s s ele ctio n or w ith ou t con sc i ou s a im
,
.

Th ey a pp ea r with th e a pp ea r a nc e of a s ensu ou s tin c ture to

s en s a ti on s i e , fr om th a t m om ent w h en th e sensa ti on b egins to
. .
,

b e a ssoc i a t e d with a cons ciou s s e nse o f pl e a s ure or p a in a nd th ey ,

a r e g o v e r n e d a c c ordi ng t o th e spl en did e xpr essi on of W ell s by

, ,
“ ”
th e pl ea su r e p a in gu id a nc e of th e a ni m a l lif e
-
.

As a m a tt er o f f a ct b ef or e th e d a wn o f s e lf c onsc i ou sness i e
,
-

, . .
,
“
of h u m a n i nt e ll ec t thr ou g h ou t th e e ntir e a nim a l kingd om
, ao
80 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

fore th a t th e su b servi ence to pl ea su r e pain m u st b e gov erne d

,
-

by exp e di enc y T h e pl easa nt is pl e asa nt b ec a u s e it is benefi cia l

.
,

th e u n pl ea sa n t is u npl ea s a nt b ec a u se it is h a rmfu l .

Ne xt a fter i nstinc tive a c tions foll ow th ose a c tions whic h

a re c onsc i ou s a nd a u tom a ti c .

By consc iou s a c ti on is m eant su ch a n action a s is known to

th e a c ting su bj ec t before its execu tion; su c h a n a cti on a s th e
a c ting su bj e c t c a n na me defi ne exp la in c a n s h o w its c a u s e a nd
, , ,

p u rp ose bef ore its execu tion S om eti m es c ons c i ou s a cti ons a re
.

execu t e d w ith su c h s wift nes s th a t th ey app ea r to b e un c ons c i ou s ,

b u t in s pit e of thi s it is a consciou s a ction if th e a c ting su bj ec t

knows wh a t it is doing .

Au t om ati c a c ti ons : th ese a re a c ti ons which h a v e b een c on

sc i ou s f or a giv en su bj e c t , b u t b ec a u s e of fre q u ent r e p e titi ons

th ey h a v e b ecom e h a bitu a l a nd a re p erfor m e d u nconsci ou sly .

T h e a c qu ir e d a u t om a ti c a c ti ons of tra i ne d a ni m a l s w er e pre

viou sly c onsc i ou s not in th e a ni m al , b u t in th e tr a in er Su c h .

a c ti ons o ft e n a pp ea r a s c ons c i ou s , b u t thi s is a c om pl et e ill u s i on .

Th e ani m a l r em e m b ers th e se qu ence of a c ti ons and th e r ef or e ,

its a cti ons app ear to b e consid er e d a nd exp e di ent Th ey r e a lly .

wer e c onsid er e d , bu t not by it Au tom a ti c a c ti ons a re often

.

conf ou n d e d with ins ti nc tiv e o n es — in r e a lity th e y r esem bl e in

s tinc tive o n es , b u t th er e is a n enor m ou s diff er e nce b e tw een th e m .

Au t om a ti c a c ti ons a re d ev el op e d by th e su bj e c t d u ri ng its own

lif e , a nd f or a l ong ti me b efore th ey b ec om e a u tom a ti c it m u s t
b e c onsci ou s of th e m Insti nc tiv e a c tions , on th e oth er h a n d
. ,

a re d e v e l op e d d u rin g th e lif e p e ri o d s of th e sp ecies , a nd th e

-

a ptitu d e f or th e m is tr a n smi tt e d in a d efi nit e m a nn er by h e r e d

ity I t is p oss ible to c a ll a u tom a ti c a c ti ons i nsti nc tiv e a cti ons

.

worke d ou t f or it se lf by a g iv en su bj ec t I t is impossible .
,

h o wev er to c a ll insti nc tiv e a c ti ons a u t om a ti c a c ti ons w ork e d

,

ou t by a giv e n s p ec i e s b e ca u se th ey nev er w er e c onsciou s in

,

difl erent i ndivid u a l s of a giv en s p ec i es b u t w ere c om p ou n d e d ,

ou t o f a s eri es of c om pl ex r e fl e x es .

“
R efl ex es in stin ctiv e a nd consci ou s a ctions a ll m a y b e re
, ,

g a rd e d a s r efl ec t e d i e a s not s elf origina t e d B oth th es e a nd

, . .
,
-
.

o th e r s a nd s ti ll a thi rd c l a ss
, c om e no t fr o m m a n hi m s e lf b u t
, ,

from th e ou t sid e world M a n is th e tr a nsmitti ng or tra ns

.

for min g st a ti on f or c ert a in forces : a ll of h is a c ti ons in th ese three

ca tegories a re c r e a t e d a nd d e t e r m in e d by his i m pr e ss i ons of th e
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 81

ou s t ide world M a n in th ese thr ee sp eci es of a cti ons is in

. ,

su b s t a nce an ,
au tom a ton u nsc ons ciou s or c onsci ous of his
,

a c ti ons .No thing com es from him him self .

O nly th e high e r c at egory of a cti ons i e th e i nt u itiv e a pp e ar

, . .
, ,

not to d ep end u p on th e ou t s id e w o rld B u t th e a ptit u d e f or s u ch

.

acti ons is seld om m et wit h—only in s om e f ew p ersons wh om it

is p ossibl e to d esc rib e a s M E N O F A HIG H E R T YP E .

H a vin g esta bli sh e d th e diff erenc es b e tw een v a ri ou s kin d s of

acti ons let u s r etu rn to th e qu esti on prop ou nd e d b efore : I n
,

wh a t m a nner does the psy che of a n a nima l difler from th a t of a

'

h u ma n being? O u t of th e fou r c a t ego ri e s o f a c ti ons th e tw o

low er ones a re a c ces sibl e to a ni m a l s (a nd in v ery r a re c a ses
”
th e high es t th e , T h e ca t e gory of co ns c i o u s

a c ti ons is i na c c ess ibl e t o a ni m a l s Thi s is prov en firs t of a ll by

.

th e fa c t th a t a ni m a l s hav e n ot th e p o w er of sp eec h a s w e h a v e it .

As h a s b een s ho wn b efor e th e p os s e ss i on of sp eec h is in

,

dissolu b ly b ou nd u p with th e p oss es si on of conc epts Th er efo r e .

we m ay s a y th a t a ni m a l s do not p ossess conc ept s .

I s thi s tru e a nd is it p ossibl e t o p oss e ss th e i ns ti nc tiv e mi nd

,

with ou t p os sessing c oncepts ?

All th a t w e kn o w a b ou t th e i nsti nc tiv e m in d t ea c h e s u s th a t
it a c ts p os sessing sens a tions a nd p erc eptions only a nd th a t in ,

th e l o w e r gr a d es it p oss es s e s s ensa ti on only T h e c o nsc i o u sness .

whic h do es its thinking by m ea ns of p er ceptions is th e i nstinc tiv e

mi nd i e t h a t which d e p end s u p on its e m oti ons T h e e m oti ons
, . .
, .

only giv e it th e p os s ibility of e x e r c i sin g t h a t ch oice b e tw een th e

p ercepti ons pr es ente d to it whic h pro d u ces th e i m pr ess i on of

j u dging a nd r ea soning I n r ea lity th e a ni m a l d o es not r e a son
.

its a c ti ons b u t liv es by its e m oti ons su bj ec t a t e v ery giv e n

, ,

mom ent to th a t em oti on whi c h h a pp ens to b e s trong es t A lth ou gh .

indeed in th e lif e of th e a nim a l a cu te m om ent s som eti m es oc c u r

, ,

wh en it is confront e d with th e necessity of ch oosing a m ong a c er

t a in seri es of p erc epti ons At su ch m om ent s its a c ti ons m a y
.

se e m to b e q u it e r e a s o ne d ou t F br e x a mpl e th e a ni m a l b e in g
.
, ,

pu t in a s itu a ti on o f d a nge r a c t s o ft en v ery c a u ti ou s ly a nd wi se ly .

B u t in re a lity its a c ti ons a re dir ec t e d by e m oti on onl y It h as .

b een pr evi ou sl y sh o wn th a t em otions a re exp e di ent a nd th a t th e ,

su bj ec ti o n to t h e m in a no r m a l b e in g m u s t b e e xp e di e nt Any .

p erception of a n a ni m a l a ny r ecoll ec t e d i m a ge is b ou nd u p
, ,

with som e em oti ona l sens a tion or em otiona l r em em br a nc e

82 T ER T I U M ORGAN U M

th e re a re no non em oti ona l cold th ou ghts in th e a ni ma l s ou l or

-

, ,

e v en if t h e r e a re th e s e a re i na c tiv e a nd i nc a p a bl e of b ec o m i ng
, ,

th e spri ngs of a c ti o n .

Th u s a ll a c ti ons of a ni m a l s som e ti m es highly com pl ex , ,

e xp e di e nt , a nd a pp a r en tly r e a sone d w e c a n e xpl a i n with ou t

,

a ttrib u ti ng to th em c o nc e pt s j u dgm ents a nd th e p o we r o f

, ,

r e a s o ni ng. I n d ee d w e m u s t r e co gniz e th a t a ni m a l s h a v e no
,

concepts , a n d th e pr oof of thi s is that t h e y h a v e no s p e e c h .

I f w e t a k e tw o men of diff er ent na ti ona liti es differ ent r a ces , ,

ea c h igno r a n t of th e l a ng u a g e o f th e o th e r a nd p u t th e m t oge t h e r , ,

th ey will find a w a y to c omm u ni c a t e a t o nce .

O ne p er h a p s dra w s a c irc l e with h is fi nge r th e o th er dra w s ,

a noth e r c ir c l e b e s id e it By t h es e m ea ns th ey h a v e a lrea dy
.

e s t a bli s h e d t h a t th e y ca n u n d e r s t a n d o n e a no th er I f a thi ck .

w a ll wer e pu t b etween th e m it wou ld not h a m p er th em in th e

—
l ea s t o ne of t h em knoc k s t h re e tim es a nd th e oth er knoc k s ,

thr ee tim es in r esp ons e .

T h e c om m u ni c a ti on is est a bli sh e d Th e id ea of com m u .

nic a ting with th e inh a bit a nt s of o th e r pl a n e t s is f ou n d e d u p on

th e id ea of light s igna l s I t is prop ose d to m a k e on th e e a rth

.

a n en o r m ou s light e d c ir c l e o r a s qu ar e to a ttr a c t th e a tt enti on

of th e i nh a bit a nt s of M ar s a nd to b e a ns w er e d by th em by m e a n s

of th e sa m e sig na l . We liv e sid e by sid e with a ni m a l s a nd y e t

ca nno t e s t a bli sh su c h c omm u ni ca ti on E vid ently th e di st a nce.

b etw een u s a nd t h em is gr ea t er a nd th e diffe r enc e d eep e r , ,

t h a n b etw een men divid e d by th e ignor a nc e of l a ng u a ge stone ,

wa ll s a nd enorm ou s di st a nc es
, .

Ano th er proof of th e a b senc e of conc epts in th e a ni m al is its

i na bility to u s e a l e v e r i e its i nc a p a c ity to com e i nd ep end ently
, . .
,

to a n u n d er s t a n di n g of th e pri nc ipl e of th e a c ti on of th e l e v e r .

T h e u su a l o bj ec ti on t h a t a n a n i m a l c a nno t o p era t e a l e v e r b e
c a u s e its o rg a ns ( p a w s a n d s o fo rth ) a re no t a d a pt e d to su c h

a c ti on s d oes no t h o ld f o r th e r e a so n that a l m o s t a ny a ni m a l

c a n b e ta u gh t to op er a t e a l ev e r Th i s s h o ws th a t th e difficu lty
.

is no t in th e orga ns T h e a ni m a l si m ply ca nnot of it self c ome to

.

a co m pr eh en si on o f th e id ea of a l e v e r .

Th e i nv enti on of th e l e v er i m m e di a t ely divid e d pri mi tiv e

m a n fr om th e a ni m a l a nd it w a s i ne xtri c a bly b ou nd u p with
,

th e a pp e a r a nce of con cept s T h e p sy chi c sid e of th e u n d erst a n d

.

ing o f th e a cti on of a l e v e r consi s ts in th e constru c ti on of a

 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

A is A Na g
.

A is notAA .

E very thing is eith er A or not A .

I t is p ossibl e to r epr esent it mor e c l ea rly in thi s w ay

I am I .
’

I a m notfl I .

A ll th a t i s in the w orld mu st be h
eit er I or not I .

T h e l o gi c e m br a c e d in thi s s ch em eL th e l ogi c of Ari sto tl e —

is quit e suffi c i ent f or observa tion B u t f or experiment it is in
.

sufficient, b e c a u s e th e exp e ri m ent procee d s in time, a nd in th e

formu l ae of Ari stotl e ti m e is not tak en into c onsid era ti on Thi s .

w a s o b serv e d a t th e v ery d a wn of th e est a b li sh m en t of ou r ex

p er im e n ta l s c i e nc e — o b s e rv e d by R og e r B a c on , a nd f o r m u l a t e d

s ev e ral c e nt u ri es l a t er by his f a m ou s n a m esa k e , Franc i s B a c o n ,

“ ”— “
Lord Ver u lam , in th e tr eati s e Novu m O rganu m Th e New
”
Instru m ent (of th ou ght) Bri efly , th e f orm u l a tion of B a con
.

m a y b e r edu ce d to th e fo ll owin g :

Th a t which w a s A , will be A .

Th a t which w as not A will be not A , .

E very thing wa s a nd will be, either A or not A .

Up on th ese form u l ae a ckno wl e dg e d or u n a c kn o wl e dge d a ll

, ,

o u r s c i entific exp e ri e nc e is b u ilt a nd u p on th em

, to o is s h oe , ,

m aking f ou n d e d b ec au se if a s h oem a k er c o u ld not b e su r e

,

th a t th e l ea th er b ou ght y est erd a y wou ld b e l ea th er t om orro w ,

in a ll pr ob a bili ty h e wo u ld no t v ent u r e to m a k e a p a ir of s h oes ,

bu t wo u ld find som e o th e r m or e profit a bl e e m pl o ym ent .

Th e form u l ae o f l og i c su c h a s th os e b o th of Ari sto tl e a n d of

,

B a con a re th em se lves d e d u c e d from th e ob serv a ti on o f f a c t s a nd

, ,

d o not a nd c a nn ot inc l u d e a nyth in g ex c ept th e cont ent s o f th es e

f a c ts Th ey a re not th e l a ws of reas oning b u t th e l a ws of th e
.
,

o u t e r wo rld a s it is p e r c e iv e d by u s or th e l a w s o f ou r r e l a ti on to
,

th e ou t er w orld .

C ou ld w e r epr es ent to ou r s elv es th e l ogi c of a n a nim a l w e

wou ld u nd e rs t a n d its r e l a ti on to th e ou ter wo rld O ur c a rdi na l .

err o r con cer ni ng th e p s y c h o l ogy o f a ni m a l s c on si st s in th e f a c t

that w e a scrib e to th em ou r own l og i c We a ssu m e th a t logic is .

one th a t ou r l ogi c is s om e th in g a b s o l u t e e xi s ti ng o u t s id e a nd in
, ,
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 85

d ep end ent of u s while a s a m a tter of fac t logic bu t form u l a t es

, ,

th e l a ws of th e r e lati ons of ou r s p ec ifi c I to th e ou t sid e world or ,

th e l a w s whi ch ou r sp ec ifi c I di s c ov er s in th e ou ts id e wo rld .

Anoth e r I will di scov er o th er laws .

Th e logic of ani ma l s will diff er from ou rs fir st of a ll from th e , ,

fac t th a t it will not b e genera l I t will exi st separa te ly f or ea c h

.

c a s e f or ea ch p er c e pti on
, C omm on prop erti es c l a ss pr op erties
.
, ,

a nd th e g eneri c a n d s p ec ifi c signs of ca tegories will n ot exi s t f or

a nim a l s . E a ch obj ec t will exi st in a nd by its elf a nd a ll its pr op er ,

ti es will b e th e sp ec ifi c prop erti es of it a lone .

This h ou se a nd th a t hou se are entir e ly difl erent o bj ec t s f or a n

a ni m a l b ec a u se one is its h ou s e a nd th e o th e r is a s tra nge h ou s e
, .

G ene ra lly sp e akin g w e r ecogniz e o bj ec ts by th e signs of th eir

,

s i m ila rity ; th e a ni m al m u s t r e cogniz e th em by th e s igns of th e ir

diff er ence I t r em em b ers e ac h obj ec t by th a t sign which h a d f or

.

it th e great est e m o tiona l m ea n ing I n su ch a m ann er i e by ,

, . .
,

th eir emoti ona l t ones prec eptions a restore d in th e m em ory O a n

,

a ni m al . I t is c l ea r th a t su c h p er ceptions a re m uch m o r e diffi cu lt

to s tor e u p in th e m em o ry a nd th er e fo r e th e m em ory of a n ani m a l
,

is m ore b ur d ene d t h a n ou rs a lthou gh in th e a m ou nt o f knowl

,

e dg e a nd in th e q u a ntity of that whi c h is pr ese rv e d in th e m em o ry ,

it st a nds f a r b elow u s .

Aft er s eei ng a n o bj ec t once w e r e f er it to a c ert a i n c l a ss g enu s

, ,

a nd s p eci es pl a c e it u n d e r thi s o r th a t conc e pt a n d fix it in th e

, ,
“ ”
mind by m ea ns of som e w ord i e a lge bra i ca l sy m b o l ; th en by
, . .
,

a noth e r d efi ni ng it a nd s o on
, , .

Th e a ni m a l h a s no conc epts ; it h a s not th a t m ent a l a lge bra by

th e h elp of whi c h w e think I t m u st kno w a lwa y s a given object
.
,

and m u s t r e m em b er it with a ll its s igns a nd p ec u li a riti es No .

forgo tten sign will r etu rn F or u s on th e oth er h a n d th e pri n

.
, ,

cip a l s ign s a re c o nt a in e d in th e con c e pt wit h w h i c h w e h a v e c o r

re l a t e d th a t obj ec t a nd w e ca n find it in o u r m em o r y by m ea ns
,

of th e s i g n f o r it .

From thi s it is c l ea r th a t th e m em ory of a n a ni m al is mo r e

b u rd ene d th a n ou rs a nd this is th e pri ncip a l hind ering c au s e
,

to th e m ent a l e vo l u ti on o f a n a ni m a l I ts mi n d is too bu sy It . .

h a s no time to d ev elop Th e m e nt a l d ev e l op m ent o f a c hild m ay

.

b e a rres t e d by m a ki ng it m emo riz e a seri es of w ord s o r a s e ri es

86 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

of figu r es Th e a ni m al is in j u st su ch a p ositi on H er ei n li e s th e
. .

e xpl a na ti on of th e s tr a ng e f a c t th a t a n a ni m a l is wiser wh en it is

y ou ng .

I n m a n th e fl ow e r of i nt e ll ec t u a l f orc e f a d es at a m at u r e a g e ,
o ft en e v e n in senility ; in th e a ni m a l qu it e th e r e ver se is tru e , .

I t is receptive only whil e it is y ou ng At m a tu rity its d ev elop m ent .

s t op s a n d in old a g e it u nd ou bt e dly d e g en er a t e s
, .

T h e l ogi c of a ni m al s , w e re w e to a tt e m pt to expr ess it by m ea ns

o f f o r m u l ae s i mil a r to t h o se e m pl o y e d by Ari s t o tl e a nd B a c on ,

w ou ld b e a s follo w s :
T h e for m u la A is A , th e a ni m a l will u , I t will sa y
(a s it w er e) I a m I , etc b u t th e form u l a A i s no . it will b e m ,

c a pabl e o f u nd er s t a ndi g n —
Not A thi s is i nd ee d the concept . .

Th e a ni m a l will r ea son th u s .

Th is is th is .

Th a t is th a t .

Thi s i s not th a t .

Th is ma n is this ma n .

Th a t ma n is th a t ma n .

Th is ma n is not th a t m a n .

I s h a ll b e oblige d to r etu rn to th e l ogic of a ni m a ls l a ter on ;

f o r th e pr ese nt it is only n ec essa ry to est a bli sh th e fac t th a t th e
p sy c h o l o gy of a ni m a l s is p ecu lia r a nd differs in a fun d a m enta l ,

w a y fr om ou r o w n An d n ot only is it p ecu li a r b u t it is d ec id e dly

.
,

ma nifold .

Am ong th e a ni m a l s kn o wn t o u s e v e n a mo ng d o m e s ti c ,

a ni m al s th e p s y c h ol ogi ca l diff er enc e s a re so gr e a t a s t o diff e r

,

entia t e th em i nt o e ntir e ly s e p a r a t e pl a n es We ignor e thi s a nd .

,

pl a c e th em a ll u nd er a s ingl e r u bri c
A goos e havi ng ent a ngl e d its f oot in a pi ece o f w a t er m el o n ri nd
, ,

dr a gs it a l ong by th e w eb a nd thu s c a nnot g et it ou t b u t it nev e r ,

t h i nks of r a i sing its fo ot This indi c a t es t h a t its m in d is so .

v a gu e t h a t it d oes not kn o w its o w n b o dy sc a rcely di sti ngu i shi ng ,

b etween it a nd o th er obj ec t s Thi s wou ld h a pp en neit h er with

*
.

a d og nor with a c a t Th ey know th eir b o di es v ery w ell B u t

. .

in r e l a ti on to ou tsid e o bj ec t s th e dog a nd th e c a t diff e r wid e ly .

“ ”
I h a v e ob se rv e d a d og a v e ry int elligent s ett er , Wh en th e .

M V A D il fl ( th i v tiga t o o f li gio q tio f o l k l o t a ia i m t w h o h

'

r. an o e n es r re us u es ns , -
re , se c r n s e c as
al o xami d d p l y i t o t h omp a a t v p y h o l og y d t h p y h ol og y o f a im al ) h a ll d m
. . .
,

s e ne ee n e c r i e s c an e s c n s as c e y
a tt tio t o t h fa t th a t
en n e xam p l o f a t pid a im al it
c as an e a y t o t ak th h
e
“
d ts u
"
n i s ne ce ss r e e en a n no
 CHAPTER I X
r ptivity of th wo ld by a m n nd by n animal Ill ion of
ec e e r a a a . us s

th anim al nd its la ck of o nt o l of th
e a ptiv f ultie Th c r e rec e e ac s. e

wo ld of m oving plan Angl nd urv o n id d m otio n

r es . es a c es c s ere as .

Th th i d d im n ion m o tion T h anim al t wo dim n io nal

’

e r e s as . e s -
e s

vi w of
e th dim n ional wo ld Th animal a al two
our ree -
e s r . e as re
dim n ional b ing L w animal
e s en d im n io nal b ing
. o er s as o e
-
e s e s .

Th time nd p a of a nail Th tim n

e a S n imp f
ce t s . e e se se as a er ec

sp a n
ce se Th tim nd p a
se . of a dog Th h ang in th wo ld
e e a s ce . e c e e r

o in id nt with a h ang in th p y hi app a at Th p roof of

Kant p obl m T h th dim n ional wo ld— n ill iona y
c c e c e e s c c r us . e
’
s r e . e ree -
e s r a us r

perc ption e .

E h a v e e st a bli sh e d th e enor m ou s diffe r ence exi s t

ing b etw een th e p sy c ho l ogy of a m a n a nd of a n
ani m a l This difl erence u ndou bte dly profou ndly
’
.

a ff ec t s th e r e c eptivity o f th e ou t e r w o rld by th e

a nim a l B u t h ow a nd in wh a t? Thi s is ex a ctly

.

wh a t w e do not kno w a nd wh a t w e shall try to disco v er , .

T o thi s en d w e s h a ll r et u rn to ou r r e c e ptivity of th e world ,

inves tiga t e in deta il th e na tu r e of th a t r ec eptivity a nd th en ,

i m a gine h ow th e a nim a l with its m or e li mit e d p sy chic e qu ip ment, ,

rec eives its i m pressi on of th e world .

Le t u s no t e firs t of a ll th a t w e r eceiv e th e m os t in c orr ec t im

pres sions of th e world a s r ega rd s its ou t er form a nd a sp ec t We .

kno w th a t th e world c onsist s of solid s b u t We see a nd tou ch only ,

su rf a ces . We nev er s ee a nd t ou ch a solid T h e so lid thi s is — .

ind ee d a concept com p os e d of a se ri es of p erc eptions th e r esu lt

, ,

of r e a so nin g a nd exp e ri enc e For i mm e di a t e s ensa ti on su rf a c es .

,

a l o ne e xi s t. S ensa ti ons o f gr a vity m a s s v o l u m e wh i c h w e m en , , ,

“
t a lly a ssoc i a t e with th e so lid a re in r ea lity a ss oc i a te d with ,

th e s ens a ti o ns o f su rf a ces W e only know th a t th e s ensa tion .

c om e s fro m th e s o lid b u t th e s o lid it se lf w e ne v e r sens e

, P erh a p s .

it wou ld b e p ossibl e to c a ll th e com pl ex s ensa ti on of su rf a ces ,

“ ”
weight m a ss d ensity r esi st a nc e th e s ensa tion of a solid bu t
, , , , ,

ra th er d o w e com bin e menta lly a ll th es e sensa tions into o ne a nd ,

c a ll th a t c om p os it e sen sa ti on a s o lid We sense directly only .

90 T ER T IUM ORGAN UM

su rfa ces ; th e weight a nd r es i st a nc e of th e so lid , a s su c h , w e ne v e r

sep a ra tely s ens e .

B u t w e know th a t
world d oe s not cons is t o f su rf a c es : w e th e
kno w t h a t w e s ee th e world i nc orr ec tly a nd th a t w e never s ee it ,

a s it is n o t a l one in th e phil o s ophi c a l m ea ni ng of th e expr e s s i o n

, ,

b u t in th e m os t s i m pl e geometrica l m ea nin g We h a v e nev e r .

s een a cu be a sph ere e tc , b u t only th eir su rfa c es Kno wi ng this

, .
, .
,

w e m ent a lly co rr ec t th a t whi ch w e s ee B ehind th e s u rfa ces w e .

think th e s olid B u t w e c a n ne v er e v en represent th e s olid to o u r

.

se lv e s We ca nnot i m a gine th e cu b e or th e sph ere seen not in

.
,

p ersp ec tiv e b u t s im u lt a neou sly from a ll s id es

, .

I t is c l ea r that th e world d oes n ot exi s t in p e rs p ec tiv e ; nev er

th eles s w e ca nnot s ee it o th e rwi se We see ev erything only in .

p ersp ec tiv e ; th a t is in th e v ery a c t of r eceptivity th e world is ,

di sto rt e d in ou r ey e a nd w e kno w t h a t it is di stort e d We kno w , .

th a t it is not su c h a s it a pp ea r s a nd m ent a lly w e a re c ontinu ou sly ,

correcting t h a t whi c h th e ey e s ees su b s tit u ti ng th e r ea l c ont e nt ,

f or th ose s y m b ol s of thin gs whi c h sight r e v ea l s .

O u r sight is a c o m pl ex f a c u lty I t c onsi s t s of vi su a l sensa ti ons .

p lu s th e m e m o ry o f s e n sa ti o n s o f t o u c h Th e c hild tri es t o f ee l .

with its fing er tip s e veryth ing th a t it sees— th e nos e of its nu r se

-

th e m oon th e r efl ec ti on of s u n r a y s fr o m th e m irr o r o n th e wall

, .

O nly gra d u a lly d oes it l ea rn to di s c e rn th e nea r a nd th e di st a nt

by mea ns of s ight a lone B u t w e kno w th a t e v e n in m a tu r e a g e w e .

a re ea sily su bj e c t to o pti c a l ill u s i o ns .

We see di st a nt o bj ec ts a s fl a t e ven m or e inc orrec tly b ec a u se , ,

r e li ef is a fter a ll a s y m b ol r e vea ling a cert a in prop erty of o bj ec ts .

A m a n a t a l ong di st a nce is pi c t u re d to u s in s ilh o u ett e This .

h a pp ens b ec a u se w e never feel a nything a t a l ong di sta nc e a nd ,

th e ey e h a s not b een t au g h t to di sc ern th e diff er enc e in su rf a c es

which a t sh ort di stances a re felt by th e fing er tip s * -
.

I n t hi o tio th h av b s c nn ec om int ti g ob vation m ad p o th b li d w h o

n, ere e ee n s e e re s n se r s e u n e n are

j t b gi i g t o
us e nn n se e .
I th m aga in S l p t ( T h Bli d 1 9 1 2 ) th
n e z e e i a d ip tio f o m di
e z t ob va t o o f h o w
e n ere s e scr n r re c se r i n
th o b o b li d l p ti w hi h t o d th i ig ht
,

se rn t f t th
n ea rn o s ee a er e o era on c re s re e r s
Thi i h o w a v t y a o l d y o th w h o ov d hi ight aft th m oval o f a at a a t
.

s s se e n ee n -
e r u re c ere s s er e re c r c
d ib hi imp ion O n t h thi d d a y af t t h o p a tio h w a k d wh a t h
, ,

es cr es s ress s. e w H r er e er n e as s e e sa e an
d th a t h o m o fi ld o f lig ht d mi ty obj t m oving p o it Th o bj t h d d
.

sw e re w e sa a n en r us e an s ec s u n es e ec s e i
n t di
o O l y af t
s cern . f o d ay did h b gin t o di
n er th m d af t
ur nt va l o f tw
s w k e e sce rn e an er a n I er o ee s,
wh hi y w a t om d t o th light h t a t d t o hi ight th d m t
,

en i l f r e s s or e i s cern en
o f ob j t H w h o w ll th o l o o f th p t m d h l a pt oa dit tail yg m h th m v y oo
s e es ere c cus e e , e s us e r c c ,

ec s e as s n a e c rs e s e c ru an e e rns c s n s e er s n,
x pt y ll o w d g whi h h o f d f a lo g tim T h b h d p y am d wh n
.

e ce e an ree n , c e c n us e or n e e cu e, s e re a n r i e
pl a d b f o h im m d t o him l ik th q nd t h t ia g
,
t h fl t di W h th fl t d
.

ce e re s ee e e w e s ua re , e a sc, a e r n e. en e a i sc as

t al o g id t hn s p h b di ti g i h d
e e s diff e re b t w n th m W h n k d W h t m
e n u s no e rence e ee e e as e a 1 re ssi on
po th ki d o f fi
u s e
p o d d hi m j t a t fi t h aid th at h o ti d a t o th d f f
.
O

n s g u res r u ce on twus rs e s e n ce nce e i e re n ce e ee n

th e cub d th
e anph nd nd tood th a t th y w
e s ere , a t d awi g ub t w ab l t o d d f o m
ers
,

e e re no r n s, u as u n e e u ce r
th m th i l a tio t o th q a
e e r re d t o th
n i l til h f l t i hi fi g tip th d
e s u re a n t o t ou h th e c rc e , u n e e n s n er s e e si re c ese
o bj t W h h w a ll o w d t o t ak th b ph
ec s . en e as d p y a mid i hi h a d h a t o n
e d tfi d
e e cu e, s e re a n r n s n s e ce i en i e
92 T ER T IUM ORGA NU M

This seeming ani ma tion of o bj ec ts cou pl e d with drea ms h a s , ,

alwa ys inspir ed a nd s till inspir es th e fa iry t a l e

, .

“ ”
Th e m o ti ons o f o bj e ct s to a p erson in m oti on a re v ery
, ,

c o m pl ex in d ee d O b s erv e h ow s trang ely th e fi eld of wh ea t b e

.

h a ves j u st b ey ond th e win do w of th e c a r in whi c h y ou a re riding .

I t ru ns to th e v e ry windo w s top s tur ns s lowly a rou n d its e lf

, ,

a n d r u ns a w a y Th e tre es of th e for es t ru n a pp a ren tly a t diff e r

.

ent s p e e d s o v e rtaking o n e a no th e r
, T h e entir e l a nd s ca p e is one
.

of ill u so ry m o ti on B eh old a l so th e sun whic h e v en u p to th e

.
,

s n im
“
pr e e t t e ri e a d et
s s n
“
s s
”
in a ll a n u a s—
l g ge thi s m otion “ ”

h a vin g b een in th e p a st so p a ssi ona t ely d efend e d "

This is a ll seem ing a nd thou gh w e know th a t th e se m o tions
,

a re ill u so ry w e se e th em n e v erth e l ess a nd som e ti m es w e a re

, ,

d elu d ed T o h ow m a ny m or e ill u s ions sh ou ld w e b e s u bj ec t h a d

.

w e not th e p o w e r of m ent a lly a n a lyzin g th eir d e t erminin g c a u ses ,

bu t w ere oblige d to b e li e v e th a t e v erything exists a s it a pp ea r s ?

I see it; theref ore this exis ts .

This a ffirm ati on is th e princ ip a l sou r c e of a ll ill u si ons T o b e .

tru e it is nec essa ry to sa y :

,

I see it; theref ore this does not exis t—or a t l ea s t I see it; th eref ore
this is not so .

Alth ou gh w e ca n sa y last th e a nim a l c a nn ot f or to its a p

th e , ,

pr eh ensi on things a re a s th ey a pp ea r I t m u s t b eli ev e wh a t it sees

. .

Ho w d oes th e wo rld a pp ea r to th e a nim a l ?

T h e world a pp ea rs to it a s a seri e s of com pli c a t e d m o vin g
s ur fa c e s Th e a ni m a l liv es in a world of tw o dimensions I ts u niv e r se
. .

h a s f orit th e prop erti es a nd a pp ea rance of a su rface And u p on .

this su rfa ce tr a nspir e a n enorm ou s nu m b er of diff er ent m oti ons of

a m os t f a nt a s ti c c h a r a c t e r .

Wh y sh ou ld th e world a pp ea r to th e a nim a l a s a su rfa ce ?

Firs t of all b ec a u s e it a pp ea rs a s a sur fa ce to u s
, .

B u t w e know th a t th e w orld is no t a su rf ac e a nd th e a nim a l ,

c a nno t kn o w it I t a ccept s ev erything j u s t a s it a pp ea rs I t is

p ow erl ess to corr ect th e t es ti m ony of its e y es—or it c a nn ot do
. .

so to th e sa m e ext ent th a t w e do .

We a re a bl e to m ea su r e in thr ee m u tu a lly ind ep end ent direc

ti ons : th e na tu r e of our mind p ermits u s to d o this Th e a ni m a l
—
.

c a n m ea su r e s i m u lt a neou sly in tw o dir ec ti ons o nly it c a n nev e r

m ea su re in thr e e dir ec ti ons a t onc e This is du e to th e fa c t
.
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 93

t h a t not p ossessing conc epts it is u na bl e to r et a i n in th e mind th e

,

id ea of th e firs t tw o dir ec tions f or m e a su ri ng th e third , .

Let m e expl a i n thi s m ore e x a c tly .

S u pp ose w e i m a gi ne th a t w e a re m ea s ur ing the cu be .

I n o rd er to m ea su r e th e cu b e in thr ee dir ec ti ons it is nec essa ry ,

whil e m ea su ri ng in one direc tion to k eep in min d tw o o th ers ,

to remember B u t it is p ossibl e to k eep th e m in mind a s c onc ept s

—
.

o nly th a t is a s s oc i a ti ng th e m with di ff e r e nt conc ept s

, , p a sti ng
u p o n th e m diff er ent l a b e l s S o p a sti ng u p o n th e firs t tw o
.
,

dir ec tions th e l a b el s of length a nd brea dth it is p oss ibl e to m e a su r e ,

th e height I t is i m p ossibl e o th er wi se As perceptions th e fir st

. .
,

tw o m ea su r em ent s of th e c u b e a re c om pl et e ly id en ti c a l a nd ,

a ssu r e dly will m i ngl e in t o o n e in th e m i n d Th e a nim a l with ou t .

,

th e a id of co nc ept s c a nnot p a s t e u p on th e fir s t t w o m ea su r em ent s

,

th e l a b el s of l e ngth a nd br ea dth Th erefore a t th e m om ent wh en

.
,

it b egins to m ea su r e th e h eigh t of th e c u b e th e firs t tw o m ea su re ,

m e nts will b e conf u se d in o ne T h e a ni m a l a tt em ptin g to m ea su r e

.

th e cu b e by m e a n s of p er c epti o n s on ly with ou t th e a id o f c onc e pt s ,

will e lik e a c a t I o ce ob serv e d H er kitte s five or six in

b n n —
nu m b e r—sh e dr a gg e d a su n d e r i n to diff e r ent r oom s a nd c ou ld
.

not th en c o ll e c t th e m t o ge th er Sh e s eiz e d one pu t it b esid e

.
,

a no t h e r ra n f or a third a nd bro u ght it to th e fir s t t w o b u t th e n

, ,

sh e s eiz e d th e fir s t a nd ca rri e d it a w a y to a no th er ro om p u tti ng ,

it b esid e th e fou rth ; a ft er th a t sh e ra n b a c k a nd seiz e d th e secon d

a nd dr a gg e d it to th e ro om cont a i ni ng th e fif th a nd s o on For , .

a w h o l e h ou r th e c a t h a d n o r e s t with h er kitt e ns sh e su ffe r e d

, ,

s ev er e ly , a nd cou ld a c co m pli sh no thi ng I t is cl ea r th a t sh e .

l ac ke d th e concepts whic h wou ld e na bl e h er to r em em b er h o w

m a ny kittens sh e h a d a lto ge th er .

I t is in th e hig h e s t d e gr ee i m p orta nt to u n d er st a n d th e r el a ti o n
of th e a ni m a l c o ns c i ou s n es s t o th e m ea su ri ng of b o di es .

T h e gr ea t p oi nt is t h a t th e a ni m a l s e es su rf a ce s on ly (We
'

m a y s a y t h i s with c om pl et e a ssu ra nce b e c au s e w e ou rse lv es ,

s ee s u rf a ces o nl y ) T h u s se ei ng o nly su rfa c es th e a ni m a l c a n

.

ima gine b u t t w o di m ens i o ns Th e third di m en si on in c o ntr a

.
,

di s ti nc ti on to th e o t h er tw o c a n only b e th ou gh t; th a t is
, ,

thi s di m ensi on m u s t b e a c o n cept ; b u t a ni m a l s do no t p osses s

con c ept s T h e third di m e nsi on lik e th e o th e rs a pp ea rs a s a p e r
.

c ep tion . Th erefor e a t th e m om ent of its a pp ea ra nce th e fir s t

, ,

tw o will i ne vit a bly m i ngl e i nt o on e Th e a ni m a l is c a p a bl e o f

.
94 T ER T I U M ORGAN UM

p erceivin g th e differe nc e b etw een tw o di m ensions : th e differ ence

b etw een three it c a nnot p erc eive Thi s diffe r enc e m u st be
.

know n b efor eh a nd a nd to kno w it c onc ept s a re neces s ary

, .

I d enti ca l p erc eptions mix into one f or th e a nim a l j u s t a s w e ,

ou r s elv es c onf u s e tw o s i m u lt a n eou s s i mil a r ph enom ena pr ocee d

,

ing fr om th e s am e p o i nt F or th e ani m a l it will b e one ph enom

.

enon , j u st a s f or u s a ll s i mi l a r s i m u ltaneou s ph enonena

, ,

proc ee ding from a s ingl e p oi nt will b e one ph enomenon .

Th erefor e th e a ni m a l will s ee th e world a s a su rf a c e a nd will ,

m e a su r e thi s su rf a ce in tw o dir e c ti ons only .

B u t h ow is it p o ss ibl e to expl a i n th e f a c t th a t th e a ni m a l ,

in h a biting a tw o dim ensi ona l world or r a th er p erceivi ng itself

-

, ,

a s in a tw o di m ensi on a l w o rld is p erf ec tly o ri e nt e d in ou r thr ee

-

di m ensi ona l w orld ? Ho w e xpl a i n th e f a c t th a t th e bir d fli e s u p

a nd d o wn s id e w a y s a nd s tr a ight a h ea d
,
— in a ll thr ee dir ec tio ns ;
th a t th e h ors e j u m p s o v e r dit c h es a nd b a rri ers ; t h a t th e d og a nd
c a t a pp ea r to u n d e r s t a n d th e pr op e rti es of d e pth a nd h e ight

s i m u lt a neou s ly with th o s e o f l e ngth a nd br e a dth ?

I n o rd e r to expl a i n th ese t hi ngs it is n ec essa ry to r et u rn to th e

f u nd a m ent a l pri ncipl es of a nim a l p sy ch ol ogy I t h a s b e en pre .

viou sly sh o wn th a t m a ny pr op e rti e s o f o bj ec t s r e m e m b e r e d by

u s as genera l pr op e rti e s of g enu s c l a s s sp e c i es a re r e m e mb er e d
, , ,

by a ni m a l s a s individu a l pr op erti e s of obj ec t s T o ori ent at e in .

thi s enorm ou s r es erv e of in divid u a l prop erti es pr es erv e d in th e

m em o ry a ni m a l s a re a ss i st e d by th e e m o ti o na l t one whi ch is
,

li nke d u p in th em with ea ch p ercepti on a nd ea ch r em em b er e d

s e ns a ti o n .

F or ex a m pl e a n a ni m a l kno w s tw o r oa d s a s t w o e ntir e ly
,

s e p a r a t e ph e n o m en a h a vi ng n o thi ng in comm on ; th a t is on e ro a d ,

c o ns i s t s of a s e ri e s o f d e fi nit e p e r c e pti o ns c o l or e d by d efi nit e

e m o ti o na l —
tones ; th e o th e r ph eno m enon th e o t h er r oa d
c on si s t s o f a no t h e r s e ri es o f d e fi nit e p er cepti o ns c o l o r e d with

o th e r t o nes We say th a t thi s th a t a nd th e ot h e r a re ro a d s O ne

.
, , .

l ea d s to o ne pl a c e a s econ d to a no t h er F or a n a ni m a l th e tw o
, .

r oad s h a v e nothing in common B u t it r em em b e rs in t h eir prop er

.

s e q u e nc e a ll th e e m o ti ona l t on es whi c h a re li nk e d with th e fir s t

r oa d a nd with th e s econd one a nd it th e r efor e r em em b er s b oth

,

r o a d s with th eir t u rns dit ch es fenc es e tc

, , , .

Th u s th e remembering of d efi nit e prop erti es of ob serv e d obj ec t s

h elp s th e a ni m a l to o ri en t its elf in th e wo rld of ph enonena B u t .
96 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

h ow will thi s sph e ri ca lity a s a n i ndividu al prop erty of a given

sph e r e app ea r to it ?

We m a y d ec la re with com pl e te a ssu ra nce that th e spheric a lity

will a pp ea r to th e anim a l a s a m ov em ent on th e s u rfa ce whic h
it sees .

D u ring th e a pproa ch of th e a nim a l to wa rd th e sph er e som ething

lik e th e follo wi ng m u s t h a pp en : th e su rfa c e whi c h th e a ni m a l
see s s t a rt s to m ov e qu i c kly ; its c e nt er spr ea d s o u t a n d a ll of th e ,

o th e r p o int s ru n away fr om th e cent e r with a v e l oc ity pr op o rti on a l

to th eir di s t a nce from th e c ent e r (or th e s qu a r e of th eir di st a nce

from th e c enter ) .

I t is in thi s w a y th a t th e a ni m a l senses th e sph eri ca l su rf a c e

mu ch as we sense s ound .

At rt a in di sta nc e from th e sph er e th e a ni m al p erceiv es it

a ce

a s a plan e Approa c hing or t ou chin g som e p oin t on th e s ph e r e

.

it sees th a t a ll oth er p oints h a v e change d w ith r e l a ti on to thi s

p a rti cu lar p oint th ey h a v e a ll a lter e d th eir p osition on th e
,

plane—h a ve mov e d to one sid e a s it we re Tou chin g a noth e r

, .

p o int it sees that a ll th e r e s t h a v e m ov e d in sim il a r fa shion

,
.

This prop erty of th e sph er e will a pp ea r a s its motion its ,

”
vibration T h e sph ere will a c tu a lly r es em bl e a vibra ti ng
.
,

o sc ill a ting su rf a ce in th e s a m e w a y th a t each a ngle of a n i m m o bil e

,

obj e c t will a pp ea r to th e a ni m al a s a m otion .

Th e ani m a l c a n se e a n a ngl e of a thr ee di m ensi onal o bj ec t o nl y -

whil e m oving past it a nd du ri ng th e tim e it t a kes th e obj ec t

—
, ,

will s eem to th e a nim a l to h a v e tu r e d a n ew sid e h a s a pp ea r e d

n ,

a n d th e s id e fir s t s e en h a s di sa pp ea r e d o r m o v e d aw a y Th e .

a ngle will b e p e r c e iv e d a s r o t a ti on a s th e m o ti on of th e o bj ec t
, ,

i e a s som ething tra nsi ent t em p or a l a s a c h a nge o f st a t e in

. .
, , ,

th e o bj ec t R em emb eri ng th e a ngl es whi c h it h a s s een b efor e

.

s ee n a s th e m o ti on o f b o di e s
— th e a ni m a l will consid e r th a t th ey
, ,
—
h a v e cease d h a v e en d e d h a v e di sa pp ea r e d th a t t h ey a re in
th e p a st .

Of r th e a ni m a l c a nnot rea son in thi s w a y b u t it a c ts a s

c ou se ,

th ou gh it h a d th u s r ea s one d .

C ou ld th e a ni m a l thi nk a b ou t th ose ph enom ena whi c h h a v e

no t y e t ent er e d i nt o its lif e (i e a ngl es a nd c u rv e d su rf a c es ) it
. .
,

w ou ld u n dou bte dl y i m a gi ne t h em in time only : it c ou ld not pre

fig ure f or th em a ny r e a l e xi st ence a t th e pre s e nt m o m e nt when
they h a ve not y et a ppeared And w er e it a bl e to expr ess a n
.
 T ER T IUM ORGAN UM 97

o pini on on thi s su bj ec t it wou ld s a y that a ngl es exi s t in poten

,

tia lity th a t th ey will be b u t th a t f or th e pr esent they do not exis t

, , .

T h e a ngl e of a h ou se p a s t which a h ors e r u ns e v ery da y is a

p h en om en o n , re p ea ting u n d er cer ta in c ircu m s ta nces , b u t n e ve th e les s

a ph enomenon proceeding in time, a nd not a s p a ti a l a nd c ons t a nt

prop erty of th e h ou se .

For th e a ni m a l a n a ngl e will b e a t em p or a l ph eno m enon a nd

no t a sp a ti a l on e a s it is f o r u s
, .

Th u s w e s ee th a t th e a ni m a l will p er ceiv e th e prop erti es of our

third di m ensi on a s m otions a nd will r efe r th e se prop erti es to
,

. .
—
time, i e , to th e p a st or f u t u r e o r to th e pr es ent th e m om ent ,

of th e tr a ns iti o n of th e f u t u r e i nt o th e p a s t .

Thi s c ircu m st a nce is in th e hig h es t d e gr ee i mp orta nt , f or th er e

in li es th e key to ou r ow n r ec eptivity of th e w o rld ; w e s h a ll th er e
for e ex a m ine i nto it m o re in d et a il .

Up to th e pr es ent ti m e w e h a v e t a k en i nt o consid er a ti o n only th e

hig h er a nim a l s : th e dog th e c a t th e h or s e Let u s no w try th e
, , .

l ow er : let u s t a ke th e sna il We kno w nothing ab ou t its inner

.

lif e b u t u n d ou bt edl y its r eceptivity r esem bles ou r s s c a rely at all

, .

I n a ll pro b a bility th e sna il p oss e sses so m e ob sc u r e s ensa ti ons of

its environm ent s Prob a bly it f eels h ea t , c old light , darkn ess
—
.
, ,

h u nger a nd it i nstinctiv ely (i e u rge d by pl ea su r e p a in . .

,
-

gu id a nc e ) striv es to r ea ch th e u ne a t en e dge of th e l ea f on which it

r es t s a nd insti nc tiv el y a v oid s th e d ea d l ea f I ts m ov em ents a re
, .

gui d e d by p lea su re pa in : it c onsta ntly s trives to wa rd th e one a nd

-

a wa y fr o m th e o th e r I t a lwa y s moves u p on a single line, fr om

.

th e u npl e a s a nt to th e pl ea sa nt a n d in a ll pr ob a bility except f or thi s

,

line it is not consc i ou s of a nyth i ng a nd d oes not s ens e a nything .

Thi s line is its entire wo rld All s ensa ti ons entering from th e .
,

ou t s id e th e sn a il s ens e s u p on thi s li ne of its m o ti on a nd th e s e

c om e t o it ou t of time—fr om
, ,

th e p o t e nti a l th ey b e co m e th e
pr esent For th e s na il ou r entir e u niv ers e exi s ts in th e fu tu r e a nd
—
.

in th e p a s t i e in time I n sp a ce o nl y one lin e e xi st s All th e

. .
, . .

r es t is ti m e I t is m o r e th a n prob a bl e th a t th e s na il is not c on
.

s c i ou s o f its m o v e m ent s
’
Ma ki ng efl orts with its entir e b o dy it
.

m ov es fo rwa rd to th e fre s h e dge of th e l e a f , b u t it s e em s a s th ou g h

th e l ea f w er e c o ming t o it , a pp e a ri ng a t that m om ent c o min g ,

o u t o f ti m e a s th e morning c o m es to u s .
98 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

Th e l is a one di m ensi ona l b e ing

sn a i -
.

Th e high er a ni m a l s th e d og c a t a nd h or s e —a re tw o dim en
— , ,
-

s i ou a l b ein g s T o th e hig h er a ni m a l a ll sp a c e a pp e a rs a s a
.

s u rf a c e a s a p la ne
, E v erything ou t of t h i s pl a ne liv es f or it in ti m e
. .

—
Thu s w e s e e t h a t th e h ig h er a ni m a l th e tw o dim ens i on a l -

m
b e ing a s c o p r d with a e t h e o n e m n s n —
di e i o a l extra c t s or -

ca p tu res f rom time one m or e dimens ion .

T h e wo rld of a sna il h a s o ne di m en si on ; ou r s econ d a nd third

dim en sions a re f or it in tim e .

Th e wo rld of a dog is t w o di m e n s i o na l ; o u r t h ird di m ensi o n -

is f or it in ti m e .

An a nim a l c a n r em em b e r a ll p h enom e na whi ch it h a s ob

s erv e d i e , a ll pr o p e rti es o f t h r ee di m e ns i on a l so lid s with whi c h
. .
,
-

it h a s c om e in c ont a c t b u t it c a nn o t kn o w th a t th e (f or it) re
'

c u rrin g ph e n o m enon is a cons t a n t pr op e rty o f th e thr ee dim en -

s i ou a l s o lid
— a n a n gl e c u rv a t u r e or c o nv e xity
, , .

S u c h is th e p s y c h ol og y of th e r eceptivity Of th e world by a
t w o di m en si on a l b e ing
-
.

’
F or su c h a b e in g a new su n will ri s e e v e ry d a y Y est erd a y s .

s u n is g one a nd wil l n ot a pp e a r a g a in ; t om o rr o w s d oes n ot y et

’
,

e xist .

R ost a n d did no t u n d er st a n d th e p sy c h o logy of C h a nt ec l er .

Th e coc k cou ld not think th a t h e w o k e u p th e su n by his

c r o win g To him th e s u n d o es not go to sl eep it goes i nto th e
.
,

p a st disa pp ea rs s u ff er s a nnihil a tion cea ses to be I f it com e s on

, , , .

th e m o rr o w it will b e a n ew su n j u st a s f or u s with e v ery n ew ,

y ea r c om es a new spring I n ord er to be th e su n s h a ll not w a k e .

u p b u t a rise b e b o r n
, Th e c oc k ( if it c ou ld thin k with ou t l osin g
, .

its c h a r a c t e ri s ti c p s yc h o l o gy ) c ou ld not b eli e v e in th e a pp ea r a nc e

to day of th e sa m e su n whic h w a s y es terda y
-

Thi s is p u r ely .

h u m a n r ea soning .

For th e a nim a l a new su n ri ses e v e ry m orni ng j u s t a s f or u s ,

a new morning comes with e v e ry d a y a n d a new spring with e v e ry

yea r .

T h e a nim a l is not in a p ositi on to u nd e r st a n d th a t th e su n is

th e s a m e y est e rd a y a n d t o d a y E XA C T LY I N T H E SAM E W A Y T HAT ,

W E P R OB A B LY CANNO T UND E R S TA ND T H A T T H E M OR NI N G I S T H E
SAM E AND T H E S PR I NG I S T H E SAME .

T h e m oti on of obj ec ts whi c h is not ill u so ry e v en f or u s b u t , ,

a r e a l m o ti o n lik e th a t of a r e v o lving wh eel a p a ssi ng c a rri a ge

, , ,
l 00 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

Th e h or se is fright ene d by th e b u sh b ec au se th e b u sh u nexp ec t

e dly t u rn e d a nd w a v e d a br a nc h .

I n th e l a s t c a se th e b u sh ne e d not ev en to hav e m o v e d a t a ll, f or

th e h or s e w a s r u nnin g , a nd it seem e d th e r efo r e a s th ou gh th e
b u s h m o ve d a nd cons e qu ently th a t it w a s a nim a te d I n a ll
, .

prob a bility a ll m ov em ent is thu s a ni m a te d f or th e a ni m a l Why .

d oes th e dog b a rk s o d esp e ra tely at th e p a ssi ng c a rri a ge ? Thi s

is not entire ly c l ea r to u s f or w e d o not r ea liz e that to th e ey es of
th e dog th e c a rri a ge is t u rn ing twi s ti ng , gri m a ci ng a ll o v e r I t is
—
, .

a liv e I n e v e ry p a rt th e wh eel s , th e top , th e m u d gu a rd s s e a t s , -

p a ssengers a ll th es e a re m ovin g, t u rnin g .

B eca u s e of th e sa m e la w a n a ni m a l c a n n ev er u nd ersta nd a
pictu re . T h e pi c tu r e is i mm o bil e , whil e f or th e a ni m a l th e w orld
is a lway s m o vin g , ne v e r comin g to a s t a t e of r e s t a nd i m m o bility .

Now let u s dra w cert a in c onc lu sions from a ll of th e foregoing .

We hav e establi she d th e fa c t tha t m a n p os sesses s ensa ti ons ,

p erc epti ons a nd c oncepts ; th a t th e high er a ni m a l s p ossess sensa ti on

a nd p erc epti ons a nd th e l o w e r a ni m a l s s ens a ti on s o nly
, Th e .

c onc l u s i on th a t a ni m a l s h a v e no conc e p ts w e d e d u c e d fro m th e

fa c t that th ey h a v e no sp eec h Next w e h a v e esta bli sh e d th a t

.

h a vin g no c oncepts anim als c a nno t com pr eh en d th e third

,

di m ens ion b u t se e th e wo rld a s a su rf a c e ; i e th ey h a v e no m ea ns

, . .
,

—no instr u m ent for th e c orrec tion of th eir i ncorrec t s ensa tions
o f th e w orld Fu rth ermor e w e have fou nd th a t s eein g th e world
.
,

a s a s u rf a c e a ni m a l s s ee u p on this su rf a c e m a ny m o ti ons whi c h

,

f or u s a re non exist ent -

Th a t is a ll th ose prop erti es of solid s
.
,

whi c h w e r ega rd a s th e prop e rtie s of thr ee di m ensi ona lity a ni m a l s

-

r epresen t to th e m selves as motions Th u s th e a ng l e a nd th e .

s ph e ri c a l su rf ac e a pp e a r to th em a s th e m o v e m ent s o f a pl a ne .

Aft er th a t w e c a m e to th e c onc l u si on th a t ev erything whic h w e

r ega rd a s consta nt in th e r egi on of th e third di m ensi on a ni ma l s
—
,

r ega rd a s tra nsient things w c h h pp e to obj ec ts tem p oral

hi a n
ph enom ena .

Th u s in a ll its r el a ti ons to th e wo rld th e a ni m a l is q u it e

a n a l og ou s to th e i m a gi n e d u nr ea l t w o di m ens i on a l b e i ng livi ng
,
-

u p on a pl a n e All ou r w orld a pp e a rs to th e a ni m a l a s th e pl a ne
.

thr ou gh whic h ph enom ena a re p a ss in g m o vi ng u p on ti m e or in, ,

ti m e .
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM l 01

And so w e m ay that w e h a v e es t a b lish e d th e fo ll owing

sa y

th a t un d er c ert a in limit a ti ons of th e p sy chic a pp a rat u s f or re

ceiving th e o u t e r w orld f or th e su bj ec t p ossess in g thi s app a r a t u s
, ,

th e entir e a sp ec t a n d a ll pr op erti es o f th e w orld will su ff er c h a nge .

And tw o su bj ec ts living sid e by sid e b u t p ossessin g diff e r ent

—
, ,

hi
p sy c c a pp a ra t u s will h bit di f er e t wo rld th e prop erti es
in, a f n s

of th e ext e ns i on of th e w orld will b e di ff er en t f or th em An d w e .

o b s e rv e d th e con diti ons not in v ent e d f or th e p u rp o s e no t c o n

, ,

coc te d in i m a gina ti o n b u t r ea lly e xi s tin g in n a t u r e ; th a t is th e

, ,

p sy c hi c c onditions gov erning th e liv es of a ni m a l s u nd e r which th e ,

wo rld a pp ea rs a s a pl a ne or a s a line .

T h a t is to sa y w e h a v e est a bli sh e d th a t th e thr ee dim ensi ona l

,
-

ext e n s i on of th e w o rld d ep en d s u p on th e prop e rti es of ou r p s y chi c

a pp a ratu s .

O r that th e thr e e di m ens i ona lity of th e wo rld is not its prop erty
,
-

bu t a prop erty of ou r r ec eptivity of th e w orld .

I n o th er w ord s th e th r ee di m ensi ona lity of th e world is a

,

prop erty of its r efl ec ti on in o u r c onsciou sness .

I f a ll this is so th en it is obviou s th a t w e h a v e r ea lly pro v e d

,

th e d ep end enc e o f sp a c e u p on th e sp ac e s ense And if w e h a v e -

.

proven th e exi stence of a sp a ce s ense lower in comp a rison with -

ou rs , by this w e hav e prov en th e p ossibility of a sp a ce sens e -

higher in comp a ris on with ou rs .

And w e sh a ll grant th a t if in u s th er e d ev e l op s th e f ou rth u nit

of r ea soni ng a s di ff er ent fr om th e c onc e pt a s th e c onc ept
, is
di ff er ent from p erc eption so s im u lt a neou sly with it will a pp ear
,

f or u s in th e s u rro u n din g world a f ou rth c h a r a c t eri s ti c whi ch w e

m a y d esigna t e geom e tri c a lly a s th e fou rth dir ec ti on or th e fou rth
p erp endicu l a r , b ec au s e in thi s c h a r a c t e ri sti c will b e i nc l u d e d th e
prop erti es of obj ec ts p erp endicul a r to a ll prop erti es kno wn to u s ,
a nd no t p a r a ll e l to a ny of th e m I n o t h e r wo rd s , w e will s ee , or
.

w e will feel ou r se lv e s in a sp a c e n ot of thr ee b u t of fo u r dim en ,

si ons ; a nd in th e o bj ec ts su rr ou ndi ng u s a n d in o u r o wn b o di es , ,

will a pp ea r common properties of th e fou rth di m ens i on which w e

did not noti ce b efor e or which w e r ega rd e d a s indi vi d u a l prop er
,

ti es of obj ec ts (or t h eir m oti on) j u st a s a nim a l s r ega rd th e ext en

,

s i on o f obj ec t s in th e third dim e ns i on a s th e ir m o ti o n .

And wh en w e sh a ll see or f ee l ou rselv es in th e world o f fou r

dim ensi ons w e sh a ll see th a t th e w orld of thr ee di m ensi ons do es
not r ea lly e xi st a n d h a s n ev e r exi s t e d : th a t it w a s th e c r ea tion
l 02 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

of ou r ow n f a nt a sy a phantom h os t a n opti ca l d el u s ion a

, , ,

d el u s ion— anything one pl ea ses excepting only r e a lity .

“ ”
And a ll thi s is no t a n hyp o th e si s , not a su pp o s iti on b u t
,

exa c t meta phy s ica l fa ct j u s t su c h a f a c t a s th e exi st enc e o f i nfi nity

, .

For p ositivi sm to i nsu r e its exi s t enc e it w a s n ecessa ry to a nnihil a te

“ ”
i nfi nity som eh o w or a t l ea st to c a ll it a n hyp oth esi s whi ch
,

m a y o r m a y not b e tru e I nfi nity h o w e v e r is no t a n hyp oth esi s

.
,

b u t a f a c t a nd s u c h a f a c t is th e m u lti di m e nsi ona lity of s p a ce

-

a nd all that it i m pli es n a m ely th e u nr ea lity of e v e ryth ing thr e e

, ,

di m ensi on a l.
1 04 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

m o ti on p on this sp a ce Or to pu t th e m a tter m ore e xa c tly th e

u .
,

c ont a c t with a c e rt a i n s p ac e of whi c h w e a re n ot c l e a rly con s c i ou s

c a ll s f o rth in u s th e sensa ti o n of m o ti o n u p on th a t s p a c e ; a n d a ll

t h i s t a k en toget h er i e th e u nc l ea r cons c iou snes s of a c ert a in

, . .
,

s p a c e a nd th e sensa ti on of m o ti o n u p on th a t sp a c e w e c a ll ti m e , .

This l a s t c onfirm s th e conception t h a t th e id ea of ti m e h a s not

a ri s e n fro m th e o b serv a ti on o f m o ti on e xi s ti ng in na t u r e bu t ,

th a t th e v ery s ensa tion a nd id ea of m o ti on h a s a ri s en from a

“ ”
tim e sense exi s ting in ou rs elv es whic h is a n imperf ect sense of
-

sp a ce : th e fring e o r li m it of o u r s p a ce s ense
,
-
.

Th e sna il f eel s t h e li n e a s sp a c e i e a s s om ethi ng c onst a n t , . .

, .

I t f ee l s th e r es t of th e world a s tim e i e a s som e thing e tern a lly , . .

,

m o ving T h e h orse f ee l s th e pl a ne a s s p a ce I t f ee l s th e r e s t of
. .

th e wo rld a s ti m e .

We fee l a n inf inite sph ere a s sp a c e ; th e r est of th e world ,

th a t whi c h w a s y es t erd a y a n d th a t whi ch will b e tom o rro w w e ,

fee l a s tim e .

I n o th e r w o rd s e v e ry b e in g f ee l s a s sp a c e th a t whi c h is gr a sp e d
,

by his sp a ce s ense : th e r es t h e r efer s to tim e ; i e the imp erf ectly felt

-
. .
,

is r ef err e d to ti m e O r it is p o ss ibl e to f o rm u l a t e th e m a tt e r thu s

.

e v e ry b e in g f ee l s a s sp a ce t h a t whi c h by th e a id of h is s p a c e s ens e ,
-

h e is a bl e to repres ent to h imself in fo rm ou t s id e of him self ; a nd ,

that whi c h h e is not a bl e th u s to r epr es ent h e fee ls a s ti m e i e , . .

,

e t e rna lly m o vi ng i m p e rm a nent s o u ns t a bl e th a t it is i m p o ssibl e

, ,

to i m a gin e it in t e rm s of f orm .

T H E S E N S E O F S P A C E ( S P A C E S E N S E ) I S T H E P OW E R O F R E P R E
-

S E NT A T I O N B Y ME AN S O F F ORM .

Th e infi nit e sph er e by whi c h w e r e pr esent th e u niv e rs e to ou r

s elv es is c ons ta ntly a nd conti nu ou s ly c h a nging : in e v e ry c on

s ec u tive m om en t it is not th a t whi c h it w a s b efo r e A c ons t a n t .

c h a ng e of pi c t u r e s i m a g es r el a ti ons is goin g on th erein I t is

, , , .

f or u s a s it w er e th e s cr een o f a c inem a to gra ph u p on whi c h th e

s wiftly r u nn ing i m a g es of pi c t u r es a pp ea r a nd di sa pp ea r .

B u t wh er e a re th e pi c t u r es th em selv es ? Wh er e is th e light
thr owing th e i m a ge u p on th e scr een ? Wh ence do th e pi c tu res
c o m e a n d wh e r e d o th e y g o ?
,
“ ”
I f th e infinite sph er e is th e sc reen of th e c inem a togr a ph so
ou r c onsc i ou s ness is th e ligh t p e ne tr a ti ng thr ou gh ou r p sy c h e : i e
, . .
,
 T E R T IUM ORGANUM l 05

thr ou gh th e i m pr essions (pi c tu res) it (th e light) thro ws

s o e s of o u r
t r
u p on th e s c r een th eir i m a g e s whi c h w e c a ll lif e .

B u t wh er e do th e i m pr essi o ns c o m e to u s fr om ?
F rom th e s a me s creen .

And h er ei n dw ell s th e m os t i ncom pr eh ensibl e m ys t ery o f lif e

as we se e it . We a re c r e a ti ng it a n d w e a re r ece ivi ng e v e rything

from it .

I m a gine a m a n sitti ng in th e ordin a ry m o vi ng pi ctu r e th ea tr e .

I m a gine that h e knows no thi ng of th e c onstru c tion of th e cine m a t

o gra ph nothing of th e e xi s t enc e of th e l a nt e rn behind his back
, ,

nor of th e sm a ll tr a nsp a r en t pi c t ur e o n th e m o vin g film Le t u s .

im a gine th a t h e w a nt s to s tu dy th e c i ne m a to gra ph a nd b egi ns to ,

s t u dy th a t whi c h procee d s on th e sc r een to m a k e no t es to t a k e , ,

pi c tur es to ob s erv e th e ord er to ca l cu l a t e to co nstru c t hyp oth ese s

, , , ,

a nd s o f orth .

At wh a t wi ll h e a rriv e ?
E vidently at nothing at all u nl es s h e will tu rn h is b a ck to th e ,

s c r een a nd will b egi n t o s t u dy th e ca u se of th e a pp eara nce of th e

,

pictu res u p on th e screen Th e c a u s e is c onfin e d in th e l a nt er n

.

(i e in consciou sness) a nd in th e m ovin g fil m s of pi c tu r e s (in

. .
,

th e p sy ch e) Th ese it is neces sary to s t u dy d es iri ng to u n d er st a n d

.
,

th e ci nem a t o gr a ph .

Pos itiv e phi losophy s tu di es only th e screen a nd th e pi c tu res p a s s

ing u p on it For this r ea son f or it r e m a ins th e e t erna l enigm a
.

wh er efr om a re th e pic tu r es coming a nd wh er e a re t h ey goi ng ,

a nd why are th e y com i ng a nd goi ng i ns t ea d o f r e m a i nin g e t erna lly

th e sa me ?
Bu t it ry to stu dy th e c inem a tograph b eginning with
is nec essa
the sou rce of ligh t i e with consciou snes s th en to p a ss on to the
, . .
, ,

p tu res on th e m o ving film a nd onl y a ft er th a t to s tu dy the pro

ic ,

jected ima ge .

We h a v e esta bli sh ed th a t th e a ni m a l (th e h orse th e c a t th e , ,

d og ) m u st p er ceiv e th e i mm obil e a ngl e s a nd c u rv e s o f th e third

dim ension a s m otio n i e a s t em p o ra l ph enom ena , . .
, .

Th e qu e s ti on a ri s es : do not we p er ceiv e a s m o ti on i e as , . .
,

t emp or a l ph enom ena th e i m m obil e a ngl es a nd cu rv es of th e

,

fou rth dim ensi on ? We ordina rily s a y th a t ou r sensa ti ons a re th e

m om ents of th e a ppr eh ensi on of cert a i n ch a nges proc ee ding ou t
“
s id e of u s ; su c h a re s ou nd light etc a ll vibr a ti ons of th e et h er
, , .
, .
1 06 T ER T I UM ORGANUM

Bu t wh a t a re th es e c h a nges ? P er h a p s in r ea lity th er e a re no
c h a ng e s a t a ll P e rh a p s th e i mm o bil e s id e s a nd a ngl e s of c e rt a i n
.

things whi c h exi s t ou t sid e of u s — of c e rt a in thi ng s whi c h w e

—
kn o w nothing a b ou t only a ppea r to u s a s m otions i e a s , . .
,

c h a ng e s .

I t m a y b e t h a t our c onsc i ou sness not b e ing a bl e to embra c e ,

th es e things with th e a id of the orga ns of s ense a nd to represent ,

th em to its elf in th eir entirety ju s t a s th ey a re a n d gr a sp ing onl y

, ,

th e s ep a ra t e m om e nt s o f its c ont a c t wi th th em is c on str u c ti ng ,

th e ill u s ion of m oti on a n d c on ce iv e s that som ething is m o ving

,
“ ”
o u t s id e o f it (of c ons c i ou s ness ) i e th a t th e things a re t h em
, . .
,

s e lv e s m o ving .

If su c h is th e c a se th en m oti on m u s t b e in r ea lity so m e
,
“ ”
thing o nly d eriv e d a ri s ing in ou r int e ll ec t d u ri ng its c ont a c t
,

wit h thing s whi c h it d oes not gra sp in th eir to t a lity Let u s .

i m a gi ne th a t w e a re a pproa ching a n u nkno wn c ity a nd th a t it is ,

“ ”
s l o wl y g r o wi ng u p b efor e u s a s w e a ppr oa c h I t a pp ea r s to u s .

a s th ou gh it is r ea lly gr o wi ng u p i e a s th ou gh it did not e xi s t

, . .
,

b efor e Th er e dis appeared th e riv er whic h w a s vi s ibl e f or s o l ong

.
,

a ti m e ; th er e a ppeared th e b e ll t o w e r whic h w a s invi s ibl e b efo r e

-

, .

. S u ch e xa c tly is ou r r e l a ti on to time whi c h is a contin u a l

, , ,

co m in g— a ri s ing a s it w er e fr om nothing a n d going i nt o n au g ht .

, ,

E v ery thing li es f or u s in tim e a nd only th e section of the thing ,

li es in sp a ce Tr a nsfe rring ou r c ons c iou sness fr om th e s ec ti o n of

.

th e thi n g to th ose p a rt s o f it whi c h lie in ti m e w e r ec e iv e th e ill u s io n ,

o f m o ti on on th e p a rt of th e thing its elf .

I t is p oss ibl e to fo r mu l a t e th e m a tt er th u s : th e s ens a ti on of

m o ti o n is th e c on sc i ou snes s o f th e tr a ns iti on fr o m sp a c e to ti m e ,

i e from a c l ea r s p a c e sen se to o ne whi c h is u nc l e a r Wit h thi s

. .
,
-
.

in m in d it is not diffi c u lt t o r ea liz e th a t w e a re r ec eivi ng a s s en

s a tion s a n d pr oj ec tin g i nt o th e ou t sid e w o rld a s p h enom e na
, ,

th e immobile a ngles a nd cu rves o f th e fou rth dimens ion .

On thi s a c cou nt is it n ot n ec es sa ry a nd p oss ibl e to r ecogniz e

t h a t th e world is i mm obil e a nd cons t a nt a n d th a t it seem s to u s ,

to b e m o vi ng a nd e v o lvi ng si m ply b e c a u e w e a re l o o ki ng a t it
th r ou g h th e na rr ow s lit of ou r se nsu ou s r ec eptivity ?
W e a re r etu rni ng a ga in to th e qu esti o n w h a t is th e world a nd ,

wh a t is c ons c i ou snes s ? B u t now th e qu es ti on c o nc erni ng th e

r el a ti on of o u r consc iou s nss to th e world is b egi nning to b e f or
m u la te d f or us .
I 08 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

e sc a pi ng fro m ou r sp a c e Thi s h a pp ens b ec au se th e circle in

.

“
e vita b ly en d s in th e s a m e p o in t a t whi c h it b e ga n a nd th e
’
lif e ,

of th e s ep a r a t e b e i n g b e gi nni n g with birth m u s t e nd in d ea th

, , ,

whic h is th e r e tu rn to th e p oint o f d ep a rtu re B u t du ring its .

tra ns it throu gh ou r s p a c e th e c irc l e p u t s fort h from it self c ert a i n

,

lin es whi c h u ni ti ng with o th ers yi eld ne w c irc l es

, , , .

I n r e a lity of c o u rse a ll t h i s pro c ee d s qu it e o t h e rwi s e : no thi ng

is b orn a nd no t h i ng di e s ; it only so r epr ese nt s its elf to u s b ec au se ,

w e see b u t th e sec ti on s o f thi ngs I n r e a lity th e circle of lif e is

.
,

o nly th e sec ti on of someth ing a nd that s ometh ing u n d ou bt e dly exi s t s

,

b efo r e birth i e b efor e th e a pp ea ra nc e of th e c ir c l e in o u r sp a c e

, . .
, ,

a n d c o n ti nu es to e xi s t a ft e r d ea th i e a ft e r th e di sa pp e a r a nc e
, . .
,

o f th e c ir c l e fr om th e fi e ld of o u r vi si o n .

T o o u r o b se rv a ti on th e ph enomena of lif e a re si mil a r to th e ph e

nomen a of motion a s th e s e a pp ea r to th e t w o di m ensi on a l b e i ng ; -

“
a n d th er e f o r e it m a y b e th a t t h i s is th e m o ti o n in th e f ou rth
”
dim ension .

We h a v e s ee n th a t th e tw o dim ensi ona l b ei ng is b ou nd to re

-

g a rd th e pr op erti es of th e thr e e dim ension a lity of solid s a s m oti ons

-

a n d th e r ea l m o ti ons o f s o lid s go ing on in th e high er sp ac e a s

,

th e ph enomena of lif e .

I n o th e r w ord s th a t m o ti on whi c h rema ins a m oti on in th e

,

high e r sp a ce a pp ea rs to th e l o wer b e i ng a s a ph e nom enon of life ,

a n d th a t whi c h dis a pp ea rs in th e hig h e r s p a c e tr a ns f o r m i ng its ,

se lf i nt o th e prop erty o f a n i mm obil e so lid a pp ea r s to th e l owe r ,

b ein g a s m ec h a ni c a l m oti on .

“ ”
Th e ph e no m e n a of life a nd th e ph enom ena of m oti on
a re j u s t a s i ncomm ensu r a bl e f o r u s a s a r e th e t w o ki n d s o f m o ti on

in its w orld f or th e two di m e n si o na l b ei ng ; o n e of t h es e m o ti ons

-

b ei ng r ea l a nd th e o th e r ill u sory .

H i nton sa y s of thi s i nc omm ensu r a bility : Th ere is som ethi ng

in lif e not i nc l u d e d in ou r conc epti o ns o f m ec h a ni c a l m o v em ent .

I s t his s om e thi ng a f ou r — di m ens i ona l m o v em ent ?

I f w e l ook a t it from th e broa d e st p oi nt of vi e w t h er e is som ething
s trikin g in th e f a c t t h a t wh e r e lif e c o m es in th er e a ri s e s a n e ntir e ly

diff er ent se t of ph enom ena from th ose of th e i norg a ni c

U p o n thi s b a si s it is j u stifi a bl e t o a ss u m e th a t t h ose ph e nom ena
whi c h w e c a ll th e ph enomena of lif e a re m ovem ent s in high er s p a c e .

Th os e ph enom en a whi c h w e c a ll m ec h a nic a l m o ti on b ecom e in

t u rn th e ph enomena of lif e in a s p a c e l o w e r r el a tiv e ly to o u rs a nd ,

T h F o th D im io p 77
“
e ur e ns n, . .
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM l 09

in one high e r — s i m ply th e pr op e rti e s o f i mm o bil e so lid s Thi s

—
.

m ea ns th a t if w e c o nsid e r t h r e e ki nd s of e xi st ence th e tw o
di m ensi ona l ou r s a nd th e hig h er di m ensiona l t h en it will
, ,
—
“
a pp ea r that th e m oti o n w h i ch is o b serv e d by th e tw o di m ensi on
a l b e i ng in tw o di m ensi o na l s p a ce is f or u s a pr o p erty o f i mm obil e
-

,
“ ”
so lid s ; lif e a s it is a ppr eh end e d in tw o di m ensional sp a c e is -

“ ”
m o tion a s w e ob s e rv e it in ou r s p ac e Mor eov e r m otions in .
,

t h ree di m ens iona l sp a ce i e a ll ou r m ec h a nic a l m o ti ons a nd th e

-

, . .
,

—
m a nif e st a ti o n s o f phy si c o c h emi c a l fo rce s lig h t sou nd h ea t etc
-

, , , .
,

—a re only ou r s ensa ti ons of som e to u s i nco m pre h ensibl e prop

“ ”
e rtie s o f fou r d i m e ns i o n a l so lid s ; a nd o u r
-
p h enom ena of lif e
a re th e m o ti o n s o f so lid s o f h i g h e r s p a c e w h i c h a pp ea r to u s a s th e

birt h gr owt h a nd life of livi ng b ei ngs B u t if w e pr e su pp ose a

, ,
.

“
s p a c e no t o f f ou r b u t o f five di m e ns i o n s th e n in it th e ph enom e na
, ,
”
o f lif e wou ld prob a bly a pp ea r a s th e pro p erti es of immobile
s olids
—genu s sp ec i es f a m ili es p eopl es ra c es a nd so forth
, , , , ,

a n d m o ti on s w o u ld s e e m p e r h a p s o nly th e ph enomen a of th ou gh t , .

We know th a t th e ph enom ena of m o ti on or th e m a n if es ta ti ons of

e n e rgy a re i nv o lv e d with th e e xp en dit u r e o f ti m e a n d w e s e e h o w , ,

with th e gra d u a l tr a nsc en d ence o f th e l o w er sp a ce by th e high er ,

m o ti on di s a pp ea r s b eing c onv ert e d i nto th e prop erti es of

,

i mm obil e so li d s ; i e th e exp e ditu r e o f ti m e di sa pp ea r s a nd

. n .
,
—
th e n ec essity f or ti m e T o th e t w o di m ensi ona l b e i ng time is
.
-

n e c e ss a ry f or th e u n d e r s t a n ding o f th e m o s t s i m pl e ph eno m ena

a n a ngl e , a hi ll a dit c h , For u s ti m e is not n e c essa ry f or th e

.

u nd e r s t a n di n g o f su c h ph e nom e n a b u t it is ne c e ss a ry f or th e ,

exp l a n a ti on of t h e ph enom e n a o f m o ti on a nd p h y s i c a l ph enom ena .

I n a sp a c e s till h igh er ou r ph enom ena of m oti on a nd phy s i c a l

,

p h enom ena wou ld pr ob a bly b e r ega rd e d i n d ep en d entl y of ti m e ,

a s pro p e rti es of i mm o bil e so li d s ; a n d b iolo g ica l ph enom e na .

, ,
—
bir t h growt h r epr o d u c ti on d ea th wou ld be regard e d a s ,

p h e nom ena o f m oti on .

Th u s w e s ee h ow th e id e a of ti m e r ec e d es wit h th e exp a nsi on of

c ons c i ou s n ess .

We s ee its com pl et e c on d iti ona lity .

We s ee th a t by ti m e a re d esigna t e d th e c h a r a c te ri sti cs of a
s p a ce r e l a tiv e ly high e r th a n a giv e n s p a ce —i e th e c h a r a c t e r . .
,
l 10 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

istic s of p er c epti o ns of a consc iou sness r el a tive ly high er th a n

th e
a giv en c on s c i ou s nes s .

Fo r th e o ne di m ensi ona l b e in g a ll th e i ndi c e s of tw o thr ee

-

—
, ,

fou r dimensi ona l sp c e

-
a a n d b eyo dn li e in ti m e a ll this is ti me , .

For th e tw o di m ensi ona l b ein g ti m e em br a c es within it se lf th e

-

in di ces of thr ee dim ens i ona l s p a c e fou r dim ensiona l s p a ce a nd a ll

-

,
-

s p a ce s b ey on d Fo r m a n i e th e th r ee di m ensi o na l b e ing ti m e
.
, . .
,
-

c ont a ins th e in dices of f ou r dim en si on a l s p a ce a nd a ll spa c es b ey o n d

-

Th er efor e a ccording to th e d egr ee of exp a nsi on a n d e l ev a tion

,

of th e c on s c i ou s nes s a n d th e fo r m s o f its r ec eptivity th e i ndi c es

o f sp a c e a r e a u gm en t e d a n d th e i n di c e s of ti m e a re di m ini s h e d .

I n oth e r w ord s th e gr o wth of th e sp a c e s ens e is pr o c eeding

,

a t th e e xp e ns e of th e ti m e s ense O r one m ay say th a t th e ti m e

-
.

se ns e is a n i m p e rf e c t s p a c e s en se (i e a n i m p e rf e c t p ow er of r ep
-
. .
,

r esen ta tion whi c h b e ing p e rf ec t e d tr a ns l a t e s it s e lf in t o th e sp a c e

, ,

s en se i e, . into th e p o w er of r epr es ent a ti on in form s

.
, .

If t a king a s a f ou nd a ti on th e princ ipl es e lu c id a t e d h er e w e

, ,

a tt em pt t o r epr esen t to our s e lv e s th e u niv er s e v e ry a b s tr a c tly ,

it is c l e a r th a t thi s will b e qu it e oth er th a n th e u niv erse whic h w e

a r e a c c u s t om e d t o i m a gine t o ours elv es E very thing will exi st in .

it a lw a ys .

This will b e th e univers e of th e E terna l Now of H indu philos

h — a u ni v e r s e in whi c h will b e n e ith e r before nor a
op y f er in
t ,

whi c h will b e j u st o ne pr esent know n or u nknow n , .

H int on feel s th a t wit h th e exp a nsi on of the spac e sense ou r vi si on -

of th e w orld will c h a ng e c om pl e t e ly a n d h e t e ll s a b ou t thi s in ,

“ ”
his b oo k A New E ra of Th ou g h t
, (p . .

Th e c onc e p ti on which w e sh a ll form of th e u niverse will un d ou b tedly

b e a s diff erent fro m ou r p resent one a s th e C op e rnica n vi ew di ff ers from
,

th e m ore p l eas a nt vi ew of a wi d e i mmova b le e a rth b enea th a va st ,

va ul t I nd e ed a ny c onc ep tion of ou r pl a c e in th e un iverse will b e m ore

.
,

a gree a b l e th a n th e th ou gh t of b e ing on a sp inning b a ll kic ke d into ,

sp a c e with ou t a ny m ea ns of c o mm u ni c a tio n with a ny o th er inh a b ita nt s

of th e un iverse .

B u t wh a t d oes th e w orld of m a n y di m e nsi ons r epr esent in it

self — wh a t a re th e se so lid s of m a ny di m ensions th e lin es a nd
b ou nd a ri es of whi c h w e p er c eiv e a s m oti on ?
A gr e a t p o w e r o f i m a gi na ti on is ne c essa ry to tr a ns c end th e
li mits of ou r p er c ep ti ons a nd t o m e nt a lly vi su a liz e th e worl d in
o th e r c a t ego ri e s e v en f or a m o m ent .
1l2 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

p e ri o d of m od ern th eosophy , w rit es v ery b eau tifu lly in h er p oet

“
i c a l S tory of th e Yea r .

tire tru e meaning of th e e arth ly life consi sts only in

Th e en

th e m u tu a l c onta c t b etwee n p erson a litie s a nd in th e e fl orts of growth .

Those things whic h a re c alle d events a nd circu m sta nc es a nd which a re

re ga rde d a s th e rea l c ontents of lif e—a re in rea lity only th e conditions
whic h m a ke the se c onta cts a nd thi s growth p ossib le .

In th es e word s th e r e s ou n d s a lr ea dy q u it e a new u nd er
s t a n ding o f th e rea l An d tru ly th e ill u s i on of m o ti on c ann ot a ri se
.

ou t of no thi ng Wh en w e a re tr a v elling by tra in a nd th e tr ee s

.
,

a re r u nni ng o v e rt a ki ng o ne a no th er w e k n o w th a t thi s m o ti on is
, ,

a n ill u s o ry o n e th a t th e tr ees a re i mm o bil e a nd th a t th e ill u si on

, ,

o f th eir m o ti on is c r ea t e d by o u r o w n .

As in th ese p a rti c u l a r c a s e s s o a l so in g enera l a s r e ga rd s a ll

,

motion in th e m a t eri a l w orld th e f ou n d a ti on o f whi c h th e ,

“ ”
p ositivi s t s c ons id er to b e m otion in th e fi ne s t p a rtic l es of m a tt e r ,

w e r ecogniz ing t h i s m o ti on a s a n ill u sory o ne sh a ll a sk : I s no t a n

, ,

ill u s ion of thi s m otion c r ea t e d by som e m o tion i ns id e ou r c on

s c iou snes s ?

S o it s h a ll b e .

An d h a vi ng est a bli sh e d thi s w e s h a ll e n d ea v o r to d efi ne wh a t

,

ki nd of m otion is goi ng on i ns id e ou r consc iou snes s, i e , wh a t is . .

m o vi ng r e l a tiv e ly to w h a t ?
H P Bl a v a tsky , in h er fir st b ook , I si s U nv eil e d
. . tou ch e d
u p o n th e sa m e qu e s ti o n c onc e r n i ng th e r e l a ti o n o f lif e to time a n d

motion Sh e writ es :
.

As pl a net revolve s e very ye a r a rou nd th e su n a nd a t th e sa m e

ou r

time tu rn s once in e very twenty fou r h ou rs u p on its own a xi s th u s

-

traversin g m i nor c yc l es within a la rger one so is th e work of th e sm a lle r ,

c y clic p e ri o d s a c c o m p li sh e d a nd re c o m m e nc e d .

T h e revol u tion of th e phy si c a l worl d a c c ordi ng to th e a n c ie nt doc

—
,

tri e is a ttende d by a like revol u tio

n , n in t e w l d o i te l ec t th e
h o r f n l
s p i rit u a l e vo l u ti on o f th e worl d p roce e d i n g in c y c l e s li k e th e phy si ca l ,

o ne .

Th u s w e see in h istory a regu l a r a lte rna tion of ebb a nd fl ow in th e ti d e

of h u m a n p rog ress T h e gre a t kingdom s a nd e mpires of th e worl d a fte r
. ,

rea ching th e c ulmina tion of th eir g re atness de sc end a ga in in a cc ord a nc e ,

wi th th e sa m e la w by whi c h th ey a sc ende d ; till h a vi ng rea ch e d th e low ,

e s t p oint h u m a nity re a s se rt s it self a nd m ou nts u p once m o re th e h ei gh t

, ,

of its a tt a i nm e nt b ei ng by th is la w of a sc e nd i ng p ro g re s si on by c y c l es
, ,

so m ewh a t h i g h er th a n th e p oint f ro m wh i c h it h a d b e f ore d e sce n d e d .

 T ERT IUM ORGANUM I 13

T h e divi sion of th e history of m a nkind into G ol d en S ilve r, C opp er ,

a nd I ron A ge s , is not a fi c ti on We see th e sa m e thing in th e litera tu re

.

o f p e op l es An a ge of g re a t in spira ti on a nd u nco nsc i ou s p rod u c tiveness

.

is inva ri a b ly foll owe d by a n a ge of c ritic i sm a nd consciou sness Th e .

one a ff ord s m a teri a l f or th e a na ly z in g a nd c riti c a l inte ll e c t of th e oth er .

Th u s a ll those gre a t ch a ra c ters w h o tower li ke gia nts in th e hi story

of m a n kind , li k e B u ddh a S idd arth a , a nd Jesu s , in th e rea lm of spirit u a l ,
-

a nd Al exa nd e r th e M a ce d o nia n a nd N a p o l eon th e G rea t , in th e re a l m

of phy si c a l conq u est s we re b u t re fl exe d i m a g e s of h u m a n typ es whi c h

,

h a d e xi ste d ten th ou sa nd y ea rs b efore , in th e p rece ding d e c imillenniu m,

reproduc e d by th e m ysteriou s p owers c ontrolling th e d estinies of our
worl d Th ere is no p rominent c h a ra cter in a ll th e a nn al s of sa cred or
.

p rofa ne history wh ose prototyp e w e c ann ot fin d in th e h a lf fic titiou s and -

h a lf real tra ditions of bygone reli gions a nd mythologies As th e sta r ,

-
.

g lim m e ring a t a n i mm e a su ra b le dista n ce a b ove o u r h e a d s in th e b o un d ,

less i m m en sity of th e s ky , reflects itself in th e s mooth wa ters of a

l a ke so doe s th e i m a gery of m e n of th e a nte dil u vi a n a ges re flect itself
,

in th e p eriod s w e c a n e m b ra ce in a n hi stori c a l retrosp ec t .

As a bove, so below . Th a t wh ich h a s been will retu rn a ga in . A s in

h ea ven , s o on ea r th .

Anythi ng that id a b ou t th e u nd e rst a n di ng of tem

can be sa

p or a l r el a tions is ine vit a bly extr em ely v a gu e Thi s is b eca u se .

o u r l a ngu a g e is a b s o l u t e ly i na d e q u a t e to th e s p a tia l expres sion

of tempora l rela tions We l a c k th e nec essa ry words f or it w e h a v e

.
,

no v erb a l f o r m s s tri c tly sp ea kin g f or th e expr ess i o n o f th e s e

, ,

r el a tions whi c h a re new to u s a nd som e o th er qu it e new form s ,

not verba l— a re i ndi sp e ns a bl e T h e l a ng u a ge f o r th e tr a nsm i ss i o n

.

o f th e ne w t em p or a l r e l a ti ons m u s t b e a l a ng u a g e with o u t v e rb s .

New pa rts of speech a re nec ess a ry a n infi nit e nu m b er of n ew w ord s , .

“ ”
At present in o u r h u m a n l a ngu a ge w e c a n sp e a k a b ou t ti m e
, ,

by h int s only I ts tru e ess enc e is inexpres sible f or u s

. .

We sh ou ld nev er forget a b ou t thi s i nexpr essibility This is the .

sign of th e tru th th e s ign o f r ea lity

, Th a t w h i ch c a n b e expr es se d
.
,

c a nno t b e tr u e .

All sy s t em s d e a li ng with th e r el a ti o n of th e h u m a n s ou l to
ti m e — a ll id ea s of p os t m ort em e xi st enc e th e t h eo ry of re
-

i nc a rna tion t h a t o f th e tra ns m igr a ti on of s ou l s t h a t of k a rm a

, ,

a ll t h es e a re s y m b o l s tryi ng to tr a n s m it r e l a ti o ns w h i c h c a nno t
,

b e e xpr ess e d directly b ec a u s e o f th e p o v e rty a nd th e w ea k ne ss of

o u r l a ng u a g e Th ey s h ou ld not b e u nd ers too d lit e r a lly a ny m or e
.

t h a n it is p oss ibl e to u nd ers t a n d th e sy m b o l s a n d a ll egori es of

a rt lit e r a ll y I t is nec essa ry to sea rc h f or th eir hidden mea nings
.
,

th a t whi c h c a nnot b e express e d in word s .

l 14 T ER T I UM ORGANUM

T h e lit er a l un d erst a n di ng of th ese sym b oli c a l form s in th e

lat est th eosophic a l liter a tu r e a nd th e union with th em of id eas
,
“ ” ”
of e v o l u ti on a nd m or a l s t a k en in th e m os t n a rro w du a li s ti c
,

m ea nin g c om pl etely disfigures th e inn er c ontent of th es e f orm s

, ,

a nd d epriv es th e m of th e ir val u e a nd m ea n i ng .
1l6 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

en dl e ss nu m
b er of c omm onpl ac es h as th e l ov e of knowl e dge a nd ,

th e p o w e r o f in d ep en d e n t t hinking b e en c r o wd e d ou t .

Al th ou gh ti mid ly a n d t ent a tiv e ly s c i enc e thr ou gh its b o ld es t , ,

r epr es ent a tiv e s in th e l a s t f e w y ea r s h a s a ft er a ll b e en t ou c hing

,

u p o n th e pr o bl e m s of hig h e r di m en si on s a nd in s u c h c a s es h a s ,

a rriv e d a t r e s u lt s a l m os t id e n ti ca l with th ose pr op o u n d e d in th e

pr ec e ding c h a pt er s .

I n D e c e m b e r 1 9 1 1 th e s e c o n d M endeleevsky C onv e nti on

, ,
*

w a s op e ne d by th e a d d r es s of Pr of N A O u m off dedic a ted to . . .

,

th e p roblems of time a nd th e high er dimensions u n d e r th e titl e ,

“
Th e C h a r a c t eri sti c Tr a its a nd P robl em s of C ont e m p ora ry
”
Na t u r a l S c ientific Th ou ght
-
.

T h e a ddr ess o f Pr o f O u m off th ou g h not a lt oge th er o u t

.
,

s p o k en w a s n e v ert h e l es s a n e v ent of gr e a t i m p ort a nc e in th e

,

hi sto ry of th e d e v e l op m en t of e x a c t s c i enc e a nd som e tim e it ,

will d ou btl ess b e r ec o gni z e d a s a n u nu su a lly b old a n d bri llia nt

a tt e m pt to c o m e f o rw a rd a n d pr oc l a i m a b s ol u t e ly n e w id ea s

whi c h pra c ti c a lly r enou nce a ll p os itivi sm : a nd in th e v e ry c it a d e l

of p os itivi s m whi c h th e M en d eleevsky C o n v e nti o n r e pr esent s .

B u t i ne rti a a nd r ou tin e of cou r se did th eir w o rk Pr of . .

O u m ofl s a ddr e ss w a s h ea rd a l ong with th e ot h e r a ddr e sse s

’

w a s print e d in th e P r o c ee d ings o f th e C o nv enti on a nd th er e ,

r es t e d wit h ou t pro d u c in g a t a ll th e i m pr e ssion of a n e xplo d e d

,

b om b whi c h it s h ou ld h a v e pr o du c e d h a d th e li s t eners b e en m or e
in a p o s iti o n to a ppr ec i a t e its tru e m ea ning a nd signifi c anc e ,

a n d— m or e im p ort a nt— h a d th e y h a d th e d es ir e t o d o so .

I n thi s diminu ti o n o f its sig nifi c a nc e th e r ese rv e s a nd li mi t a ti ons

whi c h Pr of O u m off hi m self m a d e in h is addr ess a ssi st e d to a
.

d egr ee a s did th e titl e in fa iling to expr ess its s u b st a nce a nd

, ,

g en er a l t end enc y whi c h w a s to sh ow th a t s cience goes now in a

,

n ew direction a n d o n e whi c h is n o t in r ea lity— i e

, th a t th e new . .
,

direction goes a ga ins t science .

P r ofe sso r O u m off die d sev e ra l m onth s a go a nd I a m u nwilli ng ,

to i m p os e u p on hi m t h ou g ht s whi c h h e did not sh a r e I t a lk e d .

with hi m in Ja nu a ry 1 9 1 2 a nd from ou r c onv ers a tion I s a w

, ,

t h a t h e w a s s toppi ng h a lf w a y a s it w er e , b e tw ee n th e id ea s of th e
,

fo u rth dim e ns i on a pproxi m a ti ng th os e expr ess e d by m e in th e

fir s t e diti on of Tertiu m Orga nu m a nd t h ose phy si c a l th eori es
wh i c h s till a d mi t m otion a s a n indep e nde a a c t . Wh a t I wi s h
to c o nv e y is t h a t P r o f O u m o ff a d m itti ng ti m e a s b e in g th e
.
,

A c o v tio o f R
n en n a
uss i n s c ie n t i ts
s , n a m d i h o o o f th fam o
e n n r e us R ussi a h
n c e mis t , P ro f . Men
d elee fi Tra ns l
'

. .
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM l 17

fo u rth di m ensi on of sp a ce did no t r ega rd m oti on a s th e ill u sion

,

o f ou r c o nsc i ou sne s s b u t r ec og niz e d th e r e a lity of m o ti on in th e

,

world a s a f a c t i nd e p en d e nt of u s a nd o u r p sy c h e
, .

I sp ea k of thi s b ec a u se l a t er I sh a ll qu o t e e xtra c t s from Pr of

,
.

O u m o ff s p a p e r c hoo si n g gener a lly th ose pl a c e s c ont a i ni ng th e

’
,

id ea s a l m os t id enti ca l wit h th e t h ou ght s expr esse d in th e pre

c e di ng c h a pt e r s.

Th a t p a rt of th e a ddr e ss whi c h pi c tu r es th e e vo l u ti on o f m o d e rn
phy si cs from th e a to m to th e e l ec tron I sh a ll om it b e ca u s e thi s ,

s e e m s to m e s o m e wh a t a rtifi c i a lly u n it e d to t h o s e id ea s u p o n w h i c h

I wi sh to dw e ll a nd is not i nw a rdly c o nne c t e d wit h th e m a t a ll

, .

Fro m m y s t a n dp o int it is i mm a t e ri a l wh et h e r w e m a ke th e
fou n d a tion of m a tt er th e a to m or th e el ec tro n I b eli e v e t h a t a t .

th e fo u nd a ti on of m a tt e r li e s illu s ion An d th e c o nsi st e nt d e v e l op

.

m ent of th os e id e a s o f h igh e r s p a c e whi c h Pro f O u m off m a d e th e .

b a si s of h is a ddr ess l ea d s in m y opi ni on to th e nega ti on o f

, ,

motion ; j u st a s th e c o nsi s t en t d e v el op m ent of th e id e a s of m a t h e

m a tic a l phy si c s h a s le d to th e ne g a ti on of m a tt er a s s u bs ta nce .

H a ving m e ntione d electrons I m a y a dd t h a t t h er e is a m et h o d

,

w h ereby m o d e rn s c i entific id ea s a nd th e d a t a of th e p sy c h o l ogi c a l

m e t h o d m a y b e r e c o ncil e d ; na m e ly by th e a id o f th e v e ry a nc i e nt
,

s y s t e m s of th e K a ba la Al c h em y a nd so f orth whi c h e st a bli sh

, ,

th e f ou n d a ti o n of th e m a t eri a l w orld in f ou r pri nc ipl e s or e l em ent s ,

of w h i c h th e fir s t tw o— fire a nd w a t er— co rr e sp on d to th e p o sitiv e

a nd ne g a tiv e e l e c tro ns o f m o d e r n p h y s i c s .

B u t in s u c h c a se th e e l e c tro ns m u s t b e r ega rd e d no t a s electro ,

ma gnetic u nits b u t a s pri nc ipl e s o nly i e a s tw o o pp os it e a sp e c t s

, , . .
, ,

p h a s es of th e world or in o th er word s a s meta physica l u nits

, , .

Th e tr a nsiti on o f phy si c s i nt o m e t a p h y si c s is i ne vit a bl e if th e

phy si c i st s d esir e to b e si m ply l og i c a l .

Pro f O u m off s a ddr e ss is i nt er e sti ng a nd r em a rka bl e in t h a t

.
’

it s t ep s a lr ea dy on th e v e ry thr esh old of m et a phys i cs a nd h e is ,

p er h a p s h i nd er e d onl y b y a li nge ri ng fa it h in th e v a l u e o f th e
p ositivi s ti c m e t h o d w h i c h di es w h e n th e ne w w a t c h word s of
,
-

s c i e nc e a re d ec l a r e d .

T h e i ntro d u cto ry word to o u r forth c omi ng l a b ors " sa y s Prof O u m off ] .

it will b e most p rope r to d e di ca te to th e excu rsion s of scientific thou g ht

in its se a rc h f or th e i m a ge o f th e wo rl d T h e ne ce ssity f or s cientifi c re
.

s e a rc h a l ong th i s p a th will b e c o m e c le a r if w e will tu rn to th e c ove na nt s

of ou r high p ri e st s o f sc ie nce These c ovena nts c onvey th e dee p m otives

.
I18 T ER T I UM ORGAN UM
of a c tive rvi ce to na tu ral scienc e a nd to m en I t is u seful to exp ress
se .

th em in our ti m e wh erein th ou ght is pre eminently d irecte d to th e qu e s

,
-

tions of th e orga niz ation of lif e Le t u s re m emb er th e credo of th e

.

na tura l sc i enti st :

T o est a b lish th e a u th ority of m a n over energy ti me and sp ace ,

T o know th e a rchite cture of th e universe a nd in this knowle dge to ,

fin d a b a si s of cre a tive foresigh t : Thi s foresi ght in sp ires c onfi

d enc e th a t natu ra l science continuing th e grea t a nd re sp onsib le work of
c re a tion in th e fi e l d s of n a tur e whi c h it h a s a lre a dy m a d e its own will ,

not f a il to e nter a new fiel d a d a p te d to th e e nl a rge d nece s sitie s of m a n

Thi s new nature h a s b ec om e a vita l necessity of p ersona l a nd p u bli c

ac tivity B u t its gra ndeu r a nd p ower su mm on th e min d a s it were to
.

tra nquillity .

T h e d e m a n d f or sta b ility I n th e h ou se h ol d a ndth e b revity of th e p er

son a l e xp eri ence in com p a ri son wi th th e e vol u ti on of th e ea rth l ea d m en
to fa ith a nd c re a te in th e m a n i m a ge o f th e d ura b ili ty of th e su rroun din g
,

o rd er of t hing s n ot f or th e p re sent o nl y b u t f or th e fu ture, T h e pioneers .

of na tu ra l sc i enc e do not e nj o y su c h a s erene p oin t of vi ew a nd to thi s ,

c ircu ms t a nc e th e n a tura l sc i ence s a re ind eb te d f or th eir continu ou s d e

velop m ent I ventur e to lif t th e b rilli a nt and fa milia r veil a nd th row
.

op en th e sa nc tu a ri e s of sc i entifi c th ou gh t now p oi se d u p on th e su mmit

,

o f two contra ste d conte m p l a ti ons of th e worl d .

T h e steers m a n of s ci enc e sh a ll b e ce a sele ssl y vi gil ant d e spite th e feli c ,

ity of his voya ge ; a b ove him sh all inva ri ab ly shine th e stars by whi c h h e
find s his w ay u p on th e oce an of th e u nknown .

At th e tim e in whic h w e a re livin g now th e constellations in th e s kies

of ou r sc i e nc e h a ve c h a nge d a nd a new sta r h a s fl as h e d o u t h a ving no
, ,

e qu a l to itself in b ri g h tnes s .

Persistent s ci entifi c investi gation h a s exp ande d th e volu me of th e

knowa b le to di m ensions which coul d sca rcely b e i m a gine d onl y a sh ort
time —fif teen or twenty years— a go Nu mb er rem a ins a s b efore th e.
, ,

l awm a ker of na tu re b u t b eing c a p a b l e of repre senta tion it h a s es cap e d

, , ,

from th a t m ode of c onte mp la ting th e worl d whic h rega rde d a s p ossib le

its re p re senta ti on by m ech a ni ca l m ode l s .

This a u gmenta tion of knowl e dge gives a sufficient nu mb er of i m a ges

f or th e constru cti on of th e worl d b u t th e y d e stroy its a rchitectu re a s th a t
,

is known to u s a n d c rea te a s it we re a new o rder e xten ding f a r in its

, , ,

free lines b ey ond th e li mits not onl y of th e old vi sible worl d b u t even
, ,

b eyond th e fund a mental fo rm s of ou r thinking .

I h a ve now to lea d y ou to th e su m mits from which o p en th e perspec

tives th a t a re re formin g th e very b a sis of ou r un de rsta n ding o f th e
-

worl d .

T h e ascent to th e m a mid th e ru in s of c l a ssic a l phy si cs 1 3 a ttende d

with no s m a ll difficu lty a n d I as k i n a dva nce y ou r ind ul ge nce a nd s h all
,

r i s e a ll m y e ff orts to si m plif y a nd sh orte n o u r p a th a s f a r a s

e
x
ee p os
8 1ble
1 20 T ERT I UM ORGANUM
d angerou s th at its su btlety is covere d by th e m a sk of si m plicity I ts .

b asi s is th e exp erim enta l a tte m pts which ga ve a negative a n swer to th e

re sea rche s of c a reful a nd skille d exp erim enters .

Prof O u m off shows th e c ontra dictions which were th e ou tcom e of

.

ce rt a in e xp erim e nt s Th e nece s sity to e xp l ain th e se c ontra dic tions

.

se rve d a s th e i n ce ntive to th e di sc ove ry of th e un ifying p rinci p l e : thi s

w a s th e principle o f r ela t ivity .

Th e de ductions of Lorentz whic h were m a d e in 1 9 09 a nd which in , ,

ne a l h a d in vi e w e l ec t ro op tic a l ph eno m e na o nl y g a ve t h e i m p e t us
g e r -

t o th e p ro m u l ga ti on by Alb e rt E in stein of a new p rinc i p le a n d to its re

m a rk a b l e generaliz a tion by th e rec ently d ec ea se d H e rm a nn M ink owsky .

We a re a pp roa c hing th e su mm it of m o dern physic s I t I S occ u p ie d by .

th e p rinci p le of re l a tivity th e e xp ression of whic h 1 s so si m p le th a t it

,

is difli cu lt to disce rn its a ll i m p ort a nt signifi c a nce I t a sse rts th a t th e

-
.

la ws of ph enom ena in th e sy ste m of b o die s f or th e O b server w h o is con

nec te d with it will b e th e s a m e wh eth e r thi s sy ste m is a t re st o r is
, , ,

m oving u nif ormly a nd rec tilinea rly .

H ence it foll ows th at th e ob server c annot detec t by th e a id of th e

ph enom ena which a re p roce e din g in th e system of b odie s with whic h h e
is c onnec te d wh eth er thi s sy ste m h a s a unif orm tra n sl a ti ona l m otion
,

or n o t .

Thu s w e c a nn ot dete ct from a ny ph enom ena proc ee ding on th e ea rth ,

its tra nsl a tiona l m oti on in sp ace .

T h e p rincip le of re la tivity inc l u des th e ob se rvin g intell ec t within

itself whi c h is a c ircu m sta nc e of extra or din a ry signifi c a nce T h e intellec t
—
.

is c o nnecte d with a com p ex phy si c a l instru m ent th e nervou s sy ste m

l .

Thi s p rin cipl e therefore gi ve s direc tions c onc erning thing s proc eeding
in m o vin g b odi e s no t o nly i n rel a ti on to phy sic a l a nd c h em i c a l ph e
,

no m ena b u t a lso i n rel a tion to th e ph e no m e na of lif e a nd th erefore to

,

th e q u e st s of m a n It is re m a rk a b le a s a n exa mple of a th esi s foun de d

.
,

u p on s tri c tl y s c i entifi c e xp e ri m ent in a p u re ly phy si c a l re gi on whi c h

, ,

e rec ts a b ri d ge b e twee n tw o wo rld s u su a lly rega rd e d a s q uite di stin c t .

Prof O u m off gives exa m ple s of th e e xp la nation of c omp lex ph e

.

n om ena by th e a id o f th e p rinc i p le of re l a tivity .

H e s h ows fu rth er h ow th e m ost e nigm a ti c a l prob le m s of lif e a re e x

pl a ine d from th e sta ndp oint of th e e lectro m a gnetic the ory a nd th e -

ri nc i p l e of rel a tivity a nd h e c o m es a t la st to th a t wh ic h is th e m os t
p ,

inte restin g to u s .

Time is involved in a ll s pa tia l meas u rements We ca nnot define th e .

geom etrica l f orm of a solid moving in rela tion to u s, we a re a lwa ys def ining
its kinema tica l f orm Th eref ore ou r spa tia l meas u rements a re in rea lity
.

proceeding n ot in a th ree dimensiona l ma nifold i e , h a ving th ree dimen

-
. .

sions , of h eigh t, length a nd wid th , like this h a ll, bu t in a f ou r dimens iona l -

ma nif old : th e first th ree dimensions w e ca n repres ent by th e divis ions of a

ta pe mea s u re u pon which a re ma rked f eet, y a rds , or s ome oth er meas u re
-

of le ngth ; the f ou rth dimension w e w ill repres ent by the film of a cinema to

graph u pon which each point corresponds to a new ph as e of the world s

’

phenomena The dis ta n ces between th e points of this film a re meas u red by
.

I t a lici e d b y me
z . P O u s p ens ky
. .
 T ER T IUM ORGAN UM l 2l

a clo ck indifierently with this or tha t velocity

going One obs erver will
—
.

meas u re the dis ta nce between two points by a y ea r a noth er by a h u ndred

ear s T h e tra ns ition f rom one point to a noth er of this film corresponds
y .

to ou r concept of th e f low of time This f ou rth dimens ion w e w ill ca ll

.
,

th eref ore time Th e film of a cinema togra ph ca n repla ce th e reel of a ny

'

.
,

ta pe meas u re, a nd contra riwise

-
Th e ingeniou s m a th ema ticia n Min
.
,

kows ky who died too you ng, proved th a t a ll th es e f ou r dimensions a re

,

equ iva lent How sh a ll we compreh end th is ? P ersons wh o a rrive in S t

. .

P eters bu rg f rom M os cow h a ve p a ss ed throu gh Tver Th ey a re not a t this .

s ta tion ( Tver) a ny longer bu t neverth eless it continu es to exis t

, I n th e s ame .

ma nner th a t moment of time corresponding to some event which h a s a lready

— —
,

p as s ed th e beg inn i ng of life on ea rth f or exa m p le h as n,

ot dis a ppea red,

it exis ts s till I t is not ou tlived by th e u nivers e bu t on ly by th e ea rth

. , .

Th e pla ce of this event is defined by a certa in point in the f ou r dimension a l -

u nivers e a nd this point existed, is exis ting a nd will exis t; now th rou gh it , ,

throu gh this s ta tion pas s ed by th e ea rth p ass es a noth er wa nderer , Time .

does not f low , a ny more tha n sp ace f lows I t is we who a ref l owing w a n .
,

derers in a f our dimensiona l u nivers e Time is ju s t th e s a me mea s u rement

-
.

of space a s is length brea dth a nd h eight , Ha ving cha nged them in th e .

express ion of some la w of na tu re we a re retu rn ing to th e identica l la w .

Th es e new concepts a re embodied by Minkows ky in a n elega nt ma th ema t

ica l th eory; we sh a ll n ot enter th e ma gnificent temple erected by h is genius ,
f rom which proceeds this voice
In na tu re a ll is given : f or h er th e pas t a nd f u tu re do not exis t; s h e is th e
etern a l pres ent; she h a s , no limits eith er of spa ce or of time Ch a nges a re
.

proceeding in individu a ls a nd correspond to th eir disp la cements u pon

world w a ys in a f our dimens iona l eterna l a nd limitles s ma nif old
- -
.

Th es e concepts in th e region of philosoph ica l thou ght will produ ce a revolu

tion considera bly grea ter th a n th a t ca u s ed by th e displacement of th e ea rth
f rom th e center of th e u nivers e by Copernicu s Fro m th e times of Newton .

to th ose of na tu ra l s cie nce , m ore b rillia nt p ersp ec tive s h a ve ne ve r op e ne d

up I s no t th e p ower of na tu ra l sc i ence p rocl a i m e d in th e tra nsiti on
from th e u nd ou b te d exp eri menta l fa c t— th e i mp ossibility of th e a b solu te
.

m otion of th e ea rth— to a p rob le m of th e soul " A conte m p ora ry

“ ”
philosoph er e xc la ime d in h is confu sion b eyond tru th a nd fa l seh oo d
, .

Wh en th e cul t of a new G od is b orn his word is not p erfe ctly und er

stoo d ; th e tru e m e a ni ng o nl y b e c o m es c l ea r a fte r th e l a p se of ti m e I .

th ink th a t th is is tru e a l so a s re ga rd s th e p rinc iple of rela tivity T h e .

e li mina ti on of a nth rop o m orp hi s m fro m s c i e nti fi c c o n ce p ti o n s w a s of

e norm ou s se rvi ce to s c i e nce On th e sa m e p a th sta n d s th e p ri nci p l e of
.

relativity showin g th e d ependenc e of ou r ob se rva tions on genera l c ondi

tions of phenom ena .

Th e e lectro m a gneti c th eory of th e worl d ( a nd th e p rinc i pl e of re l a

-

tivity ) exp l a i ns only th ose ph e no m e na th e p l a c e of whi c h is d e fi ne d by

th a t p a rt of th e u niverse whic h is occ u pie d by m atter ; th e rest of it ,

whic h p resents itself to ou r se nses a s a va cu u m rem a ins a s y e t b ey ond

th e reach of sci ence B u t a t th e sh ores of th e m a te ri a l worl d is c h a nge
.
l 29 T ER T IUM ORGANUM
le ssly d a shing th e su r f o f n e w en e rgy from tha t deep ocea n e m pty f or
ou r sense s , b u t not f or ou r rea son .

I s not thi s d u a li sm of m a tter a nd va cu u m th e a nthrop om orphi sm of

sc i ence, a nd th e l a st one ? Let us pu t th e fun d a menta l que sti on
Wh a t p art of th e universe is fille d by m a tter ? Le t u s surroun d o ur
p l a neta ry sy ste m with a Sph ere th e ra diu s of whic h i s e qu a l to h a lf of
th e di sta nc e from th e sun to th e ne a re s t sta rs : th e l ength of thi s ra di u s
is tra ve rse d by a ligh t ray in one a n d a h a lf y e a rs T h e volu m e of th i s
-
.

sph e re le t u s t a k e a s th e vol u m e of ou r worl d Let u s n ow d es crib e, .

with th e sun a s a c ente r a n oth er lesser sph ere w ith a ra di u s equ a l to

, ,

th e dista nce of ou r s u n to th e ou te rm ost p l a ne t I a d mit th a t th e ma tter.

of ou r wo rl d c oll e c te d I n one p l a c e will not t a ke m ore th a n one te nth

, ,
-

o f th e vol u m e of th e p l a n eta ry sph ere : I think th a t thi s figu re is con

side ra b ly exa gge ra te d Af ter c a l c ul a ti on s of vol u me it will a pp e a r th a t
.

in ou r worl d th e vol u m e o ccu pi e d by th e m a tte r w ill b e rel a te d to th e

volu m e of th e va cu u m a s th e fi gu re 1 to th e nu m b er rep resente d by th e
figu re 3 with 1 3 z eros Thi s rel a tion is e qu iva lent to th e rela tion of one
.

sec on d to o ne mil lion y e a rs .

A cc ordin g to th e c al cu l a tions of L ord Kel vin th e density of m a tter ,

c orresp on di ng to su c h a re l a ti on wou l d b e l ess th an th e d e nsity of wa te r

by ten th ou sa nd m illion times i e it woul d b e in a n extrem e degree of

, . .
,

ra rifica tion .

Prof O u m ofl give s th e exa m pl e of su c h a nu m b er of b a lls a s corre

.
"

sp ond to th e n u m b e r of s ec on d s in one milli on y e a rs Up on one of .

these b a lls (c orresp onding to th e m a tter in th e un iverse) is written a ll

th a t w e know b ec a u se a ll th a t w e kn ow is rel a te d to m atter And
, .

m a tte r is o nly one b a ll a m ong millions a nd milli ons of b a ll s of va cuu m .

H enc e th e c onc lu sion sa ys h e : ,

Ma tte r re p resents a highly i m p rob a b le e vent in th e u nive rse Thi s .

e ve nt c a m e i nto exi stenc e b e c a u se s m a ll p rob a b ility d oe s not mea n im

p ossib ility B u t wh ere a nd in wh a t m a nn er , a re re alize d more prob a b le
.
,

e ve nts ? I s it not in th e d o m a in of ra di ant energy ?

T h e th eory of p rob a b ility i nc lu d es th e I mm en se pa rt of th e unive rse
th e va cu u m — in th e worl d of b ec omin g We know th a t ra dia nt energy .

p osses se s th e p rep ondera ting m a ss A m ong th e difl erent ph enom ena .

in th e wo rl d of inter crossing ra y s ou t of e le m ents a ttra ctin g e a ch oth er

-

, ,

a re no t th e ti ny fra gm ents b o rn whi c h by th e ir c on gre g a tion c o m p ose

o u r m a te ri a l wo rl d ? I s not th e vac u u m th e l a b ora tory of m a tte r ? T h e

m a teri a l worl d c orresp on d s to th a t li mite d h orizon wh ic h is op en to a
m a n w h o h a s c o m e ou t into a fi el d T o h is senses life is tee mi ng o nl y .

w i thi n th e li mits of this h oriz on ; ou tsi d e of it f or th e s ense s of m a n th e re

is o nl y a va cu u m .

I d o no t d e sir e to st a rt a p o l em i c a b o u t th o s e th o u g ht s in P ro f .

O u m o ff s a d dr ess with whi c h I d o no t a gre e Y e t I s h a ll m enti on

’
.

a n d enu m er a t e th e q u e s ti o ns whi c h in m y o pi ni o n a re r a i se d b y th e

i ncom p a tibilit y o f c ert a i n pri nc ipl es .

l 24 T ER T IUM ORGANUM
four dim ensiona l sh a p e T o m y grea t a stoni sh ment I sa w p la inl y b efore
-
.

m e first a fou r dimensi on a l glob e a nd a fterwa rd s a fou r di m ensiona l c u b e

- -

a n d l ea rne d o nl y th en fro m this o bj e c t le s s on th a t th e gl ob e is th e sim -

plest b o dy a nd no t th e c u b e a s th e third dim e n si on a l a n a l ogy ou gh t

, ,

t o h a ve to ld m e b eforeh a n d Th e re m a rk a b le thing w a s th a t th e d efinite

.

e n d ea vor to see th e o ne thin g m a d e m e see th e oth e r I sa w th e form s as .

b ef ore m e in th e a ir (th ou gh th e room w a s d a rk) a nd b ehin d th e form s ,

I s a w cle a rly a rift I n th e cu rta in s thr ou gh whic h a glimmer of li gh t

lte re d in to th e room This w a s a c a se in whic h I c a n c lea rly fix th e
fi .

i m p ressi on th a t th e obj e ct s see n we re o u t sid e m y h ea d I n m o st .

o f th e oth er c a ses I c o u l d n o t sa y so d e finite l y a s th e y p a rt a k e ,

o f a d u a l c h a ra ct er b eing a lmost e qu a ll y felt a s ou tsi de a nd insi de

,

th e b ra in .

I fore go th e a tte m pt to desc rib e th e fou rt h dimen sional cu b e a s to -

its form M a th em a tic a l d esc rip tion wou l d b e p ossib le b u t wou l d

.
,

a t th e sa m e ti m e disin te gra te t h e rea l i m p re s si on in its tot a lity Th e .

fo u rth dim ensiona l g lob e c a n b e b ette r desc rib e d I t w a s a n ordin a ry

-

thr ee —
.

dim en sion a l glob e ou t of whic h on e a c h si de b e ginnin g a t its , , ,

vertic a l c irc um ferenc e b ent ta p e ring h orns p ro cee de d whic h with a

, , , ,

c ir c ula r b end u nite d th eir p oint s a b o ve th e g lob e fro m whic h th e y

,

st a rte d T h e e ff ec t is b est in dic a te d by circ u m s c ri b in g th e nu m era l 8 by

.

a c irc l e S o t hree c irc les a re form e d th e lower o n e re presenting th e

.
,

initi a l g lob e th e u pp er one re p re sentin g em p ty s p a ce a nd th e greate r

, ,

c irc l e c ir c u m sc ri b in g th e wh ol e If it b e now un de rstoo d th a t th e u pp er .

c irc l e d oe s no t e xist a n d th e l owe r ( s m a ll) c irc l e is i d e nti c a l with th e

ou te r ( l a rg e ) c ir c l e th e i m p re s si on will h a ve b ee n c onvey e d a t l ea st t o
, ,

s om e ext en t .

I h a ve a lwa y s b een ea sily a b le t o rec a ll this glob e to rec all th e cu b e '

is f a r m ore diffic ult a n d I h a ve to c oncentra te to g et i t b a c k

, .

I h a ve in a like m ann e r h a d ra re vi sions of fif th a n d sixth dimension a l -

fi gur es At le a st I h a ve felt as if th e fi gures I sa w were fif th a nd sixth

.

di m e n si ona l I n th e se m a tte rs th e grea te st c a u tion is nec e s sa ry

. I am .

a wa re th a t I h a ve c o m e into c on ta c t with th ese th i ng s a s f a r a s th e phy si c a l

b ra in a llows it w ithou t denyin g th a t b eyon d W h a t th e b rain h a s c a u ght

,

th ere w a s s omething fu rth er f elt a t th e ti m e whic h w a s not h a nde d on ,

.

T h e s ixth dim ension a l fi gure I c a nnot d e sc ri b e All I re m e m b er of it is

-
.

th a t it ga ve m e a t th e ti me a n im p ress ion in f orm of wh a t w e might c a ll

diversity in unity or syn th esis in difl e rentia tion T h e fif th di me nsion a l
,
’
.

vi sion is b est d e sc rib ed or ra the r hi nte d a t by sa ying th a t it l ook e d like

, ,

a n Al p ine re lief m a p w ith th e sing u l a rity th a t a ll m o u nt a in p ea ks a nd

,

th e wh o l e l a n d sc a p e re p resente d in th e m a p we re one m ou nta in o r a g a in ,

in o th e r word s a s if a ll th e m ounta in s h a d o ne si ngle b a se This w a s th e .

differenc e b e tween th e fifth a nd th e sixth th a t in th e fif th th e excre s ,

c e nc e s we re in o ne s e nse e xteri o riz e d a nd y e t ro ote d in th e sa m e u nit ;

bu t in th e six th th e y we re diff erenti a te d b u t no t exteri orize d ; th ey were

only in difierent w a ys identica l w i th th e sa m e b a se whi ch w a s the ir ,

w h ol e .
 T ERT IUM ORGANUM 1 25

C W L ea db ea t e r On
. . a t
no e to t h es e re m a rk a bl e p a ges sa ys :
S tri king this d ra wing i s its va l u e lies chiefly I n its s u gge stive ness
as ,

to th ose w h o h a ve o nc e see n th a t wh ic h it re p re se nts O ne c a n h a rd ly .

hope th a t it will c onve y a c lea r i dea of th e rea lity to th ose w h o h a ve never

see n it . I t I S diflic u lt to ge t a n a ni m a l to u de st d pict r a p
n r a n a u e—
p a r e n tly b ec a u se h e i s i n c a p a b l e o f g ra s p in g th e

ide a th a t p erspe ctive o n a fl a t su rf ac e is in

tende d to rep re sent obj ec ts whic h h e knows
onl y a s s oli d Th e a ve ra ge m a n is in exa ctly
.

th e s a m e p osition w ith re g a rd to a ny d ra wi ng
o r m o d e l wh i c h is i nte n d e d to su gge st to h im

th e i d e a of th e fou rth di me n sion ; a nd so c le ve r ,

a n d su ggestive a s th is is I d ou b t wh e th er it
,

will b e of mu c h help to th e a ve ra ge re a de r .

T h e m a n w h o h a s seen th e re a lity m igh t we ll

b e h el p e d by thi s to b ri ng i nto h is o rdi na ry life
a fl a sh of th a t high e r c o n s c i ou sne ss ; a nd in th a t

c a s e h e mi g h t p e rh a p s b e a b l e to su pp l y in h is th ou gh t wh a t m u s t
, ,

ne c essa rily b e l a c ki ng in th e phy sic a l p la ne d ra wi ng -

.

For m y p a rt I m a y sa y th a t th e tru e m ea ni ng of Va n M a nen s

’

,
”
vi si on is difli c u lt e v en to a ppr ec i a t e wit h th e m ea ns a t ou r
di sp o sa l Aft e r s eei ng th e dra wi ng in h is b o ok I a t onc e felt a nd
.

u n d e rs t oo d a ll t h a t it m e a n s b u t I di sa gr ee s o m e wh a t with th e
,

a u t h o r in th e i nt e rpr e t a ti o n o f h is dr a wi ng H e sa y s .
,
“
We m a y a l so ca ll th e tot a l i m pr ession t h a t of a ri ng I think .

it w a s t h en t h a t I u nd e rstoo d f o r th e firs t ti m e t h a t so c a lle d -

fou rth d i m ensi on a l sight is s ight with r ef er enc e to a sp a c e con

- -

”
cep tion a ri si ng fr o m th e vi s u a l p e r ce pti on o f d e ns ity .

Thi s r em a rk t h ou gh v e ry c a u ti ou s s eem s to m e d a ngerou s , b e

c a u s e it c r ea t e s th e p o s s ibility o f th e sa m e m i s t a k e whi c h s t o pp e d

Hi nton in m a ny t h i ngs a nd whi c h I p a rtly r ep ea t e d in th e fir s t

“
e diti o n o f th e b oo k Th e Fo u rth T h i s m i st a ke
co ns i s t s in th e p oss ibility o f th e con s tr u c ti o n of so m e ps eu do
f ou rth dimension w h i c h li es in s u b st a nc e c om pl etely in thr ee
,

di m ensi ons I n m y o pi ni on there is very mu ch of motion in th e figu re

. .

T h e e ntir e fi g u re a pp ea r s to m e a s a moving one c o nti nu ou sl y ,

ge n era ti ng itse lf , a s t h ou g h it w e r e a t th e p oi nt of c ont a c t of th e

a c u t e e n d s c o m i ng fr o m t h e r e a nd i nv o lvi ng b a c k t h e r e
, But I .

s h a ll n o t a n a lyz e a nd c o m m ent u p o n Va n M a n en s e xp e ri e nc e
’

no w , l e a vi ng it to r e a d er s w h o h a v e h a d s i m il a r exp e ri enc e s .

S o f a r a s Va n M a n e n s d esc ripti ons of h is o b s erv a ti ons o f th e

’

” “ ”
fifth a nd sixth di m ensi ons a re c onc er ne d it s ee m s to m e th a t ,

O ne of P . D O us pe ns
. k y b ook
’
s s in R ussi a n
. Tra ns l
.
l 26 T ERT IUM ORGANUM

no thing in th e m wa rr a nts th e pp os iti on th a t t h ey a re r el a te d

su

to a ny r egi o n h igh er or more comp lex th a n th e f ou r di m e ns i o n a l

-

w orl d I n my opi ni on a ll th es e a re j u s t ob s erv a ti ons of th e r egi on

.

of th e fo u rth di m en si o n .B u t th e si m il a rity to th e exp eri enc e of

c e rt a in m y s ti c s is v e ry r e m a rk a bl e in th e m ,e s p e c i a lly th o s e of

Ja cob B oehm e Mo r eov er th e m eth o d of object lesson is v ery

—
.

int er es ting i e th ose two ima ges whi ch Va n M a ne n sa w a nd

. .
,

from th e c om p a ri son of whi ch h e d e d u c e d h is c onc l u si ons T o .

“ ”
th e p s y c h o l ogy of thi s o bj e c t l es s on m eth o d w h i c h c o m e s fr o m
th e d e pth s of c on s c i ou sness I h op e to r et u rn in th e b o ok
, Th e
”
Wi s d om of th e G o d s in a c h a pt e r on e xp eri m ent a l m y s tic i s m .
 l 28 T ERT IUM ORGANUM

for ces u s to a ssu m e th e pres ence of th e ph enom ena of lif e .

We d efin e th e cau s e of th e ph enom ena of life a s a som ethi ng n ot

c ap a bl e of b ein g g r a sp e d by th e senses nor by a pp a ratu s a nd ,

i ncomm ensu ra bl e with th e c a u ses of phy si ca l s ens a tions T h e .

sign of th e pr esence of th e ph enom en a o f lif e c ons i s t s in th e p o w e r

of o rg a ni s m s to r e pr o d u ce th e m se lv e s i e th e m u ltipli c ati on o f
, . .
,

th em in th e s am e form s .

Th e ph enom ena of consc i ou snes s a re th e f e elings a nd th e

th ou ght s th a t w e know in ou rse lv es by dir ec t s ensa tion— s u b
jectively . We a ssu m e th eir exi stenc e in oth ers ( 1 ) f rom a na logy
with o u r selv es ; (2 ) from th eir m a n ifesta ti on in a c ti ons a nd (3 )
from th a t whi ch w e ga th er by th e a id of sp eech B u t a s h a s b een .
,

s h o wn by c e rt a in phil os o phi ca l th eo ri es it is i m p ossibl e to est a bli sh

,

s tri c tly obj e c tiv e ly th e pr esenc e of c ons c i ou snesses o th er th a n ou r

,

o wn . A m a n es ta bli sh es thi s u su a lly b ec au se of hi s inne r a ssu r a nc e

o f its tr u th .

Phy sic al ph enom ena tra nsfor m th em selv es into one ano th er
c om pl et ely I t is p ossibl e to tra nsform h ea t i nto light pr essu re
.
,

i nto m otion etc I t is p ossibl e to pro du c e a ny phy s i ca l

, .

ph enom enon from oth er phy sic a l ph enom ena ; to pro d u c e a ny

c h em i c a l c om bin a ti on by th e s y nth e ti c m e th o d c om b ining th e ,

c om p os it e p a rts in pr op e r pr op o rti on s a n d u nd e r pro p e r phy s i c a l

c ondi ti ons Mod ern phy si cs a ss u m es el ec tro m a g ne ti c ph enom ena

.
-

a s th e b a s i s of a ll phy s i c a l p h enom ena B u t phy sica l ph enomena

.

d o not tra nsf orm th ems elves into th e phenomena of lif e By no .

c om bi na ti on of p hy s i c a l c on diti ons c a n s c i enc e c r ea t e lif e j u s t a s ,

by ch emi c a l synth esi s it c a ot c r ea t e livin g m a tt er protoplasm

nn — .

We c a n t ell wh a t a m ou nt of c oa l is ne c e ssa r y to g enera t e th e c er

t a in a m ou nt of h ea t n ecess a ry to tra nsfor m a giv en qu antity of
ice into w a t er ; b u t w e c a nnot t ell wh a t a m ou nt of c oa l is n ec ess a ry
to c r e a t e th e vit a l e nerg y with whi c h o ne livi ng c e ll f or m s a noth er
livi ng c ell I n si mila r m a nner phy si ca l c h e mic a l a nd m ech a ni ca l
.
,

ph eno mena c a nnot th em selv es pro d u c e th e ph enom ena of c on

s c io u s nes s i e of th ou ght We r e it o th erwi s e a rota ting wh eel
, . .
, .
, ,

a ft e r th e e xp e ndit u r e o f a c e rt a i n a m o u nt o f e ne rg y o r a ft e r th e ,

l a p s e o f a c ert a i n ti m e cou ld genera te a n idea Y e t w e kno w

, .

p erf ec tly w ell t h a t th e wh eel c a n go on r ot a ting f or m illi ons o f

y ea r s a
, n d n o s i ng l e id ea wi ll b e pr o d u c e d by it a t a ll T h u s w e .

s ee th a t th e p h e no m e na o f m o ti on diff e r in a f u nd a m e nt a l w a y

from th e ph e nom ena of life a nd of c onsci ou snes s .

 T ERT IUM ORGANUM 1 29

Th e ph eno m ena lif e change into oth er ph enom ena of l ife

of ,

mul tiply infinit ely , a nd tra nsf orm themselves u nto phy s ica l ph e

nomena g e ne ra ti ng wh o l e se ri es of m ec h a ni c a l a nd c h e m i c a l
,

c om bi na ti ons Th e p h enom ena of lif e m a nif est th em se lves to u s

.

in physi c al p h enom ena a nd in th e e xis t enc e of su ch ph e nom ena

, .

T h e ph enom e na o f c onsc i ou s ne s s a re sense d su bj ec tiv e ly a nd ,

p ossessing enorm o u s p otenti a l forc e tra ns form th em se lves i nto ,

phy si ca l ph enomena a nd into m a nifest a tions of lif e We kno w .

th a t a t th e b a si s of o ur proc r ea tive forc e lies desire that is— ’

a p s y chi c al s t a t e or a ph e nom enon of consc i ou sness

, Desire is .

p os s esse d of enorm ou s p otenti a l force Ou t of th e u nited d es ire .

o f a m a n a nd o f a w o m a n a wh ol e n a ti on m a y c om e into b eing
, .

At th e roo t of th e a c tiv e c ons tru c tiv e c rea tiv e fo rce of m a n

, , ,

that c a n ch a nge th e cou rse of rive rs u nit e ocea ns c u t thro u gh , ,

m ountai ns li es th e will i e a ga i n a p sy chic a l s tate or a ph e

, , . .
, ,

nom enon of c onsc i ou snes s Th u s th e ph enom en a of consc i ou sness

.

p ossess e ven gr ea te r u nifyi ng force with r e l a tion to phys i c al

ph enom ena th a n do th e ph enom ena of lif e .

Pos itive phil osophy a ffirms th a t a ll thr ee ord ers of ph enom ena
procee d from one c au se lying within the sphere of the stu dy of
phys ics . This c a u se is c a ll e d by diff e rent na m es a t different
ti m es b u t it is a ssu m e d to b e id enti ca l with physica l energy in
,

g en e r a l
.

S e ri ou sly a na lyzing s u c h a n a ffirm a ti on it is ea s ily seen to b e ,

a b so l u t e ly a rbitr a ry a n d not fo u nd e d u p on a nythin g

, Phy sic a l .

ph enom ena of t h em s elv es insid e th e li mi ts of ou r e xi st ence a nd

,

ob s ervati on n e v e r c r ea t e th e ph enom en a of lif e a nd th e ph e nom ena

,

of c o nsc i o u sn es s C onse qu ently w e m a y with grea ter right

.

a ssu m e th a t in th e ph e nom ena o f lif e a nd in th e p h eno m ena of

consc i ou s ne s s th e re is s o m e thing whi c h d oes not exi s t in phy s i c a l

ph enom ena .

Mo reo ve r w e c a nnot measu re phy si ca l bio logic a l a nd p sy chic

, , ,

(or spiritu a l ) p h e no m ena by the s a me u nit of mea su rement O r .

m ore c orr ec tly w e c a nnot m ea s u re th e p h enom ena of lif e a nd th e

,

phenom ena of consc i ou snes s a t a ll I t is only th e ph enom ena firs t .

m enti one d i e th e phy si c a l th a t w e f a nc y w e c a n m ea su re

, . .
, , ,

th ou gh this is ve ry d ou btfu l too , .

I n a ny c a s e w e u nd ou bt e dly kno w th a t w e c a n e xp ec t neith er

th e ph eno m en a of lif e nor th e ph eno m ena of c ons c i o u sn ess in
l 30 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

th e form u l ae of phy s i c a l ph enom ena ; a nd gener a lly sp eaking w e

h a v e f or th e m no fo rm u l ae a t a ll .

I n ord e r to c l a rify th e r el a ti on b e tw een ph enom ena of diff e rent

kinds let u s ex a min e in d et a il th e l a ws of th eir tr a nsfo rm ation
,

o ne into a no th e r .

Firs t o f a ll it is nec essa ry to c onsid er phy sica l ph enom ena a nd ,

m a k e a d et a il e d s tu dy of th e c on diti ons a nd prop erti es of th eir

tr a nsform a ti on one into a noth er .

I n a n essa y on Wu ndt (T h e North e rn M e ssenge r 1 888 ) A L , . .

Vo linsky e l u c id a tin g th e principl es of Wu ndt s phys i ol ogi c al

’

p sy c h ology sa y s : ,

T h e a c tions o f sensa tion a re p rovoke d by th e a c tions of irrita tion .

Bu t b oth th e se actions ne e d not b e a t a ll e q u a l I t is p ossib le to b u rn a .

whole city by a sp a rk from a ciga rette It is nec essa ry to un derstand .

why this 1 s p ossib le Pla c e a b oa rd u pon th e e dge of some o bj ec t sc a le

.

W i se so th a t it will b a la nc e
, On b oth en d s of th e b oa rd pu t now a n eq u a l
.

a m ou n t o f we i gh t T h e weights wi ll not fa ll : a lth ou gh b oth of th em will

.

tend to fa ll they b al ance one a noth er If w e lif t th e least weight from

, .

one e nd o f th e b oa rd th e n th e oth e r e nd will o ve rb a l an ce a nd th e b oa r d

will fa ll—i e th e fo rce of g ra vity which exi ste d b ef ore a s a n invi sib le
, ,

. .
,

tendency will h a ve b e c om e a vi sib le m otive forc e If w e pu t th e b oard

, .

a nd we i g hts o n th e e a rth th e forc e of gra vity will no t p ro d u ce any a c ti on

, ,

bu t i t will not b e e limina te d : it will only tra nsform itself into oth er
forces .

Th ose force s whic h a re only striving to pro du ce motion a re c a lle d con

s tra ined or dead forces
, Th e forces whic h a re ac tu a lly m a nifesting
, .

th emselves in c ertain de finite a ctions a re call e d free or live forces ; bu t , ,

a s re ga rd s fre e forc e s it is n ecessa ry to di ff e renti a te th ose forc e s whic h a re

lib era tin g setting free from th e force s whi c h a re li b e rate d o r se t fre e
, , , .

An enorm ou s differen c e e xists b etween th e libera tion of force a nd its

tra nsf orma tion i nto a noth e r .

Wh en one kin d of m otion transform s itself into a nother kind th e ,

a m ou nt of f ree force rem a in s th e sa m e ; and c ontra ri wi se wh en one force ,

libera tes a noth e r th e a m ount of fre e forc e c h a nge s Th e free forc e of a n

, .

irrita tion lib erates th e tie d u p force s of a nerve An d this lib era tion of -
.

tie d u p forc es I S p roc eeding a t eac h p oint of th e nerve Th e first mo

-
.

tion increa se s like a fire like a sn ow slide c a rryin g a long with it new and
,
-

e ve r new snow d rifts I t i s f or this re a son tha t th e acti on (ph enom enon)
.

of s en sa ti on nee d n o t b e e xa c tl y e q u a l to th e a c ti on of irrit a ti on .

Let l ook m or e broa dly a t th e r el a tio n b e twe e n lib e ra t e d a nd

us

lib e r a ti ng forc e s in th e diff ere nt ki nd s of p h enom ena .

W e sh a ll di scov e r th a t som etim es a n a l m ost ne gligibl e a m ou nt

o f phy s i c a l f o r c e m a y lib e r a t e a n e no r m ou s a c ol os s a l q u a ntity o f ,

phy si ca l ene rgy B u t a ll th a t we ca n ever a ssemble of physica l

.
 1 32 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

Thi s r em arkabl e c orr el a ti on of ph enom ena m ay b e express e d

in th e f o ll owing t erm s : th e f a rt h e r a giv en ph enom enon is from th e
s e n s n s —
vi ibl a d e ed fr om th e phys ic a l th e fa rth er it is from -

m att e r th e m ore th er e is in it of hi dd en f orc e th e gr ea te r th e qu an

, ,

tity of ph enom ena it c a n produ c e c a n l ea v e in its w a ke th e

, ,

gr ea te r a m ou nt of en ergy it c a n lib er a t e a nd s o th e l ess it is ,

d ep en d ent u p on tim e .

I f w e would corr e lat e a ll of th e ab ove with th e princ ipl e of

phy si c s th a t th e a mou nt of energy is consta nt th en w e m u st s tat e ,

m or e e xa c tly th a t in th e pr e c e ding di sc u ssi on no thing h a s b een

s a id of th e crea tion o f ne w e ne rgy b u t of th e libera tion o f lat ent
,

for c e An d w e h a v e foun d that th e lib er a tin g for ce of lif e a nd

.

th ou ght is infi nitely gr ea t er th a n th e lib era ting forc e of m ech a nica l

m oti on a n d o f c h em i c a l r eac ti ons Th e microscopic living cell is
more p ow erf u l th a n a volca no—th e idea is more powerf u l th a n th e
.

geologica l ca tacly s m .

H a ving esta b li sh e d th ese differ enc es b etween ph enom ena let ,

u s e n d ea v o r to di sc o v e r wh a t ph enom ena th e m s e lv es r epr es ent ,

t a k en by th em s elves in d ep end ently of our r eceptivity a nd sens a

,

ti on of th em .

We a t once di sco v er th a t w e know nothing ab ou t th em .

We kno w a ph enom enon j u st a s m u ch a nd j u st a s far a s it is

irrita tion i e , to th e e xt ent th a t it pro v ok es s ens a ti on
, . . .

Th e p ositivi sti c phil osophy sees m e ch a ni ca l m o ti on or e l ec tro

m a gn eti c e nergy a s th e b a si s of a ll ph e nom e na B u t th e
—
.

hyp oth esi s of vibr a ting a t oms or of u nits of energy el e ctrons

a n d c y c l es o f m o ti o n c o m bin a ti on s of whic h c r ea t e diff e r ent
,
“ ”—
ph enom ena is only a n hyp o t h esi s b u ilt u p on a p erf e c tly
,

a rbitrary a n d a rt ifi c i a l a ssu m pti on c onc e rnin g th e e xi s t ence of

th e w orld in ti m e a n d s p a c e Ju s t a s s oon a s w e di sc o v e r that

.

th e c on diti ons o f ti m e a nd s p a c e a re m er ely th e pr op erti es

o f ou r s e ns u o u s r e c eptivity w e a b so l u t e ly d es tr oy th e v a lidity of
,
“ ”
th e hyp o th esi s of e ne rgy a s th e f o u n d a ti on o f e v e ryth ing ;

b e c a u s e ti m e a nd s p a c e a re n ecess a ry f or ene rgy i e it is nec , . .

,

e ss a r y f or ti m e a nd s p a c e to b e pr op erti es of th e w orld a nd no t

prop erti es o f c onsc i ou sness .

Th u s in r ea lit y w e kn o w nothing a b ou t th e ca u ses of ph enomen a .

We do kno w th a t s om e c om bi na ti ons of c au ses a c ting throu gh ,

th e o rg a ni s m u p on o u r c ons c i ou s ness pr o d u c e th e seri es of s en

,
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM l 33

s a tions w h ic h w e r ecogniz e a s a green tree B u t w e d o not kno w if

.

t h i s p erc eption of a tre e c orr esp on d s to th e r ea l su b st a nc e o f th e

c a u ses whic h e v ok e d this sens a ti on .

Th e qu esti on c onc ernin g th e r e l a ti on of th e ph enom enon to

th e th ing in itself i e to th e i ndw e lling r e a lity h as b een fr om f a r
- -

, . .
, ,

b ac k th e c hi ef a nd m os t di ffi c u lt conc ern of philosophy C a n w e

.
,

s t u dyi ng ph enom en a g e t a t th e v e ry c a u s e of th e m a t th e v e ry
, ,

su b s t a nc e of thi gs ?
n n : —
Ka nt h a s sa id d efi it ely No l by s tu dying
ph enom ena w e do not e ven a pproa c h to th e u nd er st a nding of
thi ngs in th em s elves R e c ognizing th e c orr ec tnes s of Ka nt s vi e w
.
’

if w e d esire to a pproac h to a n u nd er st a n ding of things in th em

s e lv e s w e mu st s e ek a n e ntir e ly di ff e r ent m e th o d
, , a n u tt e rly

diff er ent p a th fro m th a t whic h p ositiv e s c i enc e is tre a di ng ,

whi c h s tu di es phenomena .
I 36 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

Im a gine v a ge stu dyin g a w a t ch Let u s a d m it th a t h e is a

a sa .

wi se a nd c ra fty s a v a ge H e t a ke s th e w a tc h a p a rt a nd coun ts
.

a ll its wh e e l s a nd sc r e w s cou nt s th e n u m b e r o f t ee t h in e a c h g e ar
, ,

fi n d s o u t its s iz e a n d thi ckn es s T h e o nly thin g th a t h e does not

.

kn ow is wh a t a ll th ese things are for H e d oe s not kno w th a t th e .

h a n d c om pl etes th e c ir cu it of th e dia l in h a lf of tw en ty fou r h ou r s -

i e th a t it is p ossible to tell time by mea ns of a w a tch

. .
, .

“ ”
All thi s is p ositivi sm .

We a re too fa mili a r wi th p ositivi sti c m e thod s a nd s o fa il ,

t o r e a liz e th a t th ey e n d in a b su rditi es a n d th a t if w e a re seeki ng

to exp la in th e mea ning o f a n ything th e y do not l ea d to th e goa l a t
,

a ll .

Th e difficu lty is th a t f or th e expla na tion of th e mea ning p o si

tivism is of no u se F or it na t u r e is a c l o se d b ook of w h i c h it
.

s t u di e s th e a pp ea r a n ce o nly .

I n th e m a tt e r o f th e s t u dy o f th e opera tions of na tu re th e ,

p os itiv e m et h o d s h a v e a chi ev e d m u c h a s is pro v en by th e .

,

i nnu m era bl e su c c es s e s of m o d ern t ec hnic s i nc l u ding th e c on q u e s t ,

o f th e a ir B u t e v e rythi ng in th e world h a s its o w n d efi nit e

.

s p h e r e o f a c ti o n Positivi sm is v e ry goo d wh e n it se eks a n

.

a ns w e r to th e q u e s ti on of h ow s o m e th ing o p e r a t e s u n d e r g iv e n

c o n diti ons ; b u t wh en it m a k e s th e a tt e m pt t o g e t o u t s id e o f its

d e finit e conditi ons (sp a c e ti m e c a u s a tio n) , or pr esu m es to a ffirm

, ,

t h a t no thing exi st s ou t sid e o f t h es e given c on ditions t h en it is ,

tr a nscen di ng its ow n prop er sph er e .

I t is tru e t h a t th e m or e s eri ou s p ositiv e t h ink ers d eny th e p oss i

“ ”
b ility o f in c l u ding in p o sitiv e i nv e s tiga ti on th e qu es tio n of why
a n d w h a t f or Th e s ea r c h f o r mea ning a nd f or th a t whic h is th e
.
,

a im a n d e nd of t e l e o l o gy , is r e g a rd e d b y th e p os itiv e p h il o so ph e r

a s littl e s h ort o f a b s u rd Thi s is i nd ee d th e m ore tru e b e cau se

.

fro m th e p ositive sta ndp oint t el e ol ogy is i nd ee d a n a b su rdity B u t , .

a s a m a tt e r o f f a c t th e p o s itiv e s t a ndp o i n t is n ot th e o nly p o s s ibl e

,

o ne Th e u su a l m i s ta k e o f p ositivi sm consi st s in its no t seei ng

.

a ythi ng excep t itself

n — it e it h e r co nsid ers e v e rythi ng a s p os sibl e
to it or c o nsi d er s a s ge ner a lly i m p o ssibl e m u c h th a t is entir ely
,

p o s si b l e bu t not f or p os itiv e i n qu iry

, .

H u m a nit y will ne v e r c ea se to sea rc h h o w e v e r f or a nsw er to , ,

th e q u es ti ons w hy a n d wh eref ore , .

Th e p o sitivi s ti c sc i e nti s t fi nd s h i m s elf in th e pr esenc e of na t u r e

a l m os t in th e p o s iti o n o f a s a v a ge in a libr a ry of r a r e a nd v a l u a bl e
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM l 37

b ooks Fo r a s a v a ge a b ook is a thing o f d efi nit e s iz e a nd w eight

. .

Ho we ver long h e m a y a sk h im se lf w h a t p u rp ose thi s str a nge

t h in g serv es h e will nev er di sco v e r th e tru th from its a pp ea ra nc e ;
,

a n d th e contents of th e book will r em a i n f or h im th e incomp reh ens i

ble nou menon I n like m a nne r th e c o nt ent s of n a tu r e a re inco m

.

pr eh ens ibl e to th e p os itivi sti c sc i enti s t .

B u t if a m a n know s o f th e e xi s t e nc e of th e cont ent s of th e b o o k

th e nou menon of lif e — if h e kno ws th a t a m y s t e ri ou s m e a ni ng is
hidd e n u nd e r vi sibl e ph enom ena t h er e is th e p o ss ibility th a t in
,

th e l ong ru n h e will di sc ov e r th e c ont e nt s .

For s u c cess in thi s it is ne ce s sa ry to gr a sp th e idea of th e i nner

c ont e nt s i e ,th e m e a ni n g o f th e thi n g in it se lf
. .
, .

Th e s c i e nti s t w h o disc o v e rs littl e t a bl et s with hi ero glyp hi cs or

w e d ge s h a p e d inscriptions in a n u nkno wn l a ngu a ge d ec iph e rs
-

a nd r e a d s t h em a ft e r gr ea t l a b o r s And in o rd er to a c co m plish
.

thi s h e ne e d s only one t h i ng : it is n ec es sa ry f or h im to kno w th a t

th e se littl e signs represent a n inscription S o l ong a s h e r e ga rd s .

th em sim ply a s a n o rna m ent a s th e ou t sid e em b elli sh m ent of

,

littl e t a bl et s or a s a n a cc id ent a l tra c i ng with ou t m e a ni ng— u p to

,

th a t tim e t h eir m e a ni ng a nd signific a nc e will b e c l ose d to him

a b so l u t e ly B u t let h im o nly a ssu m e th e e xi s t ence of th a t m ean
.

ing a nd th e p ossibility o f its c om pr eh ensi on will b e a lr e a dy withi n

s ight .

N0 sec re t c iph er exi st s whi c h c a nno t b e so lv e d wit h o u t th e a id

o f a ny key B u t it is necess a ry to know th a t it is a ciph er Thi s is
. .

th e fir st a nd n e c e s sa ry c on diti on L a c ki ng t h i s it is i m p ossibl e
.

to a cc om pli s h a nyt h i ng .

Th e ide a of th e exi st ence of th e vi s ibl e a nd th e hidd en s id es of

lif e w a s known to p h il osop h y l ong a go P h enomena wer e r e ga rd e d
.

a s o nly o n e a sp ec t o f th e w o rld— seeming no t e xi s ti ng r ea ll y a ri s, ,

ing in c on sc i ou sne s s a t th e m om ent of its c ont a c t wit h th e re a l

world Anot h e r sid e nou mena w a s r ec og niz e d a s r e a lly e xi s ti ng
.
, ,

in it s elf b u t i n a cc e s s ibl e f or ou r r ec eptivit y

, .

B u t t h ere is no gr ea t e r e rro r t h a n to r e ga rd th e w orld a s divided

—
i t o ph enom e na a nd nou m en a to conc e iv e of p h enom en a a nd
n
no u m en a a p a rt fro m o ne a no th e r a n d su sc e ptibl e of b e i ng se p a
,

ra te ly k no w n Thi s is p h iloso phi c illit e ra c y w h ic h sh o ws it self

.
,

m ost c l e a rly in th e d u a li sti c spiritis tic th eo ri es Th e divi si o n i nt o .

l 38 T ER T IUM ORGAN UM

ph enom ena a nd n ou m ena exi sts o nly in ou r m in d s T h e ph e .

”
nom en a l w o rld is s i m ply o u r in corr ec t p ercepti o n o f th e wo rld .

As C a rl D u Prel h a s sa id Th e world bey ond is this w orld

, ,
”
on ly p erceived s tra ngely I t wo u ld b e m or e a c c u ra t e to s a y th a t
.
,

this world is th e world bey ond p erceived s tra ngely .

Ka nt s id ea is qu ite c orr ec t , th a t th e s tu dy of th e
’
ph enom ena l
s id e o f th e wo rld will n ot bri ng u s a ny n ea r e r t o th e u nd e r s t a n ding
“ “ ”—
of things in th em se lv e s
-

. Th e thing in it self th a t is th e
- -

thin g a s it e xi st s in its elf independently of u s Th e ph enom enon

, .

”—
of th e thi ng th a t I S th e thing I n su c h sem bl a nc e a s w e p er ceive
it.

T h e e x a m pl e of a b ook in th e h a nd s o f a n illit era t e sa v a ge s ho w s

u s q u it e c l e a rly th a t it is su fli c ient not to kno w a b ou t th e e xi s t enc e

of th e n ou m enon of a t h in g ( th e c o n t en t s of th e b o ok in thi s c a se )

in o rd e r th a t it sh a ll no t m a nif es t it s e lf in ph enom ena O n th e .

o th er h a n d th e kno wl e dg e of its e xi s t e nc e is s uffic i e nt to m a k e

,

p ossibl e its dis covery wit h th e a id of th e v e ry ph e nom ena whi c h ,

with ou t th e kno wl e dge of th e nou m ena wou ld b e p erfectly u se ,

l ess .

Ju s t a s it is i m p ossibl e f or a s a v a ge to a tt a in to a n u n d e r st a n d
ing of th e n a t u re of a w a t c h by a s tu dy of its ph enom en a l sid e
th e u m b e r of wh e el s a nd th e n u m b e r o t ee th
n , f in e a ch g ea —
r so
a l so f or th e p ositivi s ti c s c i enti s t s t u dyi ng th e e xt e rn a l ma nifes t
, ,

ing s id e of lif e its sec r e t ra is on d etre a nd th e a im of sep a ra t e

’
,

m a nif es t a ti ons will b e f or e v e r hidd e n .

T o th e s a v a ge th e w a tc h will b e a n e xtr em e ly i nt e re s ting c om ,

pli c a t e d b u t entire ly u se l e ss toy S om e w h a t a ft er thi s m a nner a

, .

m a n a pp e a rs t o th e s c i enti st m a t eri a li st— a m ech a n i sm i nfi nit e ly

-
fl

m ore com pl ex b u t e qu a lly u nkn o wn a s r eg a rd s th e p u rp o se f or

,

whic h it e xi st s a nd th e m a nner o f its c r e a ti on .

We pi c tu re d to ou rs elves h ow i ncom preh en sibl e th e f u nc ti ons

o f a ca ndle a nd of a coin w ou ld b e f or a pl a n e m a n s t u dyi ng two -

s imila r circles o n h is pl a ne I n l ik e m a nne r th e f u n c ti ons o f a m a n

.

a re in c o m pr eh ens ibl e to th e s c i e nti s t s t u dying h im a s a mech a n

,

is m Th e r e a son f or t h i s is c l ea r I t is b e c a u se th e c oi n a nd th e
. .

c a n dl e a re n ot two s imilar circles b u t t w o q u ite d ifl e re nt o bj e c t s

’
, ,

h a ving a n entire ly d ifl erent u s e a nd m e a ning in t h a t world w h ic h

’

is r e l a tiv e ly hi g h e r t h a n th e pl a ne — a n d m a n is not a mech a nis m ,

b u t s o m ethi ng h a vi ng a n a im a nd m ea ni ng in th e w orld r e l a tiv ely

hi gh er th a n th e vi sibl e o ne .
1 40 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

p sy c hi c an p iritu a l lif e h a s e vo lve d ou t of th e si m pl e irrita

d s

bility of a c e ll i e o u t o f th e f a cu lty to r e sp on d by m o ti on to
, . .
,

tr
ex a neou s irrit ti
a o n — t h a t a ll t h es e thr ee ki nds of ph enom ena a re
one a nd th e sa m e th ing in s u b s t a nce
— a nd th e high er i e th e , . .
,

ph enom ena of lif e a nd of c onsci ou snes s a re only differ ent ex ,

pr essi ons of th e low er 1 e of one a nd th e s a m e energy

, . .
, .

B u t to a ll thi s it is p ossibl e to a ns w e r one thing If it w e re tru e .

it wou ld h a v e b e en prov en long a go Nothing is ea sie r th a n to .

pro v e th e energ eti c hyp oth esi s of lif e a nd consciou snes s Ju st .

crea te lif e a nd consciou s ness by th e m e c h a ni c al m e th o d M a teri a l .

“ ”
is m a nd ene rge ti c s a re th ose obvi ou s th eo ri es whic h ca nnot be
tru e withou t proof s b ecau se th e y c a nno t n ot h a v e pro ofs if th e y
,

c ont a in e v en a littl e grain of tr u th .

B u t th er e a re no proof s a t th e disp ositi on of th es e th eo ri es ;

qu ite th e r e v er se : th e infi nit ely gr ea t er p ot enti a lity of th e ph e
nom ena o f lif e a nd o f c onsc i ou sne s s c om p a r e d with phy si c a l ph e
nom ena a s su r es u s of th e e x a c t o pp osit e An d w e h a v e a f u ll right
.

to d e c l a r e th a t e nerge ti c s is j u s t a s su bj ec tiv e a th eory a s a ny

d oc trin e of d ogm a tic th eology .

Th e si m pl e f a c t a b ov e s h o wn of th e enorm ou s lib era ti ng u n

, , ,

b inding for c e of th e ph enom ena of c onsci ou sness is suffi c i ent to

es t a blish qu it e r e a lly a nd firml y th e pr obl em of the world of the

hidden .

And th e w orld o f th e hidd e n c a nno t b e th e w orld of u n con

s c i ou s m ec h a nic al m oti o n of u ncon s c i ou s d ev e l op m ent of e l ec tro
,

m a gne ti c f or c es T h e p o sitivi s ti c th eory a dmit s th e p oss ibility of

.

expl a in in g th e high er thr ou gh th e lower, th e invis ible throu gh th e

vis ible . B u t it h a s b een sh o wn a t th e v ery b eginnin g th a t thi s is

th e e xpl a n a ti on of on e u nkn o wn by a n o th e r u nkno wn Th e r e is .

s till l e s s j u s tifi c a ti o n f or e xpl a i ni n g th e known thr ou g h th e u n

know n Y e t th a t l o w e r (m a tt e r a n d m oti on) thr o u gh whi c h th e

.

“ ”
p os itivi st s striv e to expl a i n th e hi g h e r (life a n d th ou ght) is
its elf u nknow n C ons e qu ently it is i m p ossibl e to expl a in a nd
.

d efi ne a nythi ng e l se in t erm s of it, whil e th e higher, i e , th e . .

th ou gh t, this is ou r s o l e know n : it is thi s a l on e that w e do know ,

th a t w e a re c onsc i ou s o f in ou rs elves , th a t w e c a n neith er mist a ke
no r d ou bt .And if th ou g ht c a n e v ok e or u nbind phy si c a l
en e r g y a n d m o ti on c a n never c r ea t e o r u nbi n d th ou ght (o u t o f a
,

r evolvi ng wh e e l no thou ght ev er a rose) so of c ou rs e w e s h a ll s trive

to d efi n e not th e hi g h er in t e r m s o f th e l o w e r , b u t th e l o w e r in
,
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 141

t er m s of th e high er If th e invi sibl e like the contents of a book

. ,

or the pu rpos e of a wa tch d efi nes by it s e lf th e vi s ibl e s o a l so w e

, ,

s h a ll en d e avo r to u nd er s t a n d not th e vi s ibl e b u t th e in vi sibl e , .

S tarting from a f a l se a ssu m pti on c onc erning th e mech a nica lity

of th e nou m e nal s id e of n atu r e p ositiv e s c i enc e u p on whi c h th e
, ,

vi ew of th e world of th e in t elligent m a j ority of c ont em p or a ry

hu m anity is fou nd ed m a kes still a noth er m i st a ke in rega rd to
—
,

a
c u se a nd e ec ff t h
or t e a
, l w of f u n c ti o n s tha t is it mi st a k es what ,

’
is cau se a nd what is efl e c t
, .

Ju st a s th e tw o dim ens i ona l plane man thinks of a ll ph e

- -

nom ena t ou c hin g his c ons c i ou sness a s lyin g o n o n e pl a n e s o th e ,

p ositivi s ti c sc i entis t striv es to int erpr et u p on one pl a ne a ll ph e

nom ena of difl erent o rd er s i e to in t erpr e t all vi s ibl e ph enom ena
’
.
, .
,

a s th e e ff ec t s of o th e r vi s ibl e ph eno m ena a n d a s th e inevitabl e ,

c a u s e of su b se qu en t vi s ibl e ph en om en a I n o th er words h e sees .

,

in c au sa l a nd fu nc ti ona l int e rd e p en d ence m er ely ph enom en a pro

ce eding u p on th e s u rf a ce a n d s t u di es th e vi s ibl e w orld or th e
, ,

ph enom ena of th e vi sibl e world not a dmittin g th a t c au ses c a n

,

ent er int o thi s w o rld whic h a re no t c ont a in e d in it or th a t th e

ph enom ena of thi s world c a n p ossess fu nc tions exten ding b eyond it .

B u t thi s c ou ld b e tr u e onl y in c a s e th e re w ere no ph enom ena of

lif e a nd of c onsc iou sness in th e wo rld or if th e ph enom ena of life ,

a nd of c ons c i ou s ness w er e r e a lly deriva tives from phy s i ca l ph e

nom ena a n d did not p o ssess i nfin it e ly gr ea t e r lat ent fo rc e th a n

,

th ey . Th en only wou ld w e h a ve th e right to c onsider th e c h a ins

of ph eno m ena in th eir phy s i c a l or vi s ibl e se qu en ce a l o n e , a s p os i

tivistic s c i enc e d oe s B u t t a kin g into c ons id era ti on th e ph e

.

nom ena of lif e a nd of consc i ou sne ss w e shall in e vita bly r ec o gniz e

that th e chain of ph enom ena often tr a nsl a tes itse lf from a se qu ence
p u rely phy si ca l to a biologi c a l se qu ence i e one in whi ch th er e
is m u c h o f th e h idd en a nd invi s ibl e to u s—or to a p sy ch ol o gi c a l
, . .
,

se qu enc e wh e r e th e r e is e v e n m or e o f th e hidd en ; b u t d u rin g re

v ers e tr a nsl a tions from bi o logi c a l a nd p sy ch ologic a l sph eres into

phy s ic a l se qu ences a c tions proc e e d oft en if not a lwa y s from , ,

r e gi ons which are hidd en from u s ; i e , th e c a u se of th e vi sibl e is

-
. .

th e invisibl e . In c onse qu en ce of thi s w e m u s t a d mit th a t it is im

p ossibl e to consid er th e ch a ins of se qu enc es in th e world of phy s
i ca l ph enom ena only Wh en this se qu enc e touch es th e lif e of a
.
142 T ERT IUM ORGANUM

m a n or th a t of a h u m a n s oc i ety w e p erc eiv e c l e a rly th a t it es c a p e s

,
“ ”
from th e phy si c a l sph e re a nd r etu rns in t o it R ega rd ing th e .

m a tt er from t h i s s t a n dp oin t w e s ee t h a t j u st a s in th e lif e of o ne

,

m a n a n d in th e lif e of a so c i e ty , t h er e a re m a ny str e a m s , a t ti m e s
a pp e a ring o n th e su rf a c e a n d s p o u t ing u p in b oi s t e rou s t o rr ent s ,

a n d a t o th e r ti m es di sa pp e a r ing d ee p u n d ergr ou n d hidd e n fr om ,

vi e w b u t o nly w a itin g f or th eir m om ent to a pp e a r a ga in on th e

,

su rf a ce .

W e ob se rv e in th e world c ontin u ou s c h a ins of p h enom ena a nd

w e p e r c e iv e h o w th es e c h a in s s hift fr o m o n e o rd e r o f ph enom ena
to a noth e r w it h ou t a br ea k We ob s e rv e h ow th e ph enom ena of
.

c o n s c i ou sn e ss
— n,
—
th ou gh t s fe e i gs d es ires a re a cc om p a ni e d by
l ,

phy s i ol ogic a l ph enom ena— c r ea tin g th em p erh a p s— a nd ina u gu r a t e

a se ri e s of p u r ely phy s i c a l ph e n om en a ; a n d w e see h o w phy s i c a l

ph enom ena b e c om in g th e o bj ec t of s ens a ti ons of sight h e a ring

, , ,

tou c h sm e ll a nd th e like i nd u c e phy si o logi ca l ph enom ena a n d

, , ,

t h en p sy c h ologic a l B u t l oo ki ng a t lif e from th a t sid e w e s e e only

.
,

phy s ic a l ph enom ena a n d h a vin g a ssu r e d ou rselv es th a t it is th e

,

o n ly r e a lity w e m a y n o t n oti c e th e o t h e r s a t a ll H er ein a pp ea rs.

th e e no r m o u s p o w e r o f su gg esti o n in cu rr ent id e a s To a s ince re .

p o sitivi s t a ny m e t a phy s ic a l a rgu m ent pr o ving th e u nr ea lity of

m a tt er or en e rgy seem s s ophi s try I t strik es h im a s a thing u n
.

nece ss a ry di sa gr e e a bl e hind e rin g a l o gi c a l tr a in of t h ou ght a n

, , ,

a ss a u lt with ou t a im o r m e a n ing o n th a t whi c h in h is o pini on is

firml y est a bli sh e d a l on e i mm u t a bl e lyin g a t th e f ou n d a tion of

, ,
“ ”
e v e r y t h ing .H e v e xe dly f a ns a w a y fro m h im se lf a ll id ea li sti c
“ ”
or m y sti c a l t h eori e s a s h e w ou ld a b u zz ing m o s qu it o .

’
B u t th e f a c t is th a t th ou gh t a nd energy a re difl erent in su b s t a nc e
a n d c a nno t b e one a nd th e s a me thing b e c a u s e th ou gh t is a su b
,

jec tive ph en om enon a n d energ y a n obj ec tiv e one For if w e op en .

th e c r a ni u m of a livin g m a n in o rd er to o b s e rv e a ll th e vibr a ti on s
o f th e c e lls of th e gr a y m a tt e r o f th e br a in a nd a ll th e q u iv e r ing
,

whit e fibre s in sp ite of every thing th ere will be merely motion a nd

, ,

th ou g h t will r em a in som e wh e r e b ey on d th e li m it s of inv estiga

“
ti on r etr ea ting lik e a s h a d o w a t e v e ry a ppro a c h Th e p os i
, .

”
tivi s t wh en h e b egins to r ea liz e t h is f eel s th a t th e grou nd is
, ,

qu a king u n d e rne a t h his f e e t f e e l s t h a t b y h is m eth o d h e will

,

n ever a p pr o a c h t o th e th ou gh t Th en h e s ees c l ea rly th e nec essit y

.

f o r a n e w m et h o d A s soon a s h e begins to think a bou t it h e b egins

.

qu it e u nexp ec t e d l y to n oti ce t h ing s a rou nd h im whi c h h e did no t

1 44 T ER T IUM ORGANUM
wh ole of th e fu ture is in u nbroken c ontinuity with th e p resent a s , th e
present is with th e p a st In th e p l a ne from one p oin t of vi ew
.
, , th e
ill u stration of th e rop e is correc t .

Th e p a s sa ges qu ot e d sho w u s that th e id ea of k a r m a d e v e l o p e d

,

in re m ot e a ntiqu ity by H in du phil o sophy , e m b o di e s th e id e a of

th e u nbr oken c on secu tiv eness of ph enom en a E a c h ph enom enon
.
,

no m a tt e r h ow in sign ifi c a nt , is a link of a n infi ni t e a n d u nbr ok en

c h a in e xt en ding fr om th e p a s t int o th e fu tu re, p a ss ing fr o m o n e
,

s ph e r e int o a no th er , s o m e ti m es ma nif es ting a s phy si c a l ph e

nom en a , som etim es h iding in th e ph enom ena of cons c i ou snes s .

If w e r egard k a rm a fr om th e st a n dp oint of ou r th eory of tim e

a nd sp a c e of m a ny di m en si on s th en th e connection between dis ta nt
,

even ts will c ea se to b e w on d e rf u l a nd i n com pr e h ensibl e I f e v ent s

.

m os t di st a nt fro m one a noth e r in r e l a ti on to ti m e tou ch one a noth er

in th e f ou rth dimension thi s m ea ns th a t th e y a re proc ee din g sim
,

u lta neou sly a s c au se a n d eff ec t a n d th e w a ll s di viding th e m a re

,

j u s t a n illu sion whic h ou r w ea k in t ell ec t c annot con qu er Thin gs .

a re u ni t e d , not by ti m e b u t by a n i nn e r c o nne c ti on, a n inn e r c o r

,

r ela tion An d ti m e c a nn ot sep a r a te th os e thin gs whic h a re in

.

w a rdly n ea r , fo ll o win g on e from a noth e r C ert a in oth er pr op er

.

ti es of th ese things fo r ce u s to think of th em a s b eing sep a r a t e d

by th e ocean of tim e B u t we kno w th a t thi s ocea n d oes not
.

exis t in rea lity a n d w e b e gin to u nd e rst a n d h o w a n d why th e

e v e nt s of o ne mill enni u m c a n directly infl u enc e th e e v ent s of

a no th e r m ill enni u m .

Th e hi dd en a ctivity of ev ent s b ecom es c om preh ensibl e to u s .

We u nderst an d th a t th e e v ents m u st b ecom e hidden in ord er to

preserv e f or u s th e ill u sion of ti m e .

—
We kno w this kno w tha t th e ev ents of to da y were th e id ea s -

a d
n f ee lin g s o f y t
es e rd a y— a n d th a t th e e v ent s of t o m o rr o w a re

lyin g in som eone s irrit a ti on in som eone s h u nge r , in som eone s

’ ’ ’

s u ff e ring a nd p ossibly s t ill m or e in s om eone s i m a g ina ti o n , in

’

s o m eone s f a nt a sy , in s om eone s dr eam s

’ ’
.

We kn o w a ll thi s , y et ne v erth e l ess ou r p os itiv e sc i enc e oh

s tin a tely seek s to es t a bli sh c orr el a ti ons b e tw een vi s ibl e ph e

nom en a o nly , i e , to r e gard ea c h vi s ibl e or phy s i c a l ph eno m e no n

. .

a s th e e ff e c t of s om e o th er phy s i c a l ph enom eno n only , whi c h is

l
a so vi sibl e .

This t end ency to r ega rd e v erything u p on on e plane th e u n ,

willingn ess to r ecogniz e a nything ou ts id e of th a t pl a ne h orribly ,

 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 145

na rrows o u r vi e w of lif e prevents ou r gra sp ing it in its entir e ty

,

a nd t a k en in c o nj u nc ti o n w ith th e m a t e ri a li s ti c a tt e m pt s to a c

c o u nt f o r th e h igh er a s a f un c ti on of th e low er a pp ea r s a s th e pri n ,

c ip a l i m p e di m ent to th e d e v e l o p m e nt o f our kno wl e dg e th e c hi e f ,

c a u s e o f th e di ss a ti s f a c ti on with s c i e nc e th e com pl a i nt s a b ou t th e
,

b a nkr u pt c y of s c i enc e a nd its a c tu a l b a nkru ptc y in m a ny of its

,

r el a tions .

Th e di ssa ti sf a c ti on with s c i ence is p e rf e c tly w ell grou nd e d ,

a nd th e c o m pl a i nt s a b ou t it s i n so lv enc y a re e n tir e ly j u s t b ec a u se ,

s c i e nce h a s r ea lly e nt e r e d a cu l de sac ou t of whi c h th e r e is n o

e s ca p e a n d th e offi c i a l r ec o gniti on of th e f a c t th a t th e dir e c ti o n

,

it h a s t a ken is entir ely th e wrong one is only a qu es ti o n of ti m e

, .

Let us t a ke so m e s i m pl e
xampl e which in volves a n interrela
e

tion b etween a ll thr ee kind s of ph enom ena kno wn to u s phys i ca l —

p h enom ena th e ph enom ena of lif e a nd th e ph enom ena o f c on
, ,

sc io u s ne s s
— a nd le t u s see h o w p os itivi sti c sc i en c e r e g a rd s th em .

I m a gi ne that y ou a re s ta n ding a t a wi nd o w a nd s ee a m a n
o n th e s tr e e t sh oo ting a r e vo lv e r a t a no th e r m a n .

T h e wh ol e c h a in of e v ent s c om e s e vid en tly fro m a f a r proc ee d ,

ing from a p a s t u nkno wn to y ou a nd go ing i nt o a n u nkno w n

,

fu tu re T h e c h a in is qu it e continu ou s a nd in divi sibl e T h e

. .

“ ”
sh ot is a li nk in this c h a i n .

B u t wh en sc i ence c on sid ers th e s hot it t a k e s it e ntir ely ou t of

,

th a t c h a in a lin k of whi c h c onstitu t es thi s ph enom enon a nd con

, ,

s tru c ts its o wn c h a in o f ph eno m ena in w hi c h a c c o rd ing to th e

, ,

vi e w of s ci e nce th e sho t prop erly b el ongs ; t h u s it pl ac es th es e

,

ph enom ena in fa l s e r el a ti on one to a noth e r b ec a u se it will i nc l u d e

,

in its c h a in phy sic a l p h e no m e na only .

“ ”
Th e s ho t is a link in a n i nfi nite c h a i n of ph eno m ena Thi s .

m u c h sc i e nc e a d m it s : b u t a s r e ga rd s th e s h o t sc i enc e c onsid ers it a s

,

s om e t h i ng f inite h a v ing a b eg i n ni ng a nd a n e nd b ec a u s e it h a s
, ,

ne it h e r m ea n s n or m et h o d s f or d ea li n g wit h a n infi nit e s eri es It .

is tru e th a t m a th em a ti c s w h i c h p os itivi sti c s c i e nc e pl ac e s a s th e

,

v ery fou nd a tion of its e difi ce est a bli sh es with th e u tm ost exa cti
,

tu d e th a t i nfi nite m a gnit u d es a re su bj ec t to e ntirelv diff er ent l a ws

from fi nite ones a nd th a t it is i m p os sibl e to d ea l with i nfi nite
,

m a gnitu d es a s with fi nite ones This fa c t s c i ence c a nnot d eny

.

in th eory b u t in pra c ti c e in its conc l u si ons sc i enc e d oes no t c on

, , ,
146 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

s id e r it a t a ll , bu t
b s tina t el y en d e a vor s to r ega rd e v ery ph e
o

n om enon a s fi nit e S o it is a l s o in thi s giv en ca s e

. .

Wh a t is th e s ho t from th e s t a ndp oin t of s ci enc e ? T h e m ov e

m ent of th e trigge r a nd th e spri n g th e i m p a c t of th e h a m m e r u p on
,

th e c a rtridg e th e expl o si o n o f g a s es th e exp u l si o n of th e b u ll e t

, , ,

th e s ou n d fr o m th e vibr a ti on s of th e a ir th e flig h t of th e b u ll e t
,

a n d its en cou n t e r wit h s o m e t h i ng in its p a th .

Th a t is a ll th a t is vi sibl e fr om th e p ositivi sti c s t a ndp oint : b u t

o f wh a t c h a in o f ph eno m e n a wi ll it b e a lin k if r eg a rd e d in t h i s ,

m a nne r ? Th e ph y iscist will s a y t h a t th e ca u s e o f th e s ho t is in

th e expl osiv e f or c e c ont a i ne d in th e p o wd e r i e its a bi lit y to
, . .
,

tr a nsfo rm it s elf qu ic kly i nto a ga seou s s t a t e givin g a n eno rm ou s ,

a m ou n t of g a s in c o m p a ri so n with th e v o l u m e o f t h e c o nt a in in g

s o lid H e will expl a in why thi s h a pp e ns t h u s will g iv e th e c o n

.
,

s titu tion o f p o wd e r will t e ll fr o m wh en c e a n d in wh a t m a nn e r th e

,

e n e rgy d e v e l o p e d in th e s h o t w a s a c cu m u l a t e d int o p o wd e r T h en .

h e will inv e stiga t e th e pri m er a nd in conc l u s i on will est a bli sh th a t

,

th e imp u ls e to th e lib e r a ti on o f e n e rgy d e v e l op e d d u ring th e s h o t

w a s th e c o n tr a c ti o n of th e m u sc l e s of th e fi ng e r w h i c h pr e sse d th e
trigge r Th e triflin g a m ou nt of energy exp en d e d in thi s s light m o
.

tio n w a s u ndou bte dly dra wn from th e wo rld su rrou ndi ng u s t a ken ,

in with th e f oo d a nd a ir Poss ibly a t th e pr e ssing of th e trigge r by

.

th e fi ng er t h a t e n ergy a c t e d whi c h w a s con ta i ne d in a pi e ce of m e a t

e a t en th e d a y b e f o r e .

R ega rdi ng th e c onse qu enc es of th e sh ot sc i ence wou ld sa y t h a t ,

th e es c a p e o f g a s es pr o d u c e d th e vibr a ti o ns in t h e a ir a nd t h e ,

fo r c e pu t into th e s ho t went i nto th e r u ptu ring of th e fl es h b ones ,

a nd s in e w s o f th e b o d y o f a n o th e r m a n .

All t h i s is not a c a ri c a tu re b u t a p erf ec tly e x a c t des c ripti on

,

of t h e s c i entifi c m e t h o d of in v e s tig a t ing p h e n o m e na S c i enc e so .

,

long a s it rema ins its elf c a nno t sa y a nyt h i ng m or e

, .

B u t le t u s see h o w su c h a n i nv es tig a ti o n of th e s h ot co rr es p on d s
with rea lity Let u s s eek rea lly th e ch a i ns of w h i ch th e s h ot is a
.

lin k H er e w e c om e to th e r e c ognition of a h ighly i m p orta nt fa c t :

.

th e s h o t is a li nk in very m a ny c h a in s Pos itivi stic sc i ence r ec og

.

n es o n ly o n e o f th em
iz — th e c h a in o f p h y s i ca l c o n s e c u tiv ene ss
w h il e in r e a lity th e s h o t is th e p oi nt of i nt er sec tion of m a ny lines ,

a l ink b e l ong in g to m a ny i n t e r c r ossin g c h a in s Le t u s e x a min e t h e se

.

c h a in s Firs t of a ll le t u s find ou t if w e m a y r eg a rd it a s a f a ct t h a t
.

th e sh o t is a lin k in m a ny c h a i ns in m a ny s eri e s o f p h e no m e n a
,
.
148 T ER T I UM ORGANUM

r t d f or ea s e a nd r ea s onin g T o s tudy th a t a rtifi ci a l s om e

c ea e

thing a cc epting it a s r ea l—thi s m ea ns to f a ll into th e s in of m a

.

t eria lism to a cc ept th e f a l s e f or th e r ea l Ac tu a lly ea c h s h o t is

, .

a link in its o wn qu it e sp ec i a l c om bina ti o n of c a u sa l c h a ins And .

it is i m p os sibl e to sel ec t a s ingl e one th e ext erna l ou t of thi s c om , ,

bina ti on of c h a ins If w e d o n ot kno w or do n o t see a nything

.

e x cept thi s e xt e r na l s e q u e nc e w e kno w only th e ph enomena of that

,

whi c h h a s happ ene d in r ea lity i e w e kn o w liter a ll y no thin g, . .

, .

T w o p h enom ena seem in gly e x a c tly s i m il a r m ay b e link s of su c h

, ,

di ffe ren t c au sa l c h a ins th a t in r ea lity th ese ph enom ena a re not

o nl y not a lik e b u t th ey a re th e d ir ec t o pp os it es o f one a noth er
, .

T o p os itivi sti c thinki ng a ll s h ots a re si mila r ; th ey diff e r only in

,

th eir forc e B u t to tru ly exact inv es tiga tion th er e a re no si mil a r

.

s h ots
—
.

We ay s y not a s a n a ssu m pti on b u t a s a n a ffirm a tion—that

m a ,

th e world o f phy si c a l ph enom en a in it se lf r e pr e sent s th e s ection ,

a s it w e r e of a no th e r w o rld exi s ting righ t h ere a n d th e e v ent s o f

, , ,

whic h a re pro cee ding righ t h ere b u t invi sibly f or u s Th er e is , .

no thin g m o r e mir a cu l ou s nor su p e rna tu r a l th a n lif e C onsid er .

th e s tr ee t of a gr ea t c ity in all its d et a il s ,An enorm ou s di v e rs ity .

of f ac t s will r es u lt B u t h ow m u c h is hi dd en u n d e rnea th th e se
.

f ac ts of th a t which it is i m p os s ibl e to s ee a t a ll " Wh a t d esir es ,

p a ssi ons thou ghts gr ee d cov e tou sness ; h o w m u c h of su fl ermg

, , ,

b oth p etty a nd gr eat ; h ow m u ch of d eceit fal s ity ; h ow m u ch of

—
,

lying ; h o w m a ny invi sibl e thr ea d s s ym p a thi es a ntip a thi es , ,

—
inte rests bin d this str eet with th e entir e wo rld " I f w e r ea liz e
this i m a gina tiv ely th en it wi ll b ecom e c l ea r th a t it is i m p ossibl e
,

t o s t u dy th e s tr ee t by th a t which is vis ible a l on e I t is nec ess a ry .

to pl unge in t o th e d epth s Th e c om pl ex a nd enorm ou s ph e

.

n omena o f th e s tr ee t will n o t r e v e a l its infi ni t e n ou m enon whic h is ,

b ou nd u p b oth with et ernity a nd with ti m e with th e p a st a nd ,

with th e fu tur e a nd with th e entir e world

, .

T h er efore w e h a v e a f u ll rig h t to r e ga rd th e vi sibl e ph enom ena l

world a s a s ec ti on of som e oth er i nfi ni tely m or e c om pl ex wo rld ,

m a nif est ing it s e lf a t a giv en m o m ent in th e firs t o n e .

An d t his w o rld of nou m en a is infi nit e a nd inco m pr eh e ns ibl e

f or u s j u s t a s th e thr ee dim ensi ona l w o rld in a ll its m a nifo ld ness
,
-

of f u nc ti on is i ncom pr eh ensibl e to th e t w o di m ensi o n a l b ei ng

,
-
.

“ ”
T h e n ea r e s t a pproa c h to tru th whi c h is p ossibl e f or m a n is c on
ta ine d in th e s a ying : everything h as a n infi nite va riety of mea nings ,
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 149

a nd to know th em impossi ble I n o ther w ord s

a ll is tru th a s w e
.
, ,

u nd e r s t a n d it , i e the fi nite defi nition is p o s sibl e o nly in a fi nite

. .
,

s e ri es of p h enom ena I n a n i nfi nit e seri es it will c e rta inly b ecom e

.

its o wn o pp os it e .

H ege l h a s giv en u tter a nce to thi s l a st thou ght E very id ea ,

ext e nd e d i nt o infi nity , b ec om es its o wn o pp o s it e .

I n thi s ch a nge of mea ning is cont a in e d th e c au se of th e inc om

preh ens ibility to m a n of th e no u m ena l wo rld Th e nou m enon of .

a thi ng i , e , th e thing in itself , c ont a i ns a n i nfi nit e q u a ntity of

. .
- -

m ea nin gs a nd f u nctions of som ethi ng whi c h it is i m p oss ibl e to

gr a sp with ou r m in d And in a dditi on to thi s it in volv es a c h ange
.

o f m e a n ing of on e a nd th e sa m e t h in g I n one m ea ning it repre .

s ent s a n eno rm ou s wh o l e , i nc l u di ng wit h i n it s e lf a gr e a t nu m b e r o f

things in a noth er m ea ni ng it is a n i nsignifi c a n t p a rt of a grea t wh o le .

O u r mind ca nno t bin d a ll thi s in to o ne ; th e refo r e th e nou menon of ,

a th ing r e ce d es from u s a c c o rdin g to th e m ea su r e of ou r kno wl e dge ,

”
j u st a s a sh a do w fl ees b efor e u s Light on th e Pa th s a ys.

“
You will enter th e ligh t, bu t y ou will never tou ch th e fl a me
This m eans th a t a ll know ledge is r el a tiv e We ca n n ev e r gr a sp
, .

a ll th e mea nings of a ny on e thin g , b ec a u s e in o rd e r t o gr a sp t h em

a ll it is nece s s a ry f or u s to gr a sp th e wh ole world, with a ll th e

,

v a ri ety of m ea nings cont a ined in it .

T h e princ ip a l diff erence b e tween th e ph enom ena l a nd nou m e na l

asp ects of th e world is cont a ine d in th e fa c t th a t th e firs t on e is
a lwa ys limited a lway s fi nit e; it i nc l u d es th ose pro p e rti e s o f a
,

given thing whi ch w e ca n gen era lly kn o w a s ph enomena : th e

second , or nou m ena l a s p ec t , is a lw a y s u n li m ite d , a lwa y s infi nite .

An d w e c a n ne v e r sa y wh er e th e hidd en f u nc ti ons a nd th e hidd en

m ea n ing of a giv en thing end Pro p e rly sp ea king th ey end no .
,

whe re Th ey m a y v a ry infi nitely , 1 e m a y seem v a ri ou s , e ver

. . .

ne w from som e n e w s t a ndp o int b u t th ey c a nno t u tt e rly v a ni sh ,

,

a ny m o r e th a n th e y c a n c e a s e c o m e t o a n en d , .

A ll th a t is h igh es t to whi c h w e sh a ll c om e in th e u nd er s t a n ding

of th e m e a ning th e s ignifi c a nc e , of th e s ou l o f a ny ph en om en on ,
,

wi ll a ga in h a v e a noth er m ea ning from a noth er , still h igh er st a n d ,

p oin t , in s till bro a d er gene ra liz a ti on— a nd th ere is no end to it"

I n thi s is th e m a j es ty a nd th e h orro r of i nfinity .

Le t r em emb e r th a t th e world a s w e kno w it does not

u s a sol
repr es ent a nyt h ing s ta bl e I t m u st ch a nge with th e s lightes t
.
1 50 T ERT IUM ORGANUM

ch a nge in th e fo rm s of ou r kno wl e dge Ph enom ena w h ic h a pp ea r

.

to u s a s u nr e l a t e d c a n b e s e en by som e o th e r m or e i nc l u s iv e con
sc iou s nes s a s p a rt s of a s in gl e wh o l e P h enom ena w h ic h a pp ea r
.

to u s a s si mi l a r m a y r e v ea l th em s e lv e s a s e ntir e ly diff e r e nt Ph e.

n om e n a w h i c h a pp e a r to u s a s co m pl e t e a nd i n divi s ibl e m a y b e
,

in r e a lity e x c ee di n gly c o mpl ex m a y inc l u d e wit h i n th em selv e s

,

d ifl e re nt e l em e nt s h a vi ng not h i ng in comm on An d a ll th ese

’
, .

to get h er m a y b e one wh o l e in a c a t eg ory qu it e incom pr eh ens ibl e

to u s T h e r e for e b eyo n d ou r vi e w of things a noth er vie w is
p oss i b l e —a vi e w a s it w ere from a not h e r world from over
.
,
“
, , ,
“ ”
th ere , from th e o th er s id e .

“ ”
No w o v e r t h e re do e s not m ea n so m e oth e r pl a ce b u t a ne w ,

m e t h o d of kno wl e dge a ne w consc i ou sne s s An d sh ou ld w e re ga rd

, .

ph enom ena not a s i sol a t e d b u t b ou nd togeth er with int e r c ross

, ,
-

ing c h a ins o f things a nd e v ent s w e wou ld b egin to re ga rd th em

,

not f rom over h ere b u t fro m over th ere

, .
1 52 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

It see m s t h a t in c onsid ering a giv en ph enom eno n in

to m e l
a so ,

c onn ec ti on wit h a ll th e c h a i ns o f se qu e nc e s o f w h i c h it is a link ,

w e sh a ll see th a t th e su bjective s ensa tion of th e d iff er ence b etw een

t w o phy s i c a lly s i m il a r o bj e ct s — whi ch w e a re a ccu st om e d to thi nk
of o nl y a s p o e ti c expr e ss i on m eta ph or a nd th e r ea lity of whi c h
, ,

we e d n y — is entirely rea l; w e s h a ll see t h a t th es e o bj ec t s a re rea lly

difierent j u st a s diff er en t a s th e c andl e a nd th e coin whic h a pp ea r
'

a s s i m il a r c ir c l es (m o vin g line s ) in th e t w o dim ens i on a l w orld of -

th e pl a n e m a n -
We s h a ll see th a t things of th e sa m e m a te ri a l
.

c o ns tit u ti on b u t diff e r e nt in t h e ir f un c ti ons a re rea lly dilf erent ,

a nd th a t t his dif f e r e nc e goes so d ee p a s to ma ke difierent th e v e ry

’

m a t eri a l whi c h I S phy si ca lly th e s a m e Th er e a re diff e r enc e s in .

s t on e in w oo d in i ron in p a p e r
, , whic h no ch emis try will e ver
, ,

d et ec t : b u t th ese difl erences exi s t a nd th er e a re m en w h o f eel a nd

’
,

u nd e r s t a n d th em .

T h e m a s t o f a s h ip a ga ll o w s a c r u c ifix a t a c ross r oa d s on th e
,
-

s t epp es —th e se m a y b e m a d e of th e sa m e kin d of woo d b u t in

,

, ,

r ea lity th ey a re dilf erent obj ect s m a d e of difierent ma teria l Th a t .

“
whic h w e s ee tou c h inv estiga t e is not h in g m or e th a n th e c ir cl es
, ,
”
on th e plane m a d e by th e co in a nd th e c a ndl e Th e y a re o nly .

th e sh a dows o f r ea l things the su bsta nce of which is conta ined in ,

th eir f u nction Th e sh a d o w o f a sa il o r of a h a ngm a n a nd of a n

—it is im p ossibl e to di stingu ish th em
.
, ,

a s c e ti c m a y b e qu it e s i m il a r

by th e ir sh a do ws j u st a s it is i m p ossibl e to find any diff er ence b e

,

tw een th e woo d oi a m a st of a ga llo ws a nd of a c ross by c h emic a l

,

a na l y s i s .
—
B u t th e y a re diff er ent m en a nd dif f er ent o bj ec t s th e ir
sh ad ows only a re e qu a l a nd s i m il a r .

—
And if w e t a k e m en a s w e kno w t h em th e s a il o r th e h a ng ,

m a n th e a sce ti c : m en w h o se em to u s s i mil a r a d equ a l a nd

, n —
c ons id e r th em fr om th e s t a n dp o in t of th e ir diff e r enc es in f u nc ti on ,

w e s h a ll s e e th a t in r ea lity t h ey a re entir e ly diff er ent a n d t h a t

t h er e is nothin g in comm on b etween th em Th ey a re qu ite .

’
differ ent b eings b elongin g to difl erent c a tegori es to diff erent
, ,

pl a nes of th e world b e tw een whic h th ere a re no bridges no ,

a v enu es a t a ll Th ese m en seem to u s e qu al a nd s im il a r b eca u se

.

”
in m o s t c as es w e see o nly th e sh a do ws o f r ea l f a c t s Th e so u l s .

of t h es e m en a re a c t u a lly q u it e diff e r ent diff e r en t no t o nly in th e ir ,

“ ”
qu a lity th eir m a gnitu d e th eir a g e a s s ome p e opl e lik e no w to pu t
, , ,

it b u t a s different in th e very na tu re origin a nd p u rpose of their exis

, ,

tence a s th ings b e l ong in g to entir e ly diff e r e nt c a t egori e s c a n b e .

 T ERT IUM ORGANUM 1 53

W h en w e sh a ll b e gin to und erstand this th e g ener a l conc ept ,

ma n will tak e o n a differ en t m ea ning .

And th i s r el a ti on h o ld s in th e ob serv a ti on of a ll ph enom e na .

, ,
—
Th e m a s t th e g a ll o ws th e c r o ss th ese a re thing s b e l onging to
su c h d ifl ere nt c a t e g ori es th e a t om s of su c h diff er e nt o bj ec t s
,

( k n o w n o n ly by th e ir f u n c ti o n s ) th a t th e r e c a nn
, o t b e a q u e s ti o n

of a ny s i mil a rity a t a ll O u r misfo rt u ne c o nsi st s in th e f a c t t h a t

.

w e r ega rd th e c h e mi c a l c ons tit u ti on of a t h in g a s its mos t rea l

a ttrib u t e, whil e a s a m a tt e r of fa c t its tru e a ttrib u t es m u st b e
sou ght f o r in its fu nc ti on s C ou ld w e broa d en a nd d eep en ou r
.

vi sion of th e c h a in s of c au sa tion th e link s of whic h a re forge d by

ou r a c ti on a nd ou r c o n d u c t ; cou ld w e l e a rn t o se e t h em n ot on ly

in th eir na rr o w r el a ti on to th e lif e of m a n — to ou r persona l lif e

bu t in th eir br oa d c osmic a l m ea nin g ; sho u ld w e su c c ee d in fi ndin g
a nd e s tabli shi ng a connec ti on b e tw een th e s i m pl e ph eno m ena of

ou r lif e a nd th e lif e of th e cosm os ; th en with ou t d ou bt in th ese

“ ”
s i mpl es t ph enom ena wou ld b e u nv eil e d for u s a n infi nity of th e
ne w a nd th e u nexp ec te d .

For e x a m pl e in thi s w a y w e m a y com e to kno w som ething

,

entir e ly n e w a b ou t th o s e s i m pl e phy s i ca l ph enom ena whi c h w e a re

ac cu stom e d to r ega rd a s na tu ra l a nd obviou s a nd a b ou t whi c h w e

think w e kno w som ething Th en u nexp ec te dly w e m a y fin d
.
, ,

th a t w e know noth ing th a t ev e rything h er etofore kno wn a b ou t

,

th em is only a n inc orr ec t d e du c tion from in corr ec t pr emises .

Th e r e m a y b e r e vea l e d to u s som ething infi nit ely grea t a nd im

m ea su ra bly im p ort a nt in su c h ph enom ena a s th e exp a nsi on a nd
contr a c ti on of so lid s e l ec tri ca l ph enom e na
, h ea t light sou nd , , , ,

th e m o v em ent s of th e pl a net s th e c om ing of da y a nd o f night th e

, ,

c hange of s ea sons a th u nd ers torm h e a t lightn ing etc etc

, ,
-

, .
, .

G ener a lly sp e aking w e m ay find expl a ine d in th e m ost u nexp ect e d

,

m a nner th e prop erti es of ph enom ena whi c h w e u s e d to a c c ept a s

giv en t h ings a s not conta in ing a nything within th em s elv es th a t
,

w e cou ld not se e a nd u nd er st a nd .

Th e const a nc y th e ti m e th e p eri o di c ity or u np erio dicity of

, ,

ph enom e na m a y t a k e on qu it e a ne w m ea ning a nd signifi ca nce

f or u s . Th e new a nd th e u nexp ec t e d m a y r e v e a l it s elf in th e
tra nsition of som e ph eno m ena into o th er s Birth d ea th th e lif e .
, ,

of a m a n h is r e l a ti o ns with o th er m en ; l ov e enmity s y m p a thi es

,

—
, , ,

a h
a tip t i es d esir es p a ssions th ese m a y u nexp ec te dly r eceiv e
n , ,

ill u m ina tion by a n entir ely new light I t is i m p ossibl e no w to .

1 54 T ERT IUM ORGAN UM

im a gine th e na tu r e o f thi s newness whi c h w e s h a ll sense in fa m ili a r

things a nd on c e fe lt it will b e difficu lt to u nd e rs t a nd
, .

B u t it is r ea lly on l y ou r ina ptitu d e to f e el a nd u n d e rs t a n d thi s

”
n e wn e s s w h i c h divid es u s fro m it b ec au se w e a re living in it
,

a nd a m id s t it . O u r s e nses h o we v e r a re too pri m itiv e ou r c o n

, , ,

cep ts a re too c r u d e , f or t h a t fine diff er enti a ti on of p h enom en a

whic h m u st u nf old it se lf to u s in high e r s p a c e O u r min d s o u r .
,

p o w e rs of c orr e l a ti on a nd a ssoc i a tion a re in su ffic i ently e l a sti c f or

th e gr a spi ng of n e w r e l a ti on s Th e r e fo r e th e fir st em otion a t th e
.
,
“ ”—
ri s ing of th e c u rt a i n on th a t world i e thi s ou r world b u t
. .
, ,

fr e e of tho se li mit a tio s u nd er whi c h w e u su a lly r ega rd it m u s t

n —
b e o f w onderment a nd thi s w o n d e rm ent m u s t gro w gr ea t e r a nd
,

gre a t er a ccordin g to ou r b ett er a c qu a int a nc e with it And th e .

b ett er w e kn o w a c e rt a in thing or a c ert a in r el a ti on of t h ings th e —

n e a r e r th e m o r e f a m ili a r th e y a re to u s— th e gr ea t er will b e ou r
,

won d er a t th e n ew a nd th e u nexp ec t e d t h er ei n r e v e a l e d .

D esir ing to u nd erst a n d th e nou mena l world w e m u st s ea r c h f o r

th e hidden mea ning in e v e rythin g At pres ent w e a re too h e a vily
.

ench a in e d by th e h a bit of t h e p o s itivi sti c m et h o d of sea r c hi ng

a lw a y s f or th e visible c a u se a n d th e visible eff ec t Un d er thi s w e ig h t

.

of p os itivi s ti c h a bit it is e xtr em e l y difficu lt f or u s to com pr eh e n d

c e rt a in id e a s
. Am ong o th er things w e h a v e difficu lty in u nd e r
s t a n ding th e rea lity of th e dif erence in th e nou m ena l w o rld b e tw ee n

o bj e c t s of ou r w o rld whi c h a re s imilar b u t diff e r e nt in f u nc ti on

, .

B u t if w e d e s ir e t o a pproac h to a n u nd e rs t a n d ing o f th e nou

m ena l w orld w e m u s t try with a ll ou r m ight t o notice a ll th os e
,
“ ”
s e e min g su bj ec tiv e d ifl erenc es b e tw e e n o bj e ct s whi c h a stoni s h
’
,

u s s om e ti m es , o f whi c h w e a r e o ft e n p a inf u lly a wa re

— thos e
diffe renc es whi c h a re e xpr ess e d in a rti s ti c m et a p h o r s whi c h a re
o ft e n r e v el a ti on s of th e w o rl d o f r ea lity S u c h d ifl e renc es a re th e
.

r e a liti es of th e nou m en a l wo rld f a r m or e r e a l t h a n a ll m a y a

,

(ill u si on) of ou r ph enom ena .

We sh ou ld en d ea vo r to noti c e th ese r e a liti es a nd to d e v el op

within ou r se lve s th e a bility to f eel th e m b ecau s e ex a c tly in thi s
,

m a nne r a nd o nl y by s u c h a m e th o d d o w e p u t ou rse lv e s in cont a c t

with th e n ou m ena l wo rld or th e world of ca u s es .

I find a n i nt er esting e x a m pl e of th e u n d ers t a n di ng of th e hidden

“ ”
m ea ning o f p h eno m e n a cont a in e d in T h e O cc u lt Wo rld in th e
156 T ERT IUM ORGANUM

t
s an d n ou m ena so difl erent t h a t only by ou r blin dness is it p oss ibl e
t o a cc ou n t f or ou r id e a of th e s i mi l a rity o f th ose ph em o m ena .

Thr ou g h su c h a f a l s e id e a th e c u rr ent b elie f in th e s im il a rit y

a nd e qu a lity of m e n m u s t h a v e a ri s e n I n r ea lity th e diff e r enc e .

” “ ” “ ”
b etw een a h a ngm a n a s a il or , a nd a n a s c eti c , is not a n
a cc id e n t a l diff e r e n ce of p o s iti on s t a t e a nd h e r e dity a s m a t e ri a l
, ,

ism tri es to a ssu re u s ; nor is it a diff e r ence b e tw e en th e s t a g e s of

one a n d th e sa m e e v o l u ti on a s th eoso p h y a ffir m s ; b u t it is a d ee p
,

a n d IM PA SS A B LE diff e renc C s u c h a s e xi s t s b e tw ee n m u rd e r w o rk
h
,

a n d pr a y e r
— inv o lvin g entir e ly difl erent world s
'

Th e r e pr e s ent .

a tiv es of th e s e wo rld s m a y s e e m t o u s t o b e s i m il a r M E N o nly ,

b ec a u s e w e s ee not t h em b u t t h e ir s h a d o ws only
, .

I t is n ec ess a ry to a c c u stom oneself to th e thou g ht th a t thi s

d iff er enc e is no t m et a p h y s i c a l b u t en tir ely r ea l m or e rea l th a n ,

m a ny visible diffe r enc es b etw e en t h ing s a nd b etw e e n ph eno m e na .

All a rt in ess enc e cons i st s of th e u nd e r st a n ding a nd r epre

, ,

sc u t a ti o n of th ese e l u s iv e difl er e nc es
’
Th e ph enom ena l w orld is .

m e re ly a m ea n s f or th e a rti s t— j u s t a s c o l ors a re f or th e p a int e r ,

a n d sou n d s f o r th e m u s i c i a n
— a m e a n s f o r th e u n d e r s t a n din g

of th e no u m e na l w o rld a n d f or t h e e xpr e ss i on of th a t u n d e r s t a n d

in g At th e pr e s en t s t a g e of o u r d e v e l o p m e nt w e p o s s ess no t h ing
.

s o p o w erfu l a s a n ins tr u m ent of kno wl e dg e of th e w o rld o f c a u ses

, ,

a s a rt . Th e m y s t e ry of lif e dw e ll s in th e f a c t th a t the nou menon ,

i e th e hidd en m ea nin g a nd th e hidd en f u nc tion of a thin g is re

. .
, ,

fl ec te d in its ph enomenon A p h eno m enon is m er e ly th e r efl ec ti o n

.

o f a n ou m enon in o u r sph e r e T H E P H E NOM E NO N I S T H E IMA G E

.

O F T H E N OUM E NO N I t is p ossible to kno w th e nou m enon by th e

.

ph enom enon B u t in thi s fi e ld th e ch em i ca l r ea gent s a nd sp ec tro

.

s c o p es c a n a c c c o m plish n o t h ing O nly t h a t fin e a pp a ra tu s whi c h

.

i s c a ll e d th e s ou l of a n a rtis t c a n u n d e rs t a n d a nd f e e l th e r e fl e c ti on

o f th e n ou m e non in th e ph eno m enon I n a rt it is n ece ssa r y to .

s t u d y occ
‘ ‘
u lti s m — th e hidd en s id e o f lif e
’
T h e a rti s t m u s t b e a .

c l a ir v o y a nt ; h e m u s t s ee t h a t whi c h o th e rs do no t s e e : h e m u s t b e

a m a gi c i a n m u s t p oss e s s th e p o w e r t o m a k e o th e r s s ee th a t w h i c h
,

th ey do not th em s e lv es s e e b u t whi c h h e d o es se e , .

Ar t s ees m or e a nd f a rt h e r t h a n w e d o As w a s s a id b efore w e .

u s u a lly s ee n ot h in g w e m e r e ly f eel ou r w a y ; th e r ef o r e w e do n ot
,

n o ti ce t h os e dif f er en c es b e tw e e n t h in gs whi c h c a nn o t b e e xp r esse d

in t e r m s o f c h em i s try o r phy s i c s B u t a rt is th e beginning of vision ;
.

it sees v a stly m or e th a n th e m os t p erfec t a pp a r a t u s c a n di sc o v e r ;

 T ERT IUM ORGANUM 157

a nd it s enses th e infi nite invi sibl e fa c ets of th a t c ry s t a l , one f ace t

of whic h w e c a ll m a n .

The tru th is th at thi s ea rth is th e sc ene of a d ra m a of whic h w e only

p erceive sc a ttere d p ortions a nd in whic h th e greate r nu mb er of th e ,

a c to rs a re i nvi si b l e to u s .

Th u s s a y s th e t h eosop h i ca l writer Ma b el C ollin s th e a u th or of , ,

” “ ”
Light on th e P a th in a littl e b oo k I ll u sion s And thi s is v ery
, , .

tr u e ; w e see onl y a littl e .

B u t a rt s ees f a rt h e r t h a n m e r e ly h u m a n s ight a nd t h e r ef or e ,

c onc e rnin g c e rt a in s id es o f l if e a rt a l o n e c a n s p ea k a n d h a s th e ,

right to sp ea k .

r em a rka bl e a tt e m pt to p ortra y ou r r e l a tion to th e

A n o u m en a l
”— “ ”— ’
world to th a t gr ea t lif e is fou n d in B ook VI I o f Plato s

Re pu bli c *
.

B ehol d "h u m a n b eings living in a sort of u nde rgroun d den ; th ey h ave

b een the re from th eir c h il dh ood a nd h a ve their legs a nd nec ks c h aine d ,

th e c h a i ns a re a rra nge d in su c h a m a nn e r a s to p re vent th e m fro m .

tu rning roun d th eir h e a ds At a di sta nc e a b ove a nd b ehind th em .

th e lig ht of a fire is b l a zin g a nd b e twee n th e fire a nd th e p ris one rs there

,

is a ra i se d w a y ; a nd y ou will see if y ou l oo k a low wa ll b uilt a long th e , ,

w a y li ke th e sc re en whi c h m a rione tte p la y e rs h a ve b efore th em ove r

, ,

whic h they sh ow th e p u pp ets I m a gine m en p a ssing a long th e wa ll .

c a rryi ng ve s sel s whi c h a pp e a r o ve r th e wa ll ; a lso fi gu res of m en a n d

,

ani m a l s m a d e of woo d a n d s tone a nd va riou s m a te ri a l s ; a nd so m e of th e

,

p sse ngers a s y ou wou l d exp e ct a re ta l king a nd som e of th e m a re

e
, , ,
'

sl e nt "

Tha t is a stra nge im a ge h e sa i d a nd th ey a re stra nge p ri soners

, , .

Li ke ou rs elves I rep lie d ; a nd th e y see only th eir own sh a dows o r

, ,

th e s h a dows of one a noth e r whi c h th e fire throws on th e o pp o site wa ll

,

of th e ca ve ?

Tru e h e sa i d ; h ow coul d they s ee a nything b u t th e sh a d ows if th ey

,

we re never a llowe d to m ove their h ea d s ?

An d of th e obj e ct s wh ic h a re b eing c a rri e d in li ke m a nner th ey would
o n ly se e th e s h a d ows ?

Y e s h e s a id
, .

And if th ey we re a b le to ta lk with one a noth er wou ld th ey no t su p ,

p ose th a t th ey were na ming wha t w a s a c tu a lly b efore the m ?

Very tru e .

And su pp ose fu rth e r th a t th e p ri son h a d a n e c h o whic h c a m e from

th e oth er sid e woul d th e y no t b e su re to fa n c y th a t th e voi ce whic h th e y
,

he a rd w a s th a t of a p a ssing sh a dow ?
N0 qu e stion h e replied , .

o f Pla to T a l b y B Jo w tt Vo l I I pp 34 1 34 5 Ch a S ib S o
1P
*“T1 i l g " ’
ns
5
1 1 a o ue s , r . . e -
s. cr ne r s ns ,
, .
, .
,

N Y 1
158 T ER T IUM ORGANUM
Th ere c an b e no q u estion I sa i d th a t th e tru th woul d b e to the m j u st
,

nothing b u t th e s h a d ows of th e i m a ge s .

Th a t is c erta in .

And now loo k a g a i n a nd see h ow th ey a re rel e a se d a n d cu re d of th eir

folly At first wh en a ny one of th e m is lib era te d a nd c omp elle d s u d
.
,

d e nly to go u p a nd tu rn his n ec k rou n d a nd wa lk a nd l ook a t th e li gh t ,

h e w ill s u ff er sh a rp p a in s ; th e gl a re wi ll distress h im a nd h e will b e u h

a b l e to se e th e rea liti e s of wh ic h in his form e r sta te h e h a d se en th e sh a d ows ;

a n d th e n i m a gine so m eone sa yi ng to him th a t wh a t h e s a w b ef ore w a s ,

a n i llu si on b u t th a t no w h e is a pp roac hi ng re a l b eing an d h a s a tru e r

s igh t a n d vi si on of m o re re a l thin g s — wh a t w ill b e his rep ly ?

,

, And
y ou m ay fu rth e r i m a gi ne th a t h is instru c tor is p ointing to th e obj ec t s a s
th y p a s a d req u iri g
e s n n him to a e th e
n m m —w i ll h e not b e in a dith ,

c u lty ? Will h e not fa ncy th a t th e sh a dows whic h h e form erly sa w a re

tru er th a n th e obj e cts which a re now show n to him ?
Fa r tru er .

An d if h e i s c om p elle d to l ook a t t h e li gh t will h e not h a ve a p ai n in ,

h is e y es whic h will m a k e h im tu rn a wa y to ta k e refu ge m th e obj ec t of

vi sion whic h h e ca n see a nd whi c h h e will conc eive to be c le arer th a n th e
,

things whic h a re now b eing shown to him ?

Tru e h e sai d
, .

An d su pp ose once m ore th a t h e is rel u cta ntly d ra gge d u p a stee p a nd

,

ru gge d a scent a nd h el d fa st a nd forc e d into th e p resenc e of th e sun h im

,

s elf d o y ou n o t think th a t h e wi ll b e p a ine d a nd i rrita te d a nd wh en h e

, ,

a pp roa c h es th e ligh t h e will h a ve his e y e s d a zzle d a n d will no t b e a b l e to ,

s ee a ny of th e re a liti e s whi c h a re now a ffirm e d to b e th e tru th ?

No t a ll in a m om ent h e sai d , .

He wi ll re quire to ge t a c cu sto m e d to th e si gh t of th e u pp er worl d .

And first h e will see th e sh a dows b e st n ext th e re fl ec ti ons of m en a n d ,

oth er obj ec t s in th e wa te r a n d th en th e obj ec t s th e m se lve s ; next h e wil l

g a ze u p on th e lig h t of th e m oon a nd th e sta rs ; a nd h e W ill see th e s ky

,

a nd th e st ars by ni gh t b e tte r th a n th e s un or th e lig h t of th e su n by

, , ,

d ay ?
C erta inly .

And a t l a st h e will b e a b l e to se e th e s una nd no t m ere re flections of hi m ,

in th e wa ter b u t h e wi ll see hi m a s h e i s in hi s o wn p rop e r p l a c e a nd no t

, ,

in a noth er a nd h e will c onte m pl a te his n atu re

,
.

C ertainly .

And af ter this h e will rea son th a t th e sun is h e w h o give s th e sea sons
a nd th e y e a rs a nd i s th e g u a rd ia n of a ll th a t I S i n th e visi b l e worl d a nd
, ,

in a ce rtain w ay th e c a u s e of a ll thing s whic h h e a n d hi s fell ows h a ve b een

a c c u sto m e d to b e h ol d ?

C lea rly h e sa id h e woul d c om e to th e oth er first a nd to this a fte r

, ,

wa rd s .

An d wh en h e re me mb e re d his old h a b ita ti on a nd th e wi s d om of th e ,

d e n a n d h is fellow p ri sone rs do y ou not su pp o se th a t h e would fe li c ita te

-

hi m self on th e c h a ng e a nd pity th e m ? ,

C erta in ly h e wou ld , .
 CHAPTER XV
O lti m nd lov Lov nd d a th O d iff nt la tion t o th
ccu s a e . e a e . ur ere re s e

p o b l m of d a th nd t o th Ip) o bl m of lov
r e s Weh a t la kin ga e r e s e . is c

in nd ta nd ing of lov ? Lov

o ur u ers n v y day nd m ly e e as a e er -
a ere

p y h ologi al ph nom non T h p o ibility of a p i it al nd

s c c e e . e ss s r u u er
tanding f lov T h
s ativ fo of lov T h n ga tion of lov
o e. e c re e rc e e. e e e .

Ma t iali m nd a ti i m T h fl ight f om lov Lov nd my

er s a sce c s . e r e. e a s

ti i m T h e wo ndro in lov P of L t l w ky L T l t y
“ ”
c s . us e. r . u os a s . eo o s o ,

Ni tz h nd Edwa d C a p nt on lov
e sc e a T h O a n of S x r r e er e.
“
e ce e .
”

HERE is not a s ingl e sid e of lif e whi ch is not c a p a bl e

o f r e v ea li ng t o u s a n i nfi nity of th e n e w a n d th e u nex

p e c t e d if w e a ppr oa c h it with
, th e kn owled ge th a t it is

not e x h au st e d by its vi s ibility th a t b e y o n d this vi s i

”—
,
“
b ility th er e is a wh o l e i nvi s ibl e wo rld a w o rld of to

u s n e w a n d i ncom pr eh ens ibl e fo r ce s a nd r e l a ti on s Th e know ledge .

of th e e xi s t e nc e o f this i nvi s ibl e w o rld : thi s is th e fir s t key t o it .

“ ”
A w e a lth of n ewness u nf o ld s t o u s in th e m os t m y s t eri ou s
s id es o f ou r e xi s t e nce in th o s e s id es thr o u gh whic h w e com e int o
,

i —
direc t c ont a c t with etern ty in l o v e a n d in d e a th I n H in d u .

m yt h ol ogy l o v e a nd d ea th a re th e tw o f a c es of one deity S iva .

,

g o d o f th e c r ea tiv e for ce of na t u r e w h o is wo rshipp e d in h is sy m b o l ,

of th e ling a m is a t th e sa m e ti m e th e g o d of vi o l en t d ea th of
, ,

m u rd e r a nd d estru c ti on His wif e is P a rva ti go dd e ss of b ea u ty

—
.
, ,

l ov e a nd h a ppi ness a nd sh e is al so Ka li or Du rga go dd e ss of evil

, ,

o f m i sfo rt u ne of s i c kness a n d of d ea th
, To geth er S iva a nd K a li .

a re th e go d s of wi s d o m th e g o d s o f th e kno wl e dg e of g oo d a n d ,

e vil .

”*
I n th e b egi nnin g of hi s b oo k Th e Dra m a of L o v e a n d D ea th ,

E dwa rd C a rp enter v e ry w e ll de fi ne s ou r r e l a ti on to th ese d eeply

incom preh ensibl e a nd e nigm a ti ca l s id e s of exi st enc e
Lo ve a nd Dea th move
throu gh this worl d of ou sr li ke things a pa rt
u nde rru n ni n g it tru l y a nd e ve rywh ere p rese nt , , y e t see m ing to be l ong
to som e othe r m o de of exi stenc e .

*Mit h ll K nn l y 1 9 1 2 N w Y o k
c e e er d L o do
, , e r an n n.

1 61
1 62 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

And fu rth er
Th ese fi gures Love a nd D eath m ove throu gh th e worl d like c losest
, ,

friend s indee d never f a r sep a ra te a n d together domina ting it in a kin d

, ,

o f tri u m ph a nt s u p e ri ority ; a nd y e t li ke b itte rest e ne mie s d o gging e a c h ,

o th e r s foot step s un d oin g e a c h o th e r s work fighting f or th e b odie s

’ ’
, ,

a n d so ul s of m a n kin d .

I n t h e s e f ew word s is sh o wn th e c ont ent s of th e enigm a whi c h

c onf r o nt s u s , enco m p a ss e s u s c r e a t e s a n d a nn ihil a t e s u s
, But .

m a n s r el a ti on to th e tw o a sp e c t s of thi s e ni gm a is no t id e nti ca l
’
.

S tr a ng e a s it m a y s e e m th e f ace of dea th h a s e v er b een m or e a t

,

tr a c tiv e to t h e m y s ti ca l im a gin a tion of m en th a n the f ac e of love .

Th er e h a v e a lwa y s b een m any a tt em pt s to u n d er sta nd a nd d efine

th e hi dd en m ea ning of d e a th ; a ll r eligi ons a ll r eligi ou s d oc trin es ,

b egin wit h giving to m a n thi s or th a t id e a a b ou t d ea th I t is .

im p oss ibl e to c onstru c t a ny sy st e m of world cont em pl a ti on with -

o u t som e d efi niti on of d e a th , a n d th e r e a re nu m e r ou s sy s t e m s

su c h a s c ont em p o r a ry s piriti sm whic h c o ns i s t al m o s t entir e ly of

“ ”
vi e w s u p on d ea th of d oc trin es a b ou t d ea th a nd p ost m o rtem
,
-

(I n one of hi s a rtic l es V V Rosanoff o b s erv es th a t

*
e xi s t enc e .
, . .

a ll religions c ons i s t in s u b s t a nc e of t e a c hing s a b ou t d ea th ) .

B u t th e probl em of l ov e in th e c ont em p ora ry w a y of l ooking a t

,

th e world is r eg a rd e d a s som e thin g giv en , a s som ething a lr ea d y

,

u nders tood a nd known Differ ent sys t em s c ontrib u t e littl e th a t is

.

en light ening to a n un d e r s t a n ding o f l o v e S o a lth ou gh in r e a lity .

l ov e is f or u s th e sa m e enigm a a s is d ea th , y et f or som e stra nge

r ea son w e t h ink a b ou t it l es s We s eem to h a v e d e v e lop e d c er
.

t a in c u t a nd dri e d st a n d a rd s in r eg a rd to a n u n d ers t a n d ing of l ov e ,

a nd m e n th ou g htl es sly a cc e pt thi s or t h a t st a n d a rd Art .

,

whi c h from its v e ry n a tu r e sh ou ld h a v e m u ch to s a y on thi s su b

j c et g iv e s a gr ea t d ea l of a tt enti on to lov e ; lov e e v er h a s b een
, ,

a nd p e rh a p s s ti ll is , th e prin c ip a l th em e of a rt B u t e v e n a rt .

c hi efly c onfi nes itself m e r e ly t o d esc ripti ons a nd to th e p sy ch olog

i c a l a n a ly s i s of l ov e , s eld om t ou c hin g th ose infinit e a n d e terna l

d ept h s whi c h l ov e c onta in s for m a n .

If , f or c onv eni ence in r ea soning , w e sh a ll a c cept th e divi s ion of

m a n a nd of th e w orld into thr ee pl a nes : m a teri a l , p syc hi c a nd
s pirit u a l , th en w e m a y sa y th a t a ll th e c u rr ent u n d e r s ta nding s of

lov e a re confi ne d to th e m a t eri a l pl a ne ; a rt d ea l s with l ov e on th e

m a t eri a l a nd p s y c hic pl a nes , while o nly a s a r a r e excepti on do
A Russi na jo urn ali t
s a nd a th o
u r. Tra ns l .
1 64 T ER T I UM ORGAN UM

i
c o ns c ou sn ess , a n e w world wou ld op en a nd to look o n lif e fro m
,

a ll ou r u su a l a n gl e s w oul d b ec o m e v e ry s tr a ng e .

For th e n t h ey w ou ld u n d ers t a n d th a t l o v e is som ething e l s e ,

a n d of q u it e a difl erent o rd e r from th e p etty ph en om en a of

e a rt h ly lif e
.

P erh a p s l ov e is a world of str a ng e spirit s w h o a t tim es t a k e u p

th e ir a b o d e in m en su bd u ing th em to th em selv es m a kin g th em
, ,

t ool s f or th e a c com pli s h m ent of th e ir insc ru t a bl e p u rp o ses Per .

h a p s it is s om e p a rti cu l a r r e gi on of th e inn er wo rld wh er ein th e

so ul s of m en som eti m e s ent e r a nd wh e r e th e y liv e a c c or d ing t o
,

th e l a w s o f th a t wo rld whil e th e ir b o di es r em a in on ea rth b oun d

, ,

by th e l a ws of ea rth P erh a p s it is a n a l c h emic a l work of so m e

.

G r ea t M a st er wh erein th e s ou l s a nd b odies of m en pl a y th e r ol e of
e l e m en t s o u t o f whi c h is com p ou n d e d a philosoph er s s tone or a n
’

elixir of lif e o r s om e m y s t e ri ou s m a gn e ti c fo rc e nece ss a ry to s om e

,

o n e f or s om e in com pr e h en s ibl e p u rp ose .

I t is diffi c u lt to un d er s t a nd a ll thi s a nd to m a ke it se em r a tion a l

, .

B u t by s eeking to u n de rs t a n d t h e se m ys t eri ou s p u rp oses a n d by

d ep a rting fr om m u n d a ne in t e rpr et a tion s m a n wit h ou t ev en b e ing
, ,

c on sc i ou s of it a t fir s t u ni t e s hi m s elf with th e h igher p u rposes a n d

,

fin d s t h a t thr ea d whi c h in th e e nd of a ll en d s will l ea d him ou t of

th e l a byri nth of ea rthly c ontr a di c ti on s .

B u t this thr e a d m u s t b e f ou n d fir s t thr ou gh th e e m oti on s by ,

dir ec t f eeling a nd only a ft e rwa rd s by r ea son An d thi s t h r ea d

, .

wil l n ev er r e v ea l it s elf to a m a n wh o d eni es l ov e a nd s co rn s it ,

b ec a u s e th e d e ni a l of th e i m p orta nce a n d d eep m ea n ing of l o v e

a lw a y s r es u lt s fr om th e m a t e ri a li sti c vi e w a n d th e m a t e ri a li s ti c
,

vi e w of l o v e c a nno t b e tr u e This Vi e w c a nn ot b e tru e b eca u se it

.

c on s id er s l o v e t oo n a rr o wly , d e du ces genera l c onc l u si on s fr om

pr emi ses of too neglig ibl e a p erc enta ge of d a t a b a s e d on fa c ts s ees ,

o nly in a pl a n e sec ti o n a p h e no m e no n o f f ou r di m e ns i o na l c h a r -

a c ter . Lo ve is exa c tly a s m a t e ri a l a ph enom enon a s is th e pic tu r e

of a p a in t e r or th e s y m p h ony o f a m u s i c i a n T o a na lyz e a nd
.

e v a l u a t e l o v e m a t e ri a li s ti ca ll y is pr ec i se ly th e sa m e thi ng a s try

ing to v a l u e a pi c tu re by its w eight a nd a s y m ph on y by th e v o l u m e

o f sou n d pr o d u c e d .

Wh a t d oes th e sp irit u a l u nd e rs t a n di ng of l o v e m ea n ?
I t m ea n s th e u nd er sta ndin g of th e f a c t th a t l ov e d o es n ot serv e
lif e b u t se rv es th e h i g h er a ppre h ensi on If h e is in right r e l a ti on
, .

to it l ov e a ttu nes m a n to th e n ote of th e

, wond rou s s trip s off ,
 T ERT IUM ORGANUM 1 65

v eil s op ens close d d oors B oth in th e p a st a nd p er h a p s in th e

, .
,

prese nt th e r e u n d ou bt e dly h a v e b een a tt em pt s a t th e u n d ers t a n d

,

ing o f l o v e divorced f rom lif e a s a c u lt a s a m a gi c a l c er e m ony

, , ,

a tt u ni n g b o dy a nd sou l to th e r ece pti on of th e w o n dr ou s .

Lo ve in r el a ti on to ou r l ife is a d eity som etim es t erribl e som e , ,

ti m e s b enevol ent b u t ne v e r su b s ervi ent to u s ne v er cons enti ng to

, ,

s e rv e ou r p u rp o s e s M en strive to su b o rdina t e l ov e to th em selv es

.
,

to wa rp it to th e u ses of th eir e v er y d a y m o d e of lif e a n d to t h e ir ,

sou l s u ses ; b u t it is i m p oss ibl e to su b o rdi n a t e l o v e to a nyt h in g a nd

’
,

it m e r c il essl y r evenge s it self u p on t h e s e littl e m ort a l s w h o wou ld

su b o rdi na t e G od t o th e m s e lv e s a n d m a k e H im s e rv e th em I t c on .

fu ses a ll t h eir c a l c u l a tions a nd forc es th em to do t h ings whic h c o n

,

fou n d th e m se lv es forc i ng t h em to serv e itself to do wh a t it wa nts

, , .

Althou gh o u r r e l a ti o n to l o v e is so na iv e th ere is no r e a son to ,

su pp os e th a t m en c a nno t t a k e t o wa rd it a n e ntir e ly diff e r en t a tti

tu d e or th a t t h ey a lwa ys h a v e b een or a lwa ys will b e com pl et ely

,

b ou n d by m a te ri a lism withou t fl a sh es of u nd ers t a n din g of th e

,

wondrou s in lo ve .

S om e wh er e in th e di st a nt s p a ces of ti m e s t a nd th e m a gnifi c e nt
, ,

tem pl e s of Lov e t h e re p a ss proc essions of pri est s a nd pri est ess es

, ,

a n d th e r e in a re p e rf o r m e d th e ritu a l s of s tr a ng e c u lt s f u ll of d e ep ,

m y sti c i sm som e ti m e s sh ot throu gh by th e fl a ming lightn ings o f

,

r ev el a tions m ost profou n d .

Al l thi s is too littl e u nd ers t o o d by u s ; w e h a v e w a nd er e d too f a r

from th e u nd ersta nding of th ese m ys te ri es w e h a v e p e rvert e d ,

th em in ou r p erc eption los t th e k ey s to th eir inner m ysti ca l sig

,

nific a n ce O nly th e re ligions of th e O ri ent h a v e preserv e d a living

.

c o nn ec ti on with th e co s mic a l u n d e rs t a ndin g o f l o v e Thi s re .

lig iou s a ttitu d e to w a rd l o v e whi c h a lone c a n r e v ea l its inner

,

cont ent m a y b e s e en in th e ph a lli c f ou n d a ti o n o f H in d u i s m in

, ,

th e d e iti es o f H i n d u m ytho l ogy in nu m e r ou s still e xi s t ing ce r e

,

m oni es a nd p a rti c u l a rly in tho se s ec r et c u lt s w h i c h s till su rviv e

,

in m a ny pl a c e s in In d i a Th i s id ea is th e princ ip a l c ont ent of th e

.

m y st eri ou s Ka ma Yoga to whi ch a re co ns e c r a t e d s e v e ra l t em pl es

-

,
“
in difl erent p a rt s of I n d i a (f or e x a m pl e th e t em pl e of R a j a fro m
’
,
” ”
Nep a l a t B erna re s) I n th e We st ern o c cu lti sm in a l c h e m y
“
.
, ,

in m a gi c is a l so s om eti m e s di sc e rnibl e a profo u n d a nd fine u n

,

d ers ta nd ing of love u nite d wit h th e se a rc h for th e w ond er ou s

, ,
.

B u t a t th e pre s ent ti m e th e r e is no thing so f u ll of confu s i on a s

ou r u n d e r st a n d ing o f l o v e We find no p a t h a m ong c o ntra dic tions
.
,
1 66 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

a nd th e l ong a ccu m ula tion of li es a nd c a l u m ni es a ga ins t lo v e

a ge -

Nor sh a ll w e un d ers t a n d it u n til w e u n d er sta n d its gr ea t nou men a l ,

tr a nsc end ent a l m ea n ing .

Th e c hi ef e rror t h a t m en m a ke a b ou t l o v e c ons i st s in th e fac t

th a t th ey b eli ev e in its rea lity a nd a scrib e lo v e to th em selv es ; or
, ,

g enera lly t o ma nkind I t seem s to th em th a t l ov e b egins in

, .

th em b e l ongs to them end s in th em

, , And e v en wh en th e y a d .

mit th a t e v erything in th e wo rld d ep end s u p on lo v e a nd m ov e s by

l ov e th e y still seek in th emselves th e sour ces of l ov e
, .

Bl ista ke n a b ou t th e origin of l ov e m en a re mi st a k e n a b ou t its ,

r esu lt Positivi sti c a nd spiriti sti c m orality e qu ally r ec ogniz e in

—
.

l ov e onl y one p ossibl e r esu lt c hil dr en th e prop a ga tion of th e ,

s p ec i es B u t thi s o bj ec tiv e r esul t which m a y or m a y n ot b e is in

.
, ,

a ny ca s e a n efl ec t of th e ou t e r obj ec tiv e s id e o f l o v e of th e m a
, ,

t eria l f a c t of i m pr egn a ti on I f it is p oss ibl e to see in l o v e nothin g

.

m or e th a n this m a te ri a l f a c t a nd th e d es ir e f or it so b e it ; b u t in ,

r ea lity lo v e c ons is ts not at all in a m a t eri a l fa c t a nd th e r esu lt s

—
,

o f it
— e x ce pt m at e ri a l o es
n m a y m a nifes t th em s elv es o n qu it e
a no th e r plane This oth er pla ne u p on which lov e a c ts a nd th e
.
, ,

ignore d hidd en r esu lts of l ove a re not diffi cu lt to u n d ers ta n d

, , ,

e v e n fr om th e stri c tly p o s itivi s ti c s c i entifi c s t a ndp o int , .

T o sc i ence whi c h s tu dies lif e fr om thi s s id e th e p u rp ose of

, ,

l o v e is th e c ontinu a tion of lif e M or e ex a c tly l ov e is a link in th e

.
,

c h a in of f a c t s su pp orting th e continu a ti on of lif e T h e fo r ce .

which a ttra c t s th e tw o s exes to one anoth er is a ctin g in th e inter

e s t s of th e continu a ti on of th e s p ec i es a n d is a cc o rdin gl y c r ea t e d ,

by th e for ms of th e continu a ti on of th e sp ec i es B u t if w e r ega rd .

l ov e in this w a y th e n it is im p ossibl e not to r ec ogniz e t h a t th er e is

,

mu ch mor e of th is f orce th a n is necessa ry H e r ein li e s th e key to th e .

co rr ec t u nd e r s t a n ding of th e tr u e na t u r e of l o v e Th er e is m or e of .

thi s fo rc e th a n is necessa ry infinite ly m or e I n r ea lity only a n

, .

infinit es im a l p a rt of l ov e s f or ce in ca rna t e in h u m a nity is u t iliz e d

’

f or th e p u rp o s e of th e c ontinu a ti on of th e sp ec i es B u t wh er e .

d oes th e m a j or p a rt of th a t forc e g o ?
We kn o w th a t nothing c a n b e l ost If energy exists th en it .
,

m u st tr a nsfor m it self int o som ething Now if a m ere ly negligibl e .

p er cent a g e of energy goes into th e c re a tion of th e fu tu r e by b e

getting t h en th e r em a in d er m u st g o into th e cr ea tion of th e fu tu r e
, .

a l so b u t in a no th e r w a y
, We h a v e in th e phys ica l world m a ny
.

c as e s in whi c h th e direct f u nc ti on is eff ec t e d by a v e ry s m a ll p e r

1 68 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

In springtim e with th e firs t a wa kenin g of lov e s emo tions th e

,
’
,

bird s b egi n to sing a nd to bu ild nes ts

, .

O f c ou rs e a p o s itivi s t wo u ld s triv e to expl a in a ll t h i s v e ry

s i m pl y : s ingi ng a c t s as a n a ttr a c ti o n b e tw e e n th e fem a l es
a n d th e m a l es a nd so f o rth
, B u t e v en a p os itivi s t will n ot b e in a
.

p o s iti o n t o d e n y t h a t th e r e is a g oo d d e a l m o r e o f thi s s i n gin g th a n

”
is ne c e s sa ry f or th e c onti nu a ti on o f th e s p e c i e s For a p os i .

“ ” “ ” ”
tivis t i n d ee d
, , s i n gi ng is m e re ly a n a cc id ent a by pro d u c t ,
-
.

B u t in r e a lity it m a y b e th a t thi s s in ging is th e princip a l f u nction

of a g iven species th e r e a liz a ti o n of its exi s t enc e th e p u rp ose p u r
, ,

s u e d by n a tu r e in c r e a tin g thi s s p ec i es ; a nd th a t thi s s ingin g is

neces sa ry no t so m u c h to a ttr a c t th e f e m a l es a s f or som e g en

, ,

e r a l h a r m ony of n a t u r e whic h w e only r a r e ly a nd i m p e rf ec tly

s e ns e .

Th u s in thi s c a se w e o b s erv e t h a t wh a t a pp ea rs to b e a c oll a t era l

fu nc tion of lo v e from th e s t a ndp oi nt of th e individ u a l m a y s e rv e
, ,

a s a princ ip a l f u n c ti on of th e s p e c i es .

Fu rth e rm or e th er e a re no fl edgling s y et : th e r e is ev en no in ti
,
“ ”
m a ti on of th em b u t h o m es a re pr ep a r e d f or t h em ne v erth e l e ss
, .

L ov e in sp ir es thi s o rgy of a c tivity a nd i nstinc t direc t s it b ec a u se

, ,

it is exp e di ent from th e s t a ndp oint of th e sp eci es At th e firs t .

a w a k e ni ng o f l o v e t hi s w o rk b e gins One a nd th e s a m e d e sir e

.

c r ea t es a n e w g ene r a ti o n a nd th o s e c o n diti o ns u n d e r whi c h thi s

n e w g ene r a ti on w ill liv e O ne a nd th e s am e d esire u rge s f o rw a rd

.

c r ea tiv e a c tivity in a ll dir ec ti on s bri ngs th e p a ir s t og e t h e r f o r t h e

,

birt h of a new gener a tion a nd m a kes th em bu ild a nd crea te f or thi s

,

sa m e f u tu r e g ene r a ti on .

We o b s erv e th e s a m e th ing in th e world of m en : t h e r e to o l ov e

is th e c re a tiv e f orc e And th e c r e a tiv e a c tivity o f l o v e d o e s no t
.

m a nif es t it s elf in o n e dir e c ti on o nly b u t in m a ny wa y s I t is i nd ee d

, .

pro b a bl e t h a t by th e s p u r of l o v e E ros h u m a nity is a rou se d to th e

, ,

f u lfill m ent of its princip a lf u nction of w h i c h w e kno w not h ing b u t

, ,

o n ly a t ti m e s by gli m p s e s h a zil y p e r ce iv e .

B u t e v e n wit h ou t r ef e r enc e t o th e p u rp os e of th e exi s t enc e of

h u m a nity with in th e li m it s of th e kno wa bl e w e m u s t r e c ogniz e
,

t h a t a ll th e c r ea tiv e a c tivity of h u m a nity r esu lt s fr om l ov e Ou r .

e ntire w o rld r e v o lv e s a r ou n d l o v e a s its c ent e r C rea tion o f ev e ry .

so rt is n e c e ssa rily th e r esu lt o f se x a c tivity th e fr u it o f a c o n sc i ou s

,

o r u nco ns c i ou s u ni o n O ne s id e o f thi s f a c t w e kn o w v e ry we ll : w e
.

kno w t h a t wom a n a lone W ith ou t m a n c a nnot prod u c e c h il d ren

, ,
.
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 1 69

Th e r
c ea tiv e for c e of m a n is nec essa ry ; i m pr egna tion is nec es s a r y .

We kno w t h i s bu t w e fa il to re cogniz e th a t a ll th e c r ea tiv e a c tivit y

,

of m a n co m e s fr o m w o m a n Ju s t a s from th e o u t er phy s i ca l sid e

.
,

— —
f o r th e p u rp o s e of th e birth of c hildren m a n i m pregna t e s
wom a n c om m u ni c a t e s to h er th e b egi nnings of new lif e ; s o fr o m
,

th e in n er s piritu a l sid e w o m a n o r th e dr e a m i ng a n d r o m a nc i ng
, , ,

a b ou t w o m a n f ec u nd a t es m a n c omm u ni c a t es to h im th e b e
, ,

gi nni ngs of ne w id ea s n e w i ntu itions , .

All id ea l a ll i n t u itiv e c r ea ti on of m a n is th e r esu lt of th a t

, , ,
“ ”
ene rg y w h i c h fl o w s fr om l o v e e it h e r sec r e t or a vo w e d All
, .

c r ea tiv e a c tivity is of n ece ss ity a c o n s c i ou s o r u nc ons c i ou s i nt e r

a c ti on b etw e en th e t w o s e x e s With ou t thi s i nte rc h a nge oi e m o

.

tion no c r ea tion is p oss ibl e For a sexu a l h u m a n b eings is p ossibl e

.

”
onl y th e e d u c a ti on Of th e c hildr en of o th e r s Ch erch ez la femme" .

I t is nec e ss a ry to a pply thi s princ ipl e not a lone to th e d et ec ti on of ,

c ri m es b u t to a ll c u ltu r e c r e a t e d by m a n
— a nd theref ore by w oma n .
,

I n th e c r ea tiv e a c tivit y of e v er y e p o c h it is p os sibl e to find th e

tr a c es of th e infl u ence o f th e women of th a t p a rticu lar ep och .

Mosl e m c iviliz a ti on los t its a scend enc y b eca u s e it d eprive d its

wom en of free d om Th e hist o ry of cu ltu re thi s is th e h i s tory
.
—
of l o v e "

I t is qu it e i mm a t eri a l f or th e inspira tion of c r ea tion th a t

, ,

wom an s h ou ld know wh a t sh e giv es to m a n On th e oth er h a n d .

,

sh e m a y h a v e no s light es t c o m pr e h e n si o n o f t h o se id e a s w hi c h

s h e a rou s es f or sh e a c t s by h er m er e presenc e by h er b ea u t y
, , ,

by h er i nfi nite ill u siv e f eminity by h er expr e sse d or u nexpr esse d

, ,

d es ire A wom a n m a y e v en neith er s ee nor kno w a m a n m a y p a ss

.
,

hi m by a nd ne v e rth e l ess f ecu nd a t e h is fa nc y hi s i m a gin a ti on h is

, , ,

c r e a tiv e ene rgy .

I nfinite ly v a ri ou s a re th e m ea n s of thi s f ecu n d a ti o n o f th e

s pirit : s o m e ti m e s pl e a su r e is n e c e ss a ry a nd a ll th e b e a u ty a n d ,

f u ll ness of l ov e ; s om etim es su fferi ng p ene tra ting to th e v e r y

d epth s of th e sou l ; a nd som etim es c ri m e is necessa ry f or it so m e ,

ti m es h e ro i s m s e lf— a b n e ga ti o n s elf s a c rifi c e

, ,
-
.

Lov e u nfold s in a h u m a n b e in g tra it s of hi s whi c h h e neve r

kne w in hi m s elf I n l ov e th er e is m u c h b oth of th e S tone Ag e a nd
.

of th e Wit c h es S a bb a th By a nyth ing l ess th a n l ov e m a ny m en

’
.

c a nn o t b e ind u ce d to com m it a c ri m e to b e gu ilty o f a tr e a so n to , ,

r ea ni ma te in th em se lv es su ch fee lings a s th ey thou g ht to h a v e

ki ll e d ou t long a go I n l o ve is hidd en a n infi nity of e goi sm va n
.
,
1 70 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

ity and sel fi shn ess Lo v e is th e p otent force that t ea rs off a ll

.

m a sk s a nd m en wh o run a way fr om l ov e do so in o rd e r that th ey

,

m a y pr e s erv e th e ir m a sks .

If c r ea ti on th e birth of idea s is th e light whic h c om es fr om l ov e

, , ,

t h en this light com es from a grea tfire I n this ete rna lly b u rning .

fire in whi c h h u m ani ty a nd a ll th e w o rld a re b e ing inc es s a ntly

p u rifi ed a ll th e for ces of th e h u m a n spirit a nd of geniu s a re
,

b e ing e v olve d a n d r efine d ; a nd p erhap s in d ee d fr om this sa m e ,

fire or by its a id a new f orc e will a ri se whi c h s h a ll d eliv er fro m

th e c h a ins of m a tt e r a ll w h o fo ll o w wh er e it l ea d s .

Sp ea king n ot figu ra tiv e ly b u t lit era lly it m a y b e sa id th a t

, ,

love b e in g th e m ost p owe rf u l of a ll e m o ti ons u nv eil s in th e sou l of

, ,

m a n a ll its qu a liti e s p a t e n t a nd l a t ent ; a nd it m a y a l so u nf o ld

t h os e new p ot enc i es whi c h e v en now constitu te th e o bj ec t of
oc c u lti s m a d
n m y s ti c i s m — th e d e v e l o p m en t of p o w er s in th e
h u m a n sou l so d eeply hidd en th a t by th e m a j ority of m en th eir
v ery exi st enc e is d eni e d .

B u t th e o b s t a c l es t o su c h a n u n d ers t a nding of l o v e a re ou r
— —
m a t eri a li sm u nconsc i ou s a nd a v o w e d a nd tho s e Ch ri s ti a n
B u ddhi stic t en d enc i es whic h d u rin g th e l a p s e of a ges h a v e p o wer
fu lly a ff ec t e d ou r a ttitu d e t owa rd th e wh ol e probl em of s ex .

I fin d a v ery c h a ra c t eri sti c opin ion on this m a tter in th e b ook

”
Liberté et Volonte by Pr of Lu tosla w sky H e is e nd ea v oring to
’

. .

pr ov e th a t th e so l u ti on of th e probl em of m a n striving f or spir ,

itu a l d e v e l op m ent c onsi st s in th e d eni a l o f l o v e

, .

The se xu a l a ct re a desire th e m ost tu rb ul ent a n d th e m ost

liz es a ,

e x a lte d of a ll d e si res o f th e b o dy ; th a t d e sir e th e s a ti sfa c ti on of whic h

b ring s to a hu m an b ein g th e m ost inten se plea su re th a t h e knows .

I n orde r to stru ggl e a g a in st this d esi re a nd to a b sta in fro m thi s p l ea su re

, ,

it is n ec essa ry to h a ve a c le a r un dersta nding of th e inc om p a tib ility of

th ese sa tisfa c tions with th e m ost su blim e a spira tions of ou r b eing .

Th e fa c t is esta b li sh e d by o b serva tion th a t intensive a e sth etic or i ntel

lec tu a l a c tivity we a kens th e sexu a l instinc t a nd som etim es eli min a te s
,

it a ltogeth er while on th e oth e r h a nd s ati sfa c tion of thi s instin c t

, ,

qu enc h es a esth etic a nd intell ec tu a l insp ira tion .

Th u s c h a stity i s th e natu ra l ré gim e of lif e which I S fu ll of inspi ra tion ,

a nd m en w h o c a nn o t live with ou t th e u su a l s exu a l s a tisf a c ti o n s d e p rive

th e m selves of th e i nti m a te union with th e worl d of th e invi sib le from

wh ic h inspira tions fl ow .

Th a t c re a tive f orc e whic h m a nife sts in its m ost p erfec t form in a rt

diff erentia te s m a n f ro m a ll b eing s sta nding lower th a n h e a n d it is neces ,
1 73 T ERT IUM ORGANUM

tru c tiv e to t a k e u p a fte r Pr of Lu tosla w sky s b ook T h e Dram a

’
s , .
,
”
of Lo v e a n d D e ath by E dwa rd C arp ente r from whic h I h a v e ,

alr ea dy qu ot e d B ein g him s e lf h a lf a scetic a nd h a lf h ermit

.
,

C a rp ente r s ings of l ov e a s might a n anc i ent S ufi He t ell s tru ly .

ab ou t th ose sides of l ov e whic h Prof Lu tosla w sky r epresents .

fa l sely : a b ou t th a t regenera tion which l ov e brings a b ou t th e inf lu x ,

of energy , a b ou t inspira tion whi ch a re ins ep a r a bly link e d with

,
“ ”
l o v e ; a nd h e t ell s of th e necess ity of a n a rt of l ov e whic h sh a ll
bring a b ou t a n a ttitu d e tow a rd l ov e infi nitely r em ov e d from
th e r ec tilinea r a nd pri m itiv e vi e w s of Lu tosla w sky .

O f cou r se if o ne w e r e to a gr ee with Pr of Lu tosla w sky th a t s enil

, .

ity a nd d ea th a re not proven n ec ess iti es of orga ni c lif e th en it is ,

p ossibl e to affirm a nything Pro f Lu tosla wsky t a kes th e sa m e

. .

p ositi on in r egard to thi s p a rti cu l a r m a tt er a s d o es Tol stoy ,

na m e ly that if m a nkin d d en i e d s exu a l d es ir e n a tu r e m ight find

, ,

so m e o th e r m ea ns of continu ing th e sp ec i e s on e arth F u rth er on .

h e a ffirm s th a t th e prop a ga ti on of p os t e rity c a n b e c om pl et e ly

divor c e d from p a ssi on fr om d elight ; a nd in this c a se h e c onsci ou sly
,

o r u n c onsc i ou s ly r ep ea t s th e w o rd s of th e Ju d a i c cod e of m or a lity ,

whi c h r ecogniz es a n d a d m it s th e n ee d of conju ga tion (in th e int er es t

of th e s p e c i e s ) b u t whic h pr ohibits deligh t a nd with p a rti c u l a r
, ,

s tri c t ness pr ohibit s a h u sb a n d fr om e xp eri enc ing d e light with hi s

o w n wif e . This fa na ti ci sm of u ltra m a teri a li sti c Ju d a i sm is h eld

-

u p by Lu t osla w sky a s th e v e ry c r o wn of m o r a lity .

Th a t whi c h h u m a nity r ec eives fr om l ov e a nd throu g h l o v e

see m in gly d o es not e xi s t f or Pr of Lu tosla w sky j u s t a s it c e a se d
.
,

to exi s t f or To l st oy enfeebled by a g e
, L ov e a ccord ing to Lu t os
.

“ ” “
la w sky s c o nce pti o n o f it is m e re ly conj u gati on it m e re ly u s es
’
,

u p f or c e .
”
Wh ere v e r h e d e riv e d th e id ea th a t rea liz e d l ov e
w ea kens th e c r ea tiv e intu iti on is his se cret ; bu t h e b u ild s u p on it
a nd pr o v es th e ne c es sity f or a sc e ti c i sm whi c h is r ea liz e d w e ll o r
, ,

ill in th e s emi m ona s ti ca l b u t in su b sta nc e p oliti ca l ord er of

,
-

, ,
”
E l e vs i s ; fou n d ed by h im .

G enera lly s p ea king t h e r e is n othin g m or e tw o di m ensi ona l

,
-

or m o r e c y ni c a l th a n th e so rt of m o r a liz a ti on whic h p e r c e iv es in
’
l o ve only sin a nd l u s t I n thi s c ons i st s one s ina bility to t a k e th e
.

high er vi e w p o i nt a nd to di scov er th e tru e m ea ning of it a ll

-

, .

F or e x a m pl e wh a t a d a rk lie hid e s in a ll th e m or a l di scou rs es of

,
”
T h e Kr eu tz e r S on a t a a nd Af t erwa rd AH thi s d esc ripti on
.

o f l o v e in a na t o m i c a l a n d p h y s i o l o gi c a l t e r m s is th e s a m e s o rt o f
 T ERT IUM ORGANUM 73

f a l se r epr e s ent a tio n a s wou ld b e a d esc ription of m u si c by a dea f

ma n I f a d ea f m a n s h ou ld d e s c rib e a pi a no a nd sh o u ld s a y th a t
.

it is a bl a c k b ox o n t h r ee f ee t op en on o ne s id e a nd th a t p eopl e
, ,

knoc k a t it with th eir fi ngers t h i s wou ld b e qu it e a n ex a c t d e

,

sc ripti on B u t a ft er a ll it will not expl a i n why s om e w e ep a nd

.

o th e r s l a u gh
’

In th e firs t e dition of this b o ok , in th ose s ketc h e s whic h took th e p la ce

of th e p re sent c h a p te r, a m ong oth er thin gs I m a d e th e a tte m p t to c l a ssif y
“ ”
love , a nd t o differenti a te b etween l ove (indivi du a lize d fee ling) from
“ ”
sexu a l e m oti on ( no t in divi d u a liz e d a n d un d is c ri mina ting in its l ong

ing f or th e sa ti sfa cti on of th e p u rely phy sic a l d esire) B u t it see m s to

.

m e now th at this divi si on , li ke a ll si mil a r d ivi sions, is un sa ti sfa ctory .

Th e difier ence is not in f a c ts but in men

'

There a re m en w h o a re c yni c a l vul ga r a nd two dimension”a l in e very

,
-

“ ” “ “
thing the y do a n d feel , wh eth er it b e l ove , dissolu teness or a sceti
”
c is m . Love in su ch men is inf a llib ly a cco m p a nie d by j e a l ou sy ; it
degenera te s into wic ke dness a nd h a tre d , it lea d s to murder, to th e th row
ing of aci d a nd so fo rth .

Th ese m en c a nnot com p rehend a love W ith ou t j ea lou sy And jea lou sy .

is th e s la y er of th e s ens e of the wondrous in love B u t th ere a re oth er m en

.

in wh om even th e gene ra l a nd not th e individ u a lize d sex a ttra cti on will

,

b e fin e , fu ll of th ou gh t , a nd of b righ t sp a rk s of c os mi c a l fe eling .

On e a rth th e re a re livin g tw o entire ly different ra ces of men ; and th e

difficulty of m a kin g p sychologi c a l distinctions dep end s , in grea t mea sure ,
u p on th e f a ct th a t w e e nd ea vo r to i m p o se on a ll m en c o mm on c h a ra c te r

is tic s whi ch th ey do not p osse ss .

F or a noth e r rea son it is i m p ossi b le to divide l ove into two c l a sses :

( 1 ) physic a l d esire with ou t p e rsona l a tta ch ment , a nd (2 ) phy sico
p syc hic a l love with p ersona l a ttach ment The re m u st be recognize d a lso
.

th e p ossib ility of a third typ e of rela tion , in wh ic h th e p rincip a l e le m e nt

is a conscious sea rc h f or th e wond rou s in l ove a nd th rou gh love For .

th e high e r typ e o f m en lo ve with ou t thi s se a rc h f or th e won drou s b ecome s

a l most i mp ossib le .

I h a v e d e lib e ra t ely d esigna t e d a s c ynic a l th a t m ora lism which

s e e s in l o v e m e r e l y o n e p u rp o s e — th e pr op a ga ti on o f p os t erit y
( o r
, su e e ,
—
b j c tiv l y a p h y s ic a l s a ti sfa ction) a pu rp os e w h i c h sh ou ld
b e a c h i e v ed a s q u i c kly a s p o ssibl e di s reg a rding a ll th e r est C y n
, .

ic ism m a y b e e xpr ess e d no t in di sso l u t ene s s o n l y Th er e m a y b e.

c yn i c a l m o r a li sm a nd e v en c yn i c a l a s c eti c i s m j u st a s th er e is
,

c y ni ca l di s so l u t e ne ss I t a ll d ep end s u p on ou r p oi nt of vi e w of
.

t h in gs u p on ou r r e l a ti on to t h em Cy nicism— thi s is th e p sy
, .

c h ology o f a tw o di m ens i ona l b ei ng T h e d og ( ku nos ) is su c h a t w o

-
.

dim ens iona l b e ing T w o dim ensi ona l m or a lity will b e in e vit a bl y
.
-
1 74 T ER T I U M ORGANUM

a c yni c a l m or a lity I t will ev eryw h er e a nd in a ll things su sp e c t its

.

o wn t e n d en c i es b e ca u s e it d o e s n ot kno w th e t e n d enc i e s of o th e r s
,

a nd d oe s not u n d e r s t a n d th e m .

V V Rosa nofl h a s int er e st ing things t o s a y in th e b ook M en

’
. .

o f th e M oon lig h t I n h is o pi ni on th e id e a of s inf u ln e ss th e idea

.
,
“
of a b o mi na ti o n th e id e a of a s c eti c i s m a r os e ou t of s e xu a l
, ,
“ ”
p erv er s ion ou t of h erm a phro dism ou t of gy na ndri a a n d
, ,
”
a n dr o gy n i a . And thi s h erm a phr o di sm c a n b e e xp r ess e d no t in
a nyt h ing phy s i c a l b u t o n ly p s y c hi c ally
,
— it c a n b e o nly a h erm a
phr o dism of th e sou l .

S od om y g a ve b irth to th e i d ea th a t l ove is sin I n reality wh a t is

p sy ch ol ogi c a lly —T h e tortu res of Ta nta lu s—e very
.
,

herm a phrodism ,

thin g in hi mself a nd in a c c e s sib l e T h e next thing is th e h a tre d of t hi s

.

ina cc essib le terror b efore it m ystic a l h orror a n a b o mination from which

, , ,

it is nec essa ry to run awa y .

All thi s is int er e stin g a lt h ou gh it sou nd s som ewh a t p a r a d oxi c a l .

T o r eg a rd l ov e a s a n a b omin a ti o n u ndou bt e dly i m pli e s s om e

m ea su r e of p e rv e r s i on B u t a s ceti c i sm c a n b e f ou n d e d u p on qu ite
.

o th e r m o tiv es .T h e f a c t is th a t in th e m a j o rity of c a se s l ov e a s it ,

e xi st s in m o d e r n lif e h a s b e c om e a trifling a w a y of f ee lin gs

, of ,

sen sa ti on s . And a sc e ti ci sm m a y b e a n e sc a p e fr om a ll thi s trivi a l

ity Mor eov er m y sti c i sm d em a n d s s o litu d e
.
, I t is d iffi cu lt in .
,

th e con diti ons whic h go v e r n lif e in th e w orld to i m a g i n e su c h a ,

l ov e a s wou ld not int erfe r e with m y stic a l a spir a ti ons Te m pl es of .

l ov e a nd th e m y sti c a l c el ebr a ti on of l ov e s m y s t eri es e xi s t in ’

“ ”
r ea lity n o l onge r : t h e r e is th e e v ery d a y m a nn er of lif e a nd -

p sy c h ol o gi c a l l a byr i nth s fr om w h i c h th os e w h o ri se a littl e a b o v e

,

th e ordin a ry l ev e l c a n o n ly d e s ir e t o ru n a w a y .

F or this r e a so n c ert a in fine f orm s of a s c e ti c i sm a re d e v e l o pin g

qu it e na tu ra lly Thi s a s c eti c i sm d oes not s l a nd e r l ov e d o es no t
.
,

bl a sph em e a ga inst it d oe s not try to convinc e it self t h a t l ove is a n

,

a b omin a ti on fr o m whi c h it is nece ssa ry t o ru n a w a y I t is Pl a ton .

ism r a th er th a n a s ceti c i sm I t r e cogniz e s t h a t l ov e is th e su n b u t

.
,

o ft en d o es not s e e its w a y to liv e in th e s u n light a n d s o con sid e r s it ,

b e tt e r no t to s e e th e su n a t a ll to divin e it in th e sou l only r a th e r

, ,

th a n r ec eiv e its light t h r ou g h d a rk en e d or s m oke d gl a sse s .

I n g en e r a l h o w e v er l o v e r epr e s ent s f or m en too gr ea t a n

, ,

e nig m a ; a nd o ft e n th e d eni a l of l o v e a nd a sce ti c i sm ta k e on

s tr a n g e a nd u nn a t u r a l form s e v en With p er sons w h o a re
,
I 76 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

To f eel this infi nity it is necess a ry to u nd erst a nd th e u nr e a lity

of e v e rything m a t e ri a l a n d f a c t u a l a nd th e r e a lit y of f a nt a s y and
,

th e w o rld of th e i m a gina ti on .

Th e ma teria l w orld does not exis t .

Any m a n w h o is a bl e t o sens e a nd u n d ers t a n d thi s will s e nse

a nd u n d e r s t a n d it b es t of a ll a nd c l ea r e s t of a ll in l o v e f or th a t ,

lov e is th e m os t r ea l whi c h is th e m ost f a nt a sti c B u t it is n eces .

s a ry b oth to f ee l a n d to u n d e r s t a n d wh a t a ll thi s m ea ns .

I n l o v e th e m os t i m p ort a nt e l e m e nt is th a t which is not whi c h ,

a bsolu tely d o e s no t e xi s t fr om th e u su a l w o rldly m a t e ri a li s ti c p o i nt ,

of vi e w .

I n thi s s ensing of th a t whi c h is not, a nd in th e cont a c t

thr ou gh it with th e w orld of th e won drou s , i e tr u ly r ea l , c on . .
,

s i s t s th e princ ip a l e l em e n t of l o v e in h u m a n lif e .

I t is a w ell known p sy c h ologi ca l f a c t th a t in m o m ent s of p o w er

f ul e m oti on of gr ea t joy or gre a t su fi er g ev e rything h a pp e ni ng
, m
—
,

rou n d a b ou t a m a n s eem s to h im u nrea l a dr ea m Thi s is th e .

b eginning of th e s ou l s a wa k eni ng Wh en a m a n in a dr ea m
’
.

b egins to b e c onsc i ou s of th e fa c t th a t h e is a sl e ep a nd th a t wh a t
h e s e es is a dr ea m th en h e is w a kin g u p ; s o a l s o th e s ou l , b egi nning
,

to b e c ons c i ou s of th e f a c t th a t a ll vi s ibl e lif e is a dr e a m a p ,

pro a ch e s its a w a k en in g An d th e mor e p o w erf u l , th e bright er th e

.
,

inne r em oti ons a re , so m u c h th e m o re qu i c kly will th e m om ent of

c on s c i ou sne ss o f th e u n r ea lity o f lif e c o m e .

T h e p u rp o s e o f l ov e is th e a w a k ening of th e sou l B u t to a tt a i n .

thi s p u rp ose th e l ov e fl a m e m u s t b u rn a t th e m a xi m u m of c l e a r
-

n ess a nd in t ensity Thi s is p o ss ibl e only wh en t h e r e a re no f a l se

.

vi e ws u p on th e su bj ec t of l ov e a nd onl y f or th os e w h o a re not
,

h op e l ess ly s u nk in m a t e ri a lity .

Lo v e sorts o u t a nd s el ec t s m en .

Th e f a n is in H is h a nd, a nd H e w ill thorou ghly pu rge this fl oor , a nd

ga th er H is wh ea t into th e ga rner; bu t H e will burn u p th e ch afi with

'

u nqu ench a ble fire .

Lo v e is thi s G rea t S if te r Na tu r e h a s m a ny m et h o d s of sift

.

”
ing , a n d l o v e is on e of th e c hi e f Th os e w h o a re a bl e to f ee l th a t
.

which is not g o in one dir ec ti on a nd th o se w h o a re i n a pt w h o, ,

—
,

k w f a c ts only in a noth e r
n o I n l ov e c l e a r e r th a n a nyw h ere
.
,

e l s e a re m a n if es t th e di ff e r e nce s b etw e e n t w o f u n d a m e nt a l typ e s

,

o f m e n th e h i g h e r a nd th e l o w e r r a cc —
“ ” “ ”
, th e wh ea t a n d t a r es
h

o f h u m a n ity .
 T ER T I UM ORGANUM 1 77

Bu t th a t r el a ti on to l ov e whic h ch a ra c t eriz es th e higher rac e

a ri s es s p o nt a neou sly o nly in r a r e c a ses : it u su a lly exi s t s b u t in

p otenti a lity a nd m a y b e d e v el op e d or su ppresse d a nd r epl a ce d by

, , ,

a no th e r a n d inf e ri o r typ e . And of c ou rse th e gos p el of m en of

m a teri a li sti c vi e ws with wh a t e v e r wo rd s thi s m ateri a li sm is d is
,

gu i sed int e rferes m or e th an a n ything el se with this cu ltivation

,

o f th e high er u nd e r s t a nding o f l o v e .

Th e r ea sonings o f Lu tosla w sky a nd To l st oy sh o w h ow th e m a

teria listic u nd er s t a n di ng of l ov e m a y li m it a m a n L ov e c a nnot .

b e m ea su r e d by m a t eri a li sti c st a n d a rd s ; a nd m en f a t a lly enm es h

th em se lve s in th eir o wn i ma ginings a nd enm es h o th ers Th e
, .

qu estion of l ove is too m om entou s too c om pl ex a nd too m y s

,

tic a lly el u sive to b e consid ere d a s O N O NE pl a ne

-

, .

I t is v ery interes ting to c ons id er lo v e a nd m en s r el a tion to lo v e ’

in th e light of th a t m eth o d a nd th ose a na l ogi e s whi c h w e h a v e

a lr ea dy a ppli e d to th e c om p a r a tiv e s t u dy of diff er e n t di m en s i ons .

Aga in it is nec essa ry to i m a gi ne a w orld of pl a ne b e ings ob ,

se rvi ng ph enom ena e nt e ri ng th eir pl a ne fro m a noth er u nkno wabl e

world (su c h a s th e c h a nge of th e c olo r of lin es on th e pl a ne in ,

r ea lity d ep en ding u p on th e rot a tion throu gh th e pl a ne of a wh ee l

with m a ny color e d sp okes) T h e pl ane b e ings b elie ve th a t th e
-
.

ph enom ena a ri se withi n th e lim its of th eir pl a ne from c au ses a l so ,

b el onging to th e s a m e pl a ne a nd t h a t t h ey a re fi ni sh e d th er e
, .

Al s o all s i m il a r ph enom ena a re to th em id enti c a l su c h a s t w o

, ,

c ir c l e s whi c h in r e a lity b e l ong to t w o entir e ly dif f e r e nt o bj ec t s

, .

O n thi s f ou nd a ti on t h ey er e c t th e ir s c i ence a nd th eir m or a lity .

“ ”
Ye t if th e y w ou ld d ec id e to di sca rd t h eir tw o di m ensi ona l p sy -

ch o logy a n d try to u nd er s t a n d th e tru e su b st a nce of th es e ph e

nom e na th en with the a id a nd by m e a n s of th es e ph enom ena th ey

,

c oul d se v e r th e ir c onne c ti o n with th e ir pl a n e a ri se fly u p ab o v e

, ,

it a nd di sco v er a gr e a t u nkno wn wo rld

, .

T h e q u e s ti on o f l o v e h o l d s e x a c tly t h e s a m e pl a c e in o u r

O nly h e w h o c a n s e e c o ns id e ra bly b eyon d th e f acts di sc e rns l o v e s

’

r ea l m ea nin g ; a nd it is p ossi b l e to ill u mine th ese v ery fa c t s by th e

light of t h a t whi ch li es b eh ind t h em .

And h e w h o is a bl e to s ee b ey on d th e f a c t s b egins to di s c ern

“
m u c h of n e wn ess in love a nd throu gh love .

I s h a ll q u ot e in thi s c onn ec tio n a p o em in prose by E dwa rd

“ ”
C a rp ente r from th e b oo k To wa rd s D em ocra c y .
1 78 T ER T IUM ORGANUM
TH E O CE AN O F S EX

T o h ol d in continence th e gre a t se a th e gre a t ocea n of S ex within one , , ,

With flux a nd refl u x p ressing on th e b ou nds of th e b ody , th e b elove d

genit a ls ,
Vi b ra tin g , wa ying em otiona l to th e sta r
s -

glint of th e e yes of a ll h u man

b eings ,

R efl ecting He a ven and a ll C rea tu res ,

How wond erful "

S ca rce ly a fi gu re m a le or fem a le a pp ro a c h e s b u t a tremor tra ve l s
, , ,

a c ross it .

As wh en on th e c liff whic h b oun d s th e e d ge of a p ond som e one m ove s ,

th en in th e b owels of th e wa ter a l so th ere is a mirrore d movement ,

S o o n th e e dge of this Oc ea n .

Th e g lory of th e h u m an form e ve n fa intly ou tline d un de r th e tree s ,

o r by th e s h o re co nvul ses it with f a r re mini sc en c e s ;

,

(Yet strong a nd s olid th e se a b a nk s not lightly overp a sse d) ; -

Till m ayb e to th e tou ch to th e a pp roa ch to th e inc anta tion of th e

, ,

e y es of on e ,

I t b ursts forth uncontrolla b le , .

0 won de rfu l ocean of S ex ,

O c ea n of milli ons a nd milli ons of tiny s e e d like h u m a n forms con -

ta in e d (if th e y b e trul y conta ine d) w ithin e a c h p e rson ,

Mirror of th e very un iverse ,

S a cre d te m p le a n d inn erm ost shr ine of ea c h b ody O c ea n river flowing ,

-

e ve r on th rou g h th e g rea t t run k a n d b ra n c h es of H u m a nity ,

From whi c h a fte r a ll th e indivi du a l onl y sp rin gs like a l eaf bu d " -

O c e a n whi c h w e so wond e rf ul l y c onta in (if in d ee d w e do no t conta i n

th ee ) a nd y et wh o c onta inest u s "
,

S o m eti m es wh en I fe el a nd kn ow th ee within a nd i dentify my self ,

with th ee ,

D o I un dersta nd th a t I a l so a m of th e d a te less b roo d of H ea ven a nd

E ternity .

R etu rning to t h a t from w h ic h I st a rte d th e r e l a ti on b e twe en ,

th e tw o f u n d a m ent a l l a w s of ou r e xi st ence love a nd dea th th e , ,

tru e m u tu a l c orr e l a ti on of w h i c h r em a i ns enigm a tic a l a nd incom

preh ensibl e to u s I sh a ll m er ely r ec a ll S c ho p enh au er s word s
’

,
“ ”
with whi c h h e en d s h is C ou nsel s a nd M a xi m s .

I sh ou l d p oint ou t h ow B eginning a nd E nd m eet togeth er a nd h ow ,

c losely a n d intim a te l y E ro s is c onn e c te d with D ea th ; h ow O rc u s or ,

Am enth es a s th e E g yp tia ns c a lle d him is no t only th e rec e ive r b u t th e

, ,

give r o f a ll th in g s D ea th is th e grea t rese rvoi r of Life E very

thin g c om es from O rc u s—e very thing th a t is a live now a nd w a s onc e
.

th e re C ou ld w e b u t u nde rs ta nd th e g re a t tric k by whic h th a t is d one

.
,

a ll th e wo rl d wo u l d b e c le a r
*
.

T a l by T B Sa d M A M h Iill C N w Y o k
r ns . . . un er s , . . ac /
an o. , e r .
1 80 T ER T IUM ORGAN UM

a re infin itely m or e c om pl e x th a n w e a re a cc us tom e d to think .

T h e ph enom ena of c onsc i ou sne ss w e f ee l s ense a nd a re c onsc i ous

,

of in ou rselves ; phy s i c a l ph enom en a a nd th e ph e nom e na o f lif e

w e o b serv e a nd m a ke c onc l u si ons a b ou t o n th e b a s i s of exp eri ence .

We do not s ense th e ph enom ena of th e consc iou sness of oth ers ,

i e th e th ou ghts f e elings a n d d esir es of a noth er m a n ; b u t th e

. .
, ,

f a c t th a t t h ey e xi s t in h im w e c onc l u d e from what h e sa ys a nd by ,

a n a l ogy with o u rs e lv e s W e know th a t in ou rse lves c ert a in a c

.

ti ons certa in th ou ghts a nd f ee lin gs proc ee d a nd wh en w e ob s erv e

, ,

th e sa m e a c ti ons in a noth er m a n w e c onc l u d e th a t h e h a s th ou ght

,

a nd f e lt lik e u s —
An a l ogy with ou r s e lv e s thi s is o u r sol e c ri
.

t erion a nd m e th o d of r e a soning a n d dr a wi ng conc l u si ons ab ou t

th e ph enom ena of con sc i ou sne s s in o th e r m e n if w e c a nno t c om
m u nic a te with th e m or do not wi s h to b e li e v e in wh a t th e y t e ll
,

u s a b ou t th e m s e lv es .

S u pp o s e th a t I sh ou ld liv e a m ong m en W ith ou t th e p oss ibility

o f c omm u ni c a ti ng with th e m a nd havi ng no w a y to m ak e con

c lu sio ns b a se d u p on a na l ogy ; in th a t ca s e I s h ou ld b e su rr ou n d e d

by mo vin g a nd a c ti ng a u t om a tons th e c au se p u rp ose a nd m ea n

, ,

ing of wh o s e a c ti ons w ou ld b e p e rf ec tly i ncom pre h ensibl e to m e .

“ ”
Perh a p s I w ou ld expl a in th eir a ctions by m ol e cu l a r m oti on ,
“ “
p erh a p s by th e i nfl u ence of th e pl a net s p erh a p s by spiriti sm
“ “ ”
i e by th e in fl u enc e of spirit s p ossibly by c h a nc e or by a
. .
,

—
h a ph a z a rd com bina tion of c a u ses b u t in a ny c a se I s hou ld not a nd
c ou ld no t s ee the consciou s ness in th e d epth of th ese m e n s a c ti ons
’
.

C onc erni ng th e exi s tence of consci ou sness I c a n u su ally only

con c l u d e by a na l ogy with m y se lf I kno w that c erta in ph enom ena
.

a re c onne c t e d in m e with m y p oss ess i on of c onsc i ou s ne ss Wh en .

I s ee th e s a m e ph enom ena in a no th er m a n I c onc l u d e th a t h e a l so

p oss esses c onsc i ou sne s s B u t I c a nn ot c onvi nce m y se lf directly
.

o f th e e xi s t enc e of c on s c i ou s ne ss in a no th e r m a n S tu dyi ng m a n .

from o ne sid e only I sh ou ld st a n d in th e sa m e p ositi on in r e l a tion

t o h im a s a cc ordi ng to Ka nt w e s t a n d with r e l a ti on t o th e w orld
, ,

su rr ou n di ng u s We kno w m erely th e form of ou r knowl e dge of

.

it T h e world in its elf w e do not kno w

.
- -
.

Th u s f or th e knowl edg e of ma n in himself (i e h is c onsc i ou s

- -
. .
,

n e s s) I h a v e t w o m eth o d s — th e a na l ogy with m y s elf a n d th e ,

i nt ercou r s e of m y consc iou s ness with th e c onsci o u snes s of a no th er

by th e ex c h a nge of t h ou g ht s With ou t thi s m a n is f or m e a ph e
.
,

n om e no n m er e l y a m o vi ng a u t o m a t o n
, .
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 181

Th e nou menon of a m a n is his i

cons c ou s ne s s t oge th er with
ev erythi ng h is c onsc i ou s ness incl u d es within its e lf a nd t h a t with
whi ch it u nit e s h im .

“ ”
I n m a n a re op ene d to u s b oth w orld s th ou gh th e nou m ena l ,

wo rld is op en only slightly b ecau se it is cogni z ed by u s thr ou gh ,

th e ph enom en a l .

Nou mena l mea ns apprehended by th e mind ; a nd th e c h a r

a c teris tic pr o p e rty of th e things of th e nou mena l w orld is th a t

th ey ca nnotmpreh ended by th e sa me meth od by which th e

be co

things of th e phenomena l w orld a re comprehended We m a y .

s p ecu l a t e a b ou t th e thing s of th e n ou m e na l w orld ; w e m a y

di scov er th e m by a pr oces s of r ea sonin g a nd by m ea ns of a na l ogy ; ,

w e m a y f eel th em a n d ent e r int o som e sort of c omm u ni on with ,

th em ; bu t w e ca n neith er see h ea r t ou ch w eigh m ea su r e th em ; , , , ,

nor c a n w e ph oto gr a ph th e m or d ecom p ose th e m i nt o c h e m i c a l

el em ent s or nu m b e r th eir vibrati on s Th e nou mena l world or th e .
,

world of c a u ses is f or u s th e world of m et a phy si c a l f a c t s

, .

Th u s consciou sness with a ll its fu nc ti ons a nd with a ll its c on

—
,

—
tents th ou ght s feelings d e sir es will rel a t es its e lf to th e , , ,

m et a phys i c a l w o rld We c a nno t kno w e ven a si ng l e e l em ent of .

c o n s c i ou s ne ss objectively E m oti on a s su ch is a thin g whi ch it is .

i m p os sibl e to see j u st a s it is i m p ossibl e to see the va lu e of a coin

, .

Y ou c a n s ee th e st a m p u p on a co in b u t y ou will nev e r s e e its ,

va lu e I t is j u st a s i m p ossibl e to ph otogr a ph th ou ght a s it is to

.

”
i m a gine E gypti a n d a rkness in a vi a l T0 th ink o th e rwi s e to .
,

e xp eri m e nt with th e p h o t o gr a phing of th ou ght s i m ply m ea n s t o ,

b e u na bl e to thi nk l ogi c a lly O n a ph onogra phi c r ecord a re th e .

tra c ings of th e needl e el e v a ti ons a n d d epressi ons b u t th ere is no , ,

sou nd H e w h o h old s a ph onogra phi c r ec o rd to h is ea r h opin g t o

.
,

h e a r s om ething will b e su r e to li st en in v a in , .

I nc l u ding within hi m self two w orlds th e ph enom ena l a n d th e ,

nou m ena l m a n giv e s u s th e o pp o rtu nity to u n d e r s t a n d in wh a t

,

r el a ti on th es e world s st a n d to one a noth e r e v erywh e r e t hr ou gh ou t

na t u r e .

We h a v e a lr e a dy a rriv e d a t th e c onc l u si on th a t th e nou menon

of a thi ng cons i s t s in its f u nction in a no t h e r s ph er e — in its m ea ning
whi c h is i nc om pr eh ensibl e in a give n sec ti on of th e world *
Ne xt .

f
Th x p io e e tio o f th w o l d i t ak
res s n i di a t o o f t h
se c n ality o f th fo m o f a h
e r
”
s en as a n n c r e u nr e e r s e c
t o T h w o l d i i fi it
s ec i n e d ll f o m r i fi it s b t t o g a p th m with t h fi it b ai
n n e, an a r s a re n n e, u r s e e n e r n co n
-

b y o io fl t d i t h b ai w m t im agi t h i fi it f o m b i g fi it
.

i
s c ous ness ,i e c ns c u s ness re ec e n e r n, e us ne e n n e r s as e n n e,
ti o o f t h w o l d T h w o l d i o f p o ib l tio i i fi it
. .
,

d th mb
“ "
an ese a re sec ns b t th e r e r s o ne , u e nu er ss e se c ns s n n e
im agi ap p l it i b t w m y im agi i fi it mb of tio i a ll di tio
. .

L t e us ne a n e: s one , u e d a ne a n n n e nu er se c ns n re c ns a n
th t o will diff f o m
ese se c i ns a o th I f i t ad o fer a pp l w t ak a m o o mp li at d b od y f
r o ne n er ns e an e e e re c c e or
i ta b ody o f om a im al th th tio t ak i d ff t di tio will b v m o lk
.
,

a o tth
ns nce e s e n : en e se c ns en n i ere n re c ns e e en re u n i e
one n er .
1 82 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

we ca m e to th e c onc lu s io n th a t th e nu m b er
m ea ning s of o ne of

a n d th e s a m e thing in difl e ren t s ec ti o ns of th e w o rld m u s t b e in

’

fi nit ely gr e a t a nd i nfi nit e ly v a ri ou s th a t it m u st b e c om e its o w n ,

o pp os it e , r e t u rn a g a in t o th e b e ginning (fr om ou r s t a n dp o in t )

e tc . e tc , infi nit e l y exp a n din g c o n tr a c tin g a ga in a nd so f o rth

, .
, , .

I t is nec ess ary to r em em b er th a t th e nou m enon a nd th e ph e

n om e no n a re not difierent things b u t m e r e ly diff e r e nt a s p e c t s o f ,

one a nd th e sa me th ing Th u s th e ph enom enon is the finite expres

.

sion in th e s ph e r e of o ur kno wl e dge thr o u gh th e o rg a ns o f s en se

, ,

of th e infi nite nou menon .

From ou r s t a n dp oi nt w e c a n e q u a lly sa y th a t a certa in ph e

n o m e non or a c ert a in gr ou p of ph e n om en a
, fr om th e sid e of ,

n ou m en a , is expr esse d by th e c onsc i o u sne ss of s o m e infi ni t e a nd

m ul tif a ri ou s su b s t a nc e ; or th a t a n i nfi nite a nd i nfi nit ely mu lti

f a rio u s c on sc i ou sness is e xpr esse d to u s by th a t o r a noth er d efi nit e
ph enom enon .

A ph enom enon is th e thr e e dim ens i on a l e xpr es si on of a giv en -

n ou m enon .

Thi s thr ee di m ensi ona lity d ep en d s u p on th e thr ee di m ensiona l

f orm s of ou r knowl edge 1 e s p e a king si m ply u p on ou r br a ins,
, . .
, ,

n e rv es e y e s a nd fing er tip s
, ,
-

I n m a n w e h a v e f ou n d th a t his nou m enon is c on sc i ou sne ss ,

a nd th a t t h e r e f or e in c on s c i o u sn e s s li e s th e s o l u ti o n of t h e riddl e

o f th e f u n c ti on s a n d m ea ni ng s of m a n whi c h a re inc o m pr eh en sibl e

fro m a n ou t sid e p oi nt of vi e w Wh a t is th e c onsc i ou sness of m a n

.

if it is not h is fu nction— in c o m pr e h ensibl e in th e thr e e dim en -

s io n a l s ec ti on of th e w o rld ? Tru ly if w e s h a ll st u dy a nd ob s erv e ,

m a n by a ll a cc essibl e m e a ns o bj e ctiv ely fro m with ou t w e s h a ll

, , ,

n e v e r di s c o v e r hi s c on s c i ou sn e s s a n d s h a ll n e v e r d efi n e th e f u n c
ti on of h is c ons c i ou sn es s W e m u s t fir s t of a ll become a w are of ou r
.

own consciou sn ess , a n d th en e ith e r b egi n a conv e r s a ti on ( by s i g n s ,

g e s tu r es wo rd s ) with a n o th e r m a n b e gin t o e x c h a ng e th ou ght s

, ,

with h im a nd from hi s a nsw er s d e d u c e th e c oncl u s i on th a t h e

,

p oss es s es cons c iou snes s—o r c o m e to th e c onc l u si on a b ou t it fr om

e xt e r n a l in d i ca ti o ns (a c ti o n s s i m il a r t o ou r s in s i m il a r c ir c u m

t
s a nc es ) . By th e direct meth od f
bj ectiv e i nv estiga ti on withou t
o o ,

th e h e lp of sp eech o r with ou t t h e h e lp of co nc l u s i on s b a se d u p on
,

a na logy , w e s h a ll no t di s co v er con sc i ou sne ss in a noth er m a n .

1 84 T ER T I UM ORGANUM

P erh a p s th e entir e univ ers e is l oca te d on th e tip of th e littl e

” “
fin ge r of som e gr ea t b e ing sa y s su ch a phil os ophi z er a nd per
, ,
” “
h a p s ou r m ol ecul es a re a l so world s T h e d eu c e " P erh a p s o n
.

”
m y littl e fi ng er t h er e a re s e v e ra l u niv e rs es too " An d su c h a
phil osophiz er g ets frig h t ene d B u t a ll su ch r ea sonin g s a re m er ely
.

th e giga nti c s ta ge coach o v e r a ga i n

-
This is th e w a y a littl e girl
.

“
th ou ght a b ou t wh om I w a s r e a ding if I mistake n ot in T h e
, , ,

Th eos op hi ca l R e vi e w T h e g irl w a s s itting nea r th e fir eplac e

.
,
“ ”
a n d b e s id e h e r s l ept a c a t Well th e c a t is sl eeping th e girl
.
, ,
“
r e fl e c t e d p erh a p s sh e s e es in a dr ea m th a t sh e is not a c a t b u t
, ,

a littl e girl An d m a yb e I a m not a little girl a t a ll bu t a ca t a nd

.
, ,

only see in a drea m th a t I a m a little girl Th e next m om ent .

th e h ou se r esou nd s with a vi ol ent c ry a n d th e p a r ent s of th e littl e ,

girl h a v e a h a rd ti m e to c onvinc e h er th a t sh e is n ot a c a t bu t
r ea lly a littl e girl .

All thi s s h o w s th a t it is nec ess a ry t o philosop hiz e with a cert a i n

a m o u nt o f s kill O u r th ou ght is enc om p a s s e d by m a ny blin d
.

a ll e y s a n d p ositivi s m in it se lf is s u c h a blin d a ll ey
, .

O ur a na ly s i s of ph enom ena th e r el a ti on which w e h a v e sh o wn

,

to exi s t b e tw e e n phy si c a l ph en om ena a nd th ose of lif e a nd of c on

s c io u sne s s p e r mit s u s t o a sse rt q u ite defi nitely th a t th e ph en om e na
,

of c onsc i ou s ne ss c a nn ot b e a f u nc ti on o f th e br a in i e a f un c ti on
—
, . .
,

of phy s i ol o gi c a l a n d phy s i c a l ph eno m en a or p h e n o m e na o f a

l ow e r o rd er We es t a bli sh e d th a t th e high er c a nn o t b e a f unc ti on
.

of th e l o w e r And thi s divi si on int o hi gh e r a nd l o w e r is a l so b a se d

.

u p on th e c l ea r f a c t o f th e diff e r en t p o t en ti a liti es o f v a ri ou s o rd e r s

of ph e om e a
n n — o f th e di ff e r en t a m o un t o f la te ntf orce c o nt a ine d in

th em (or lib e ra t e d by th e m ) An d of c ou r s e w e h a v e th e right to

.

c a ll th o s e ph enom ena the higher whi c h p os s e s s i m m ea s u r a bly

gr ea t er p ot enti a lity i m m ea su ra bly m or e l a t ent f or ce ; a nd to c a ll

,

t h os e th e low er whi c h p ossess l ess p ot enti a lity l ess l a t ent f orc e , .

T h e ph e nom ena o f lif e a re the higher in c om p a ri son with phy

s ic a l p h e n om en a .

T h e ph enom e n a o f c onsc i ou s ness a re th e h igh er in c o m p a ri son ,

th th e p h enom en a of lif e a nd p h y si c a l ph e no m e n a .

Which m u s t b e th e f u nc ti on of wh ich is c l e a r .

With ou t m a ki ng a p a l p a bl e l ogi ca l mist a ke w e c a nn ot d e c l a re

l if e a nd c onsc i ou sne ss to b e d ep e n d e nt f u nc ti on a lly u p on ph y s i ca l
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 1 85

ph enom ena i e to b e a resu lt of phy sic al ph enom ena Th e tru th

, . .
, .

is qu it e th e opp os it e of thi s : ev erythi ng f orces u s to r ecogniz e

phy si c a l ph enom ena a s th e r esu lt of lif e a nd lif e a s th e r esu lt of
,

c on sc i o u s ne ss .

B u t of which lif e a nd of which cons c i ou sness ? H er e li es th e

,

qu es tion Of c ou rs e it wou ld b e a b su rd to r ega rd ou r planetary

.

s ph e r e a s a f u n c ti on of th e v e g e t a bl e a nd a ni m a l lif e proceeding

u pon it
— n d th e vi s ibl e s t e ll a r u n iv e r se a s a f u nc ti on of h u m a n
a "

c o n sc i ou sn e s s B u t no thi ng of thi s sort is m e a nt I n th e occu lt

. .

u n d e r s t a n din g of t hings w e sp ea k a lw a y s of a noth er lif e a nd

a noth er c on sc i ou sn ess th e p a rti cu l a r m a nif es t a ti o n of whi c h is o u r

,

lif e a nd ou r consci ou sness I t is i m p o rt a nt to es t a bli s h th e genera l

.

p r in ci p le that phy s i c al ph e n om e n a b e i n g th e lower

, d e p en d ,

u p on th e ph enom en a of lif e a nd of c o n sc i ou sness whi c h a re ,

high er .

If we admi t thi s pri ncipl e a s es tabli sh e d th en it is p ossibl e to ,

proc ee d fu rth er .

T h e firs t qu es ti on whic h ari ses is thi s : I n what r el a ti on does

th e c onsc i ou sness of m a n st a n d to h is b o dy a nd hi s br a i n ?
Thi s qu esti on h a s b een a ns w ere d difl erently in difl erent tim es
’ ’
.

C onsci ou sness h a s b een r ega rd e d a s a dir ec t fu nc ti on of th e bra i n

Th ou gh t is th e motion of bra in th u s of cou rse d eny
ing a ny p os s ibility of consc i ou snes s with ou t th e exist enc e of a
bra in Th en foll owe d a n a tt em pt to es t a bli sh a p a ra llelism b e
.

tween th e a ctivity of consc i ou sness a nd of th e bra in B u t th e .

na t u r e of thi s p a r a ll e li sm h a s a lway s r em a i ne d o b scu r e Yes .

,

evid ently th e br a in w o rk s p a r a ll e l to consc i ou sness : a n a rr es tm ent

,

or a di s ord e r of th e a c tivity of th e br a i n bri ngs a s a c ons e q u enc e

a vi s ibl e a rr es t m e n t o r di so rd e r of th e a c tivity of c ons c i ou s ness .

B u t a ft e r a ll th e a c tivity of th e bra in is m erely motion i e a n

, , . .
,

obj e c tiv e ph enom e no n wh e r e a s th e a c tivity o f c onsc i ou s ness is a

,

ph enom enon obj ec tiv ely u nd efina ble : s u bjective a n d at th e ,

s a m e ti m e m ore p owerfu l th a n a nythi ng obj e c tiv e Ho w sh a ll w e .

r ec onc il e a ll thi s ?
Le t u s en d ea v o r to c onsid e r th e a c tivity of th e br a i n a nd th e
a c tivity of c ons c i o u sne ss fr om th e s t a n dp o int of th e e xi st e nc e of
“ ” “
th o se tw o d a t a th e world a nd c onsc i ou sness a c cept e d by u s
, ,

a t th e v e ry b eg i nni ng .

I f w e consid er th e br a i n fr om th e st a n dp o int of c onsc iou sne ss ,

”
th e n th e bra in will b e p a rt of th e world i e p a rt of th e ou t e r , . .
,
1 86 T ERT IUM ORGAN UM

world lyin g ou t sid e of consc i ou s ness Th erefo re consc i ou sness .

a nd br a i n a re diff e r en t thing s B u t consc i ou sness a s e xp e ri ence .

,

a n d o b se rv a ti on s h o ws c a n a c t only thro u gh th e br a i n
, T h e bra i n .

is th a t n ec e ss a ry pri sm p a ss ing throu gh whi c h c on sc i ou sness

, ,

m a nif e s t s it s elf to u s a s intellect O r to pu t it a littl e diff erently .

,

th e bra in is a mirror refl ecting cons ciou s ness in ou r th ree dimen

,
-

s iona l s ection of th e world This l a st m ea ns th a t in ou r thr ee

.

dim ensi ona l sec ti on of th e world not a ll of cons ciou sness (th e tru e
dim ensi ons of whic h w e do not know) is a c ti ng b u t only s o m u c h ,

o f it a s c a n b e r e fl e c t e d in a br a in I t is cl e a r that if th e mirror .

b e br o ke n th en th e i m a g e will b e bro ken too or if th e m irr or b e

, ,

inj u r e d or i m p erf ec t th en th e r efl ec ti on will b e blu rr e d or dis

,

to rte d B u t th e re is a b so l u t e ly no r e a son to b eli e v e th a t wh en

.

th e m irr or is br oken th e obj ec t whi c h it r efl ec t s is th er eby d estr o y

ed i e
, . in th e giv en ca se c ons c i ou s ness
.
, , .

C onsciou s ness c a nnot s u ff er fr o m a ny di s ord er of th e br a i n b u t ,

th e ma nifes ta tions of it m a y s u fl e r v e ry m u c h or m a y e v en dis

’

a pp ea r fr omth e fi e ld o f o u r o b s e rv a ti o n a lt og e th er Th er efor e .

it is c l ea r th a t a di sord er in th e a c tivity of th e bra in c au ses a n

enf ee bl e m e nt o r a di st orti on or e v e n a com pl e t e di s a pp ea r a nc e of
,

th e f a c u lti e s of consc i ou s ne s s m a nif es ti n g in ou r sph e r e .

Th e id ea of th e c om p a ri s on b e tw e en a thr e e di m ensi ona l b o dy -

a n d a f o u r di m ens i on a l o ne e na bl es u s t o a ffi r m th a t n ot a ll th e
-

a c tivity o f c onsc i o u sn e s s g oes t hr ou gh th e br a in b u t a p a rt of it ,

o nly .T h e br a in is c l ea rly a thr e e di m e nsi o na l b o dy a nd a s s u c h -

, ,

u nr ea l C ons c i ou sness is s om e thing h a vi ng no di m ensi ons o r

.

m a ny— r ea l in a ny c a se S o h ow c a n th e rea l di sa pp ea r with th e

.

d es tru c ti on of th e u nrea l .

E a c h of u s is in re a lity a n a b iding p sychic a l e ntity f a r m ore exte nsive

th a n h e knows— a n indivi d u a l ity wh ic h c a n never exp ress itself c om
ple te ly thr ou gh a ny c orp orea l m a nifesta tion T h e se lf m a nife sts .

th rou gh th e org a nis m ; b u t there is a lwa y s some p a rt of th e self u nm ani

*
f e ste d .

Th e p ositivi s t will r em a in u nc onvi nc e d H e will sa y : pr ov e .

to m e t h a t cons c i ou s ne ss c a n a c t with ou t a br a in th e n I will ,

b e li ev e it .

I s h a ll a ns w e r h im by th e qu es ti on : W H A T in th e giv en c a se , ,

wil l c onstitu t e a proof ?

f F d i My
re E ay
er c th S b limi al Co io
e rs , ss q o t d i W illi am Jam T h
on e u n ns c us ness as u e n es
' “
e
Va ti o f R ligio E x p i
ri e es e L m G
us C N w Yo k p 512
e r e n ce , o ng a ns , ree n o .
, e r , . .
1 88 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

In su c divi si on of ob s erv e d a c ti ons i nto ra ti ona l a nd nu

h a

r e as one d th er e is som ething n a iv e e ven fr om th e p os itivi stic

, ,

s tan dp oin t F or if w e hav e l ea rn e d a nythin g fr om th e stu dy o f

.

na tu r e if th e p ositivi s ti c m e th o d h a s giv en u s a nything a t a ll

, ,

th en it is th e a s su r a nc e of th e n ec ess ity f or th e u nif ormity of ph e

n om ena We kno w a nd with gr ea t c e rt a inty th a t thi ngs b a si c ally
.
, ,

s i m il a r c a nn o t pr oc ee d fr om di ss i mil a r c a us e s Pos itiv e philoso .

phy kn o ws this too Th er efore it al so r ega rd s th e fore go ing divi

.

s i on a s na iv e a nd c ons c i ou s of th e i m p oss ibility of s u c h d u a li sm

,

that one p a rt of ob serv e d ph enom ena proc ee d from r a tion a l a nd

c onsc i ou s c a u ses a n d a n oth e r part from unr ea sone d a nd un con
sc io u s o nes — p os itivi s ti c phil os ophy striv es to expl a in every thing
a s pr o cee ding fro m c a u ses whi c h a re irr a ti on a l a n d u n c on s c i o u s .

Positivi s ti c phil osophy h old s th a t th e s eeming ra ti ona lity of

h u m a n a c ti ons is a miser a bl e i ll u sion a nd a s e lf conso l a tion M a n -
.

is a toy in th e h a n d s of e l em ent a l f or ces H e is m e r e ly a tra ns .

formin g st a ti on of for ces All t h a t whi ch a s it s eem s to h im he .

,

is doing is in r e a lity d one in st ea d by ext e rn al f o rc es whi c h ent e r

,

him throu gh air f ood su nlight M a n d oes not p erform a s i ngl e

, , .

a c ti on by hi m se lf He is m e re ly a pri sm in whic h a line of a c ti o n

.

is r efra c t e d in a c e rt a i n m a nne r B u t j u s t a s th e b ea m of lig h t

.

d o es not pr oc ee d fr om th e pri sm so a cti on d oes not procee d fr om ,

th e r ea son of m a n .

“
T h e f a m ou s th eor eti ca l exp erim ent of c erta in G e rm a n
p sy c h o phys i ol ogi sts is u su a lly a dv a nc e d in c onfi rm a ti on of thi s
-
.

Th ey a ffirm e d th a t if it we r e p os sibl e fr om th e tim e of h is birth to , ,

d epriv e a m a n of A LL E X T E R NA L IMPRE SSIO N S : light sou nd tou c h , , ,

h e a t c old e tc a nd a t th e sa m e tim e pr eserve h im aliv e t h en

, , .
, ,

su c h a m a n w o u ld n o t b e a bl e to p erf o r m E V E N T H E M OS T I NS I G

NIF I C A NT A C T IO N .

Fr om thi s it foll o ws t h a t m a n is a n a u tom a ton lik e th a t a u to ,

ma ton proj ec te d by th e Am eri c a n i nv entor T e s l a w h i ch o b e yi ng , ,

e l e c tri c c u rr ent s a nd vibr a ti on s c om in g fr om a gr e a t di s t a nc e

with ou t wir e s w a s c a l c u l a t e d to ex ecu te a wh ol e s e ri es of c om

,

plic a t e d m ov em ents .

I t fo ll o w s from thi s th a t a ll the a ctions of a ma n d ep en d u p on

o u t e r i m p u l ses F or th e s m a lle s t r efl e x ou t er irra tion is nece ssa ry
.
,
.

For m o r e com pl e x a c ti on a wh o l e seri es o f pr ec e di ng com pl e x irra

ti on s is n ec es sa ry S om eti m es b etw e en th e irrita ti on a nd th e
.

a c ti on a cons i d e r a bl e ti m e e l a p s e s a n d a m a n d oe s n o t f e e l a ny ,
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 1 89

c onn e c ti on b etw een th e tw o Th erefor e h e r ega rd s h is acti ons a s

.

vol u nt a ry th ou gh in r ea lity th er e a re no vol u nt a ry a c ti ons a t a ll

,

m a n c a nno t d o a nyt h i ng by hi m se lf j u st a s a s to ne c a nnot j u m p

,

v ol u nta rily : it is n ecessa ry th a t som ething sh ou ld thr o w it u p .

M a n nee d s som ethi ng to giv e h im a n i m p u l se a nd th en h e will ,

d ev el op e xa c tly so m u ch forc e a s su c h a n i m p u l se (a nd a ll pre

c e ding i m p u l ses ) pu t int o him a nd no trifl e m or e S u c h is th e .

t ea chin g of p ositivi sm .

Fr om th e S T AND POI N T O F LO G IC su c h a th eory is m or e corr ec t

—
than th a t th eory of tw o c l a sses of a c tions R E A SO NE D AND U N
R E A SO N E D . I t at l ea s t es ta bli sh es th e princ ipl e O f NE C E SSA R Y
UNI F ORMI T Y I t is r ea lly i m p ossibl e to su pp ose th a t in a n im
.

m ens e m a chi ne c erta i n p a rts m o v e a ccording to th eir own d e s ir e

a nd r ea s oni n g th e r e m u s t b e so m e th ing u nif o r m
,
— e ith er a ll p a rt s

of th e m a c hi n e p oss e ss a consc i ou sness of th e ir f u n c ti o n a n d a c t

acc ording to this c onsc i ou sness or a ll a re work e d fr om one m ot or

,

a n d a re driv en by on e trans mi ss i on T h e e norm ou s s ervi c e p er

.

form e d by p ositivism is t h at it esta bli sh e d thi s pri nc ipl e of

u nif or m ity . I t is l eft to u s to d efi ne in what thi s u nif orm ity
c o ns i s t s
.

Th e p os itivi sti c hyp oth es i s of th e w orld consid ers th a t th e bas is

of every th ing is un con sc i ou s energy whi ch a r os e from u nkno wn
,

c a u s e s at a ti m e that is n ot kn o w n Thi s energy afte r it h a s

.
,

p a ss e d thr ou gh a wh ol e s e ri es of i nvi s ibl e e l ec tro m a gneti c a nd -

physi co c h em i c al pr oc esses is expre sse d f or u s in vi sibl e a nd

-

s en s e d m oti on th e n in gr o wth i e
, in th e ph enom en a of lif e a nd
, . .
, ,

at l a s t in consc i ou s ness .

Thi s vi e w h a s b e en a lrea dy i nv estiga t e d a nd th e conc l u s i on

r ea ch e d th a t it is i m p ossibl e to r ega rd phy si ca l ph enom ena a s th e
c a u s e of T H E P H E NOM E NA O F CO N S C IOU S N E SS whil e on th e o th e r ,

h a nd th e ph enom ena of consc iou sness serv e a s a n u nd ou bt e d

,

c au s e f or a gr ea t nu m b e r of th e phy s i c a l ph en om e n a o b s e rv e d by

us . n
, m
Th e fro th e v ery ess en c e of th e id e a of m oti on W hi c h is —
th e f ou nd a ti on o f th e phy s i co m ec h a ni c a l w orld— w a s d e d u c e d
-

th e conc l u s i on th a t m oti on is n ot a n entir e ly obvi ou s thi ng th a t ,

th e id ea o f m oti on a r ose in u s b ec a u s e o f th e li m it a ti on a nd in
c om pl e t e ne s s of ou r se ns e of s p a c e (a s lit thr ou gh whi c h w e ob

s erv e th e w o rld ) An d it w a s e st a bli sh e d not th a t th e id e a of

.
,

ti m e is d e d u c e d from th e ob serv a ti on of m otion b u t th a t th e ,

id ea of m oti on r esu lt s fr om ou r ti m e— “
s en s e
”—
a n d t h a t t h e id ea
1 90 T ERT IUM ORGANUM

of m oti on is qu it e d e fi nit e ly th e f u nction of th e time s ens e whi c h -

in it s e lf is a li mi t or b ou n d a ry of th e sp a c e s ens e b e l o nging t o a
b eing of a giv en p s yc h e I t w a s a l so est a b li sh e d th a t th e id ea of
.

m oti on c ou ld a ri se ou t of a c om p a ri s on b etw een tw o d ifi ere nt

fi eld s o f c onsc i ou sn e ss And in genera l a ll a na ly si s of th e f u n d a
.
,

f
m e nt a l c a t eg ori es o o ur k wl dg
n o e e o f th e w o rld — s p a c e a nd ti m e

s h o w e d t h a t w e h a v e a b sol u t e ly n o d a t a w h a t e v e r f or a cc e pti ng

mAnd if thi s is so— ii it is i m p ossibl e to a ssu m e b ehin d th e

“
oti on a s th e f u n d a m ent a l pri nc ipl e o f th e w orld .

s ce nes of th e c r ea ti o n of th e w orld th e pr esen c e of a n u nc on s c i ou s

—
m e c h a ni c a l m ot or t h en it is n ece ssa ry to consid er th e cos mos a s
livi ng a nd c onsc i ou s B ec a u s e one or th e o th er of tw o thi ng s m u st
”—
.

b e tru e : eith er it is m ech a ni c a l a nd d ea d a cc id e nt a l o r it is

living a nd c onsc i ou s of it se lf Th e r e c a n b e no t h i ng d ea d in livi ng

.

na t u r e a n d t h e r e c a n b e n othi ng livi ng in d ea d n a t u r e :

N a tu re exhib its a c ontinu a l p rogre ss sta rting from th e m ech anic al

,

a n d c h e mic a l a c ti vity of th e i norg a ni c wo rld p roc e e di ng to th e ve ge ta b l e

, ,

wi th its d u ll enj oy m ent of s elf from th a t t o th e a ni m a l worl d wh e re in

, ,

te llige n c e a n d c onsc i ou sne ss b e g a n a t fi rst very we a k and only afte r ,

m a ny interm e di a te st a ge s a tta in in g its la st grea t d e ve lop m ent in m an ,

wh ose intelle ct is na tu re s c rowning p oint th e goa l of a ll h er e fforts th e

’

, ,

m ost p erfec t a nd difli c ult of a ll h er work s .

So wr ites S c ho p e nhau er in hi s C ou nsel s a nd M a xi m s a nd ,

in d ee d it is v ery efl ectively express e d b u t w e h a v e n o f ou n d a tion

’
,

wh a t soev er f or r ega rding m a n a s th e su mmit of that whi c h n a t u re

h a s c r ea t e d. Thi s is only T H E HI G H E S T T H A T W E KNOW .

S c h op en h a u e r s t h ou g h t is d ou btl e ss v ery b e a u tif u l b u t ne v e r

’

th e less it is n e c essa ry t o a d mit t h a t in na tu re c onsc i ou s a nd u n

c o ns c i ou s c a nn o t e xi s t t og e t h e r Th e r e m u s t b e s om ething whi ch
.

is o ne .

P os itivi s m wou ld b e b solu t e l y c orr ec t in its pi c tu r e of th e

a

w orld th e re w ou ld n ot
, b e e v e n th e s m a ll e s t d efi c i enc y if th ere ,

w ere no consciou sness in th e w orld T h en it wou ld b e n e c e ss a ry

.
,

nole ns volens to r e g a rd th e u n iv e r se a s a n a ccidenta lly s elf crea ted

,
-

mech a nic a l toy in sp a ce a nd nothi ng m ore B u t th e f a c t of th e

.

e xi s t e nce of c onsc i ou s ne ss s p o il s a ll th e s t a ti s ti c s I t is i m p ossibl e

.

t o e x c l u d e it .

W e a re eith e r forc e d to a d mit th e e xi stence of tw o princ ipl es

“ ” “ ”
c o n sc i ou s n es s a n d m oti on s pirit , a nd m a tt e r o r t o se l ec t
-

one o f th e m .
1 92 T ER T I UM ORGANUM

We c a nn ot esc ap e this fa c t , a nd thinking logica lly , w e

m u s t inev
ita bly r ecogni z e two principles B u t if w e b egi n to consid er th e
.

v ery r ecogniti on of tw o principl es a s illogica l th en w e m u s t r ecog ,

niz e C O N SCIO US NESS a s a s ingle p rincip le a n d motion a s AN ILLU ,

SIO N OF CON SCIOUS NE SS .

B u t what d oe s this m ea n ? I t m e a ns th a t th e r e c a n b e n o
”
m onis ti c m a t eri a li s m . M a teri a li sm c a n b e only d u a li sti c i e , . .
,

it m u st r ecogni z e two principles : m otion a nd c onsc i ou sness As .

soon a s it c om es t o r ec ogni z e one prin c ipl e it b ecom es id e a li sm ,

m e t a phys i c s .

B u t in ord e r t o think id e ali s ti c a lly it is nec es s a r y th a t id ea lism

“ ”
b e n ot d u a listi c . B ecau se j u st a s m oni sti c m a t eri a li sm is im
“ ”
p os s ibl e s o is d u a li s ti c id ea lism e qu a lly i m p ossibl e
, .

B u t in ord e r to c om e to p u r e a nd s tri c t m onis ti c id ea li sm a pro

fou n d a nd fund a m enta l r econstr u c ti on of a ll our c onc epts is neces
s a ry . H ere a new diffi cu lty a ri ses .

O u r conc ept s a re li m ite d by l a ngu a ge O u r l a ngu age is deeply .

du a lis tic Thi s is inde e d a t erribl e ob sta cl e I s h o we d pr e vi ou s ly

. .

h o w langu a ge r et a rd s ou r th ou ght m a ki ng it i mp os s ibl e t o ex

,

press th e r el a ti ons of a being u ni v erse I n ou r l a ngu a ge only a n .

“ ”
etern a lly becoming u ni v e r se exi s t s Th e E terna l Now c a nnot
.

b e express e d in l a ngu age .

Thu s ou r l a n gu a ge pi c tu r es to u s b efor eh a nd a fa l s e u ni ver se

du a l wh en in r ea lity it is one ; a nd etern a lly becoming wh en is it in
,

r ea lity eterna lly being .

And if w e c om e t o r ea liz e th e d egree t o whic h ou r l a ngu a ge

f a lsifies th e r ea l vi e w of th e w o rld th en th e u nd ers t a n ding of
,

thi s f a c t will ena bl e u s to s ee th a t it is n ot only diffic u lt b u t e ven ,

a bs olu tely imp ossible t o e xpr ess in l a n gu a g e th e c orr ec t r e l a ti on o f

th e things of th e r ea l w orld .

This diffi cu lty can b e c on qu er e d onl y by th e form a ti on of ne w

c oncept s a nd by e xt en d e d a na l ogi e s .

L a t er on th e princ ipl es a nd m eth o d s of this exp a n si on of wh a t

w e a lr e a dy h a v e a n d wh a t w e c a n e xtr a c t fr om ou r st or e s of
,

knowl e dge will b e m a d e c l ea r For th e pr es en t it is only im

.

p ort a nt to est a blis h one thing— T H E N E C E SSI T Y F O R UNIF OR M IT Y

t h e m onis m of th e u niv er se .

As a m a tt e r o f p rinciple it is not i m p ort a nt whi c h one w e r eg a rd

a s firs t ca u s e s pirit or m a tt e r
, I t is es s enti a l to r ec o gniz e t h eir
.

u nity .
 T ERT IUM ORGANUM 1 93

Bu t b een sh o wn b efore th a t th e m a t eri a li s tic concepti on

it h as
of th e u niv e r s e l e a d s t o c onsid e r a bl e inconv e ni ences Th ese in .

c onv e ni enc es g ene r a lly c o ns i s t in th e f a c t that r eg a rdi ng th e

spirit u a l w orld a s m a t e ri a l m a n a t th e sa m e ti m e i m a gi nes it a s

,

T H R E E D IM E N SIO NA L
-
An d th e t h ree di m ens i ona l c on cepti on of
.
-

—
th e spiritu a l w orld in v a ri ou s spiriti sti c a nd th eosophi c a l th eori e s
— thi s is c l ea rly a n a b s u rdity a nd l e a d s in tu rn to oth e r a b su rditi es
, .

Th e refor e in th e i nt er est of c orrec t thin king it is n ec essa ry . ,

o nc e f or a ll to r e c og niz e s pirit 1 e c on sc i ou s ness a s th e fi rs t ca u se

, . .
, .

Thi s will pr event m a ny u nneces sa ry w a nd e rings in r ou n d a b ou t

p a th s a nd bli nd a ll ey s For if w e r ecogniz e th e exi s t enc e of c on
.

sc io u s nes s in g ene r a l th en it is ne c e ssa ry to r ec o gniz e th a t th e r e

,

e xi s t s only one consciou s nes s a nd nothing els e

,
.

'

B u t th e positivist will a sk : wh a t th en is ma tter?

Fr om one p oi nt o f vi ew it is a logica l concept i e a f orm of
, , . .
,

thi n k n —
i g I s h a ll a ns w er Nob o dy e v e r s a w ma tter nor will th ey
.
,

e v er
— it is p o ssibl e o nly to think m a tt er Fr om a noth er p oi nt of .

vi ew it is a n ill u si on a cc epte d f or r ea lity .

E v en m or e tru ly it is th e i ncorr ectly p er c eive d form of that

,

whi c h exi sts in r e a lity M a tt er is a s ecti on of something : a non

.

e xi s t ent i m a gin a ry s ec ti o n
, B u t th a t of whi c h m a tt e r is a s ec ti on
.
,

e xi s t s . Thi s is th e r ea l f ou r dimensiona l wo rld

,
-
.

B u t thi s w oo d th e su b s tanc e from whi c h this t abl e is m ad e

,

d oes it exis t ?
I t exi sts b u t th e tr u e n a tu r e of its exi st ence w e d o not know
, .

All th a t w e know ab o u t it is j u s t th e f orm of ou r r ec eptivity of it .

B u t if w e c e a s e d to e xi s t w ou ld it continu e to e xi s t ?
,

Y es f or c onsc i ou sne ss e s w orking in con diti ons of r e c eptivity

,

a na l o g ou s t o ou r s it will e xi s t in th e sa m e f or m s a s f or u s
, B ut .

in itself thi s s u b s t a nc e exi st s in s om e o th e r w a y — H O W w e do not ,

know . C e rt a inly not in sp ac e a nd ti m e f or w e ou rselves im p ose ,

th e s e form s u p on it P r ob a b ly a ll simila r wood of di ffe r ent c en

.
,

tu rie s a nd diff er ent p a rt s of th e w o rld c on stitu t es one m a ss—o ne

, ,

o
—
b d y p erh a p s one being C erta in ly th a t s u b s t a nc e (or th a t part
.

o f it ) o f whi c h thi s tabl e is m a d e h a s n o s ep a ra te exis tence a a rt , p

f r om o u r r ec e p tivity W e f a il
. t o u n d erst a nd th a t a p a rti cu l a r
thing is m er ely a n a rtifi c i a l definition by ou r s ens es of som e i nd e ,

finab le c au se i nfinit e ly su rp a ssi ng th a t thing .

1 94 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

B u t a thing m a y a c qu ir e it s ow n i ndividu a l a n d u ni q u e s ou l ;
a n d in th a t c a se th e thing exist s qu it e i n d e p en d e ntly of our r e

c eptivity M a ny thin gs p ossess su c h sou l s , especia lly old things

.

old h ou ses old b o ok s , w ork s of a rt , e t c

,
.

We m ay con s id e r th e
f a c t a s es t a bli sh e d th a t w e ca nnot kn o w
of th e xi st ence
e of a noth e r c ons c i o u sness dir ec tly e x c ept thr ou gh ,

c om m u ni ca ti on with it by sp ee ch or by conc lu si ons b a se d u p on

,

a na l o gy .

B u t w h a t gr ou n d h a v e w e f or thinking t h a t th er e a re c on
.

sc io u sn es s e s in th e w orld o th e r th a n ou r h u m a n on es th e li mit e d ,

con s c i ou sn esse s of a ni m a l s a n d th e s emi consc i ou snes s of pl a nt s ? -

Fir s t of a ll th e c ir cu m st a nc e t h a t if su ch c onsc i ou snesses exi s t

,

w e with ou r m ea ns c ou ld not kn o w a nythin g a b ou t th e m

, , Of .

cou r se t hi s is no pr oo f of t h e ir exis tence b u t it e xpl a i n s why w e do ,

no t kno w of th em if th e y exi s t ; a l so th e c ir c u m s t a nc e th a t w e ,

know of th e exist enc e of c ons c i ou sness es only in ou r section of th e

world a nd below (m e n a ni m a l s pl a nt s ) In d ee d w e h a v e no
, , .

r e a s on W h a t e v e r to t h ink th a t in a high er s ec ti on of th e W orld ,

i e in fou r di m ensi on a l sp a c e th ere a re no consciou snes s es O n

. .
,
-

, .

th e contr a ry e v erythin g l o gi c a ll y p oint s to th e c onc l u s i on th a t

,

th ey m u s t exi s t a nd m u st b e more p owerfu l th a n ou rs .

An d l a s t of a ll of th ese c o nsid er a ti ons w e kn o w th a t th e w o rld ,

is c onsc i ou sness th a t e v e rythi ng in it is c onsc i ou s a nd in gener a l

, ,

th er e is no thin g u nc onsc i ou s in it nor c a n th er e b e B u t w h en a ll

, .

is s a id th e m os t i m p ort a nt t h i ng is th a t w e c a n h a v e no r e a s on to
,

r ega rd ou r consciou sness a s u niqu e a nd th e hig h es t f orm of con ,

s c iou s ne ss in th e u niv e r s e .

Th e qu e sti on no w stand s in thi s way : h o w c ou ld w e kno w a b ou t

th e exi st enc e of th e c on sc i ou sn es s es o f oth e r sec ti ons of th e
world— of high er sp a c e—if th ey e xi st .

By tw o m ethod s : thr ou gh COMMUNICA T ION WI T H T H E M a nd ,

thr ou gh CO N CLUSION S B Y ANA LO G Y .

For th e fir st it is nec e ssa ry that ou r c ons c i o u sne s s sh ou ld b e

,

c om e s i m il a r to th eir s s h ou ld tr a n sc en d th e li m it s of th e t h r ee
,

dim ensi ona l w orld i e it is nec ess ary to c hange th e form of c o n

, . .
,

sc iou s nes s .

T h e secon d m ay r esu lt a s a c ons e qu ence of th e gradu a l exp a n

si o n of th e f a c u lt y o f dr a w i ng inf e r e nc e s by a n al ogy By tryin g .
1 96 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

istenc e of su ch a cons ciou sn ess by a n al ogy with ou r selv es or by ,

intercou r se with it or by exc h a nge of th ou ght s b u t a new p a th

, ,

o p en s b e f o r e u s We p erceive a c ertain separate a nd qu ite

.

d efinite f unc tion ( th e pr eserva tion of the wh ole) B e hind thi s .

fu ncti on w e infer a c ert a in sep a ra t e something A s ep a ra t e som e .

thing h a ving a d efinite f u nc ti on is i m p ossibl e with ou t consciou s

ness . If th e wh ole p os sess e s c onsc iou sness th en th e sep a r a t e ,

t en d enc i es or forc es m u st a l so p ossess c onsc i ou sness A b ody or .

o rganis m is th e p oin t of in t er se c ti on of th e lin es of th es e c on s c i ou s

“ ”
n esses a pl a ce of m ee ti ng p e rh a p s a ba ttle field
, , O ur I is a l so -
.

th a t ba ttle field on whic h this or that emoti on thi s or th a t h a bit

-

o r i nc lin a ti on g a i ns a n a dv a nt a g e su bj ec tin g t o it s elf a ll of th e

, ,

r est a t e v ery giv en m om ent a nd id entifyi ng its elf with th e I

, .

B u t als o th e I is a being h a ving its ow n lif e i m p erf ec tly cons c i ou s

, ,

of that of whic h it it se lf c on s i s t s a nd id entifyin g it s elf with this

,

or anoth er p orti on of its e lf H a v e w e a ny warrant f or su pp osin g

.

that th e o rga ns a nd m em b er s of a b ody th ou gh ts a nd emotions a re , ,

B E I N G S a lso ? W e h a v e b eca u s e w e kno w that th er e exi sts nothing

,

u nconsciou s; a nd a ny som e thin g havin g a s epa ra te f u nction MU S T

, ,

h a ve a sep a ra te consciou sness a nd ca n b e c a ll e d a being .

All th e consci ou sness es a ssu m e d by u s to exi st in th e world of

ma ny dimensions c a nnot know on e a no th er i e c a nn ot kno w th a t
, , . .
,

w e a re bin din g th em t o g et h er in diff e r ent wh ol es in ou r ph enom

en a l w orld j u s t a s in g e ne r a l th ey c a nno t kno w our ph enom en al
,

world a nd its r el a ti ons B u t th ey m u st b e c onsc i ou s of th emselves

.
,

alth ou gh it is i m p ossibl e f or u s to d efi ne th e d egr ee of c l ea rness of

thi s c onsc iou s ness I t m a y b e c l ea r er th a n ou r s a nd it m a y b e ,

m or e v a gu e—dr ea mlik e a s it w ere

.

, B etween consci ou sness es

.

th er e m a y b e a c ontinu ou s b u t im p erfec tly p erc eive d exch a nge of

thou gh ts a n a l ogou s to th e e x c h a ng e of su b st a nc e in a living or
,

g a ni s m Th
. e y m a y e xp e ri e n c e c e rt a i n f eelings in c o m m o n c e rt a i n ,

thou gh ts m a y a ri se in th em s p ont a n eou sly a s it w er e un d er th e ,

i nfl u ence of g ener a l c au s es Up on th e li nes of this i nner c om

.

m u ni on c ons ci ou snesse s m u s t divid e th e m s e lv es i nt o di ff er ent

wh oles of som e c at egori e s to u s entir e ly i nc om pr eh e ns ibl e or o nly ,

gu esse d a t Th e essenc e of ea c h su ch s ep a ra t e c onsci ou sness m u st

.

c o ns i s t in it s knowledge o f it s elf a n d its n ea r e s t f u nc ti ons a nd r e la

ti ons ; it m u st f ee l things a nalogou s to itself a nd m u st h a v e th e ,

f a c u lty o f t ellin g a b ou t it s elf a nd th em i e thi s c ons c i ou s ness , . .

,

m u s t a lw a y s b e h old a pictu re of its elf a nd its c onditi o ni ng r e l a

 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 1 97

ti ons I t is et erna lly stu dying this pi ctu r e a nd i nst a ntly c om m u ni

.

c a ti ng it to a noth e r cons c i ou s ness c om in g i nt o co m m u ni on with it .

Wh eth er th e se consci ou sness es in sections of th e world oth er

t h a n ou rs exi st or not w e u nd er the existing conditions of ou r re
, ,

c ep tivity c a nno t sa y , Th ey c a n b e s ense d only by th e d ev el op e d

.

intu ition i e by a diff er ent ki n d of c onsci ou sness O u r u su a l con

, . .
, .

s c iou sn e ss is t oo a b s orb e d by th e s en sa ti ons of th e ph enom en a l

wo rld a nd by itself a nd th er efor e d oes not r efl ec t i m pressi ons

, ,

c oming t o it fr om oth e r c onsc i o u s ness es or r e fl ec t s th em s o w e a kly ,

th a t th ey a re not fixe d th er e in a ny i nt elligibl e form M or eov er .

ou r c ons c i ou snes s d o e s not r eco gniz e th e f a c t th a t it is in c ons t a nt

c om m u ni on with th e nou emn a of a ll su rr ou n di ng thi ng s n ea r a nd ,

r em o te a nd with cons c i ou sne sses lik e it a nd those entir ely difl er

,

e nt with th e c ons c i ou s ne ss of e v e rythin g in th e w o rld a nd o f a ll

,

th e w orld B u t if th e i m pr es s i ons c om i ng fro m oth e r consc i ou s

.

ne sses a re s o f or ce fu l th a t th e con sc i ou s ness f ee l s th e m th en it ,

i mm e di a tely proj ec ts th em i nto th e ou te r world of ph enom ena

a nd se ek s f or th e ir c a u se in th e ph e nom e na l wo rld e x a c tly in th e ,

s a m e m a nne r that a t w o di m en si ona l b e i ng i nh a bit ing a pl a ne

-

, ,

see k s in its pl a ne f or th e c a u ses of th e i m pr ess i ons whi c h c o m e

fr om a high er world .

Our i is li m it e d by its ph enom ena l r e c e ptivity

c on sc ou sn ess ,

i e it is su rr ou nd e d by it s elf Th e world of p h enom ena i e

. .
, .
, . .
,

th e f orm of its o w n p er c e pti o n su rr o u n d s it a s a ri ng or a s a wall ;

, ,

a nd th e o rdin a ry c onsc i ou s n e s s s ee s n othi ng s a v e this w a ll .

B u t if c ons ci ou sne ss su c c e e d s in es c a p ing ou t o f thi s li m iting

c ir c l e it will i nv a ri a bly s ee m u c h th a t is n ew in th e w o rld
, .

If w e will p a ra te s elf ele ments in our p ercep tion writes Hinton A

se -

,
”
New E ra of Th ou gh t p 36 th en it will b e fou nd th a t th e dea dness
.
,

which w e a scrib e to th e externa l worl d is not re a lly there b u t is pu t in ,

by u s b ec a u se of our own li mita tion s I t is rea lly th e self e le m ents in ou r.

knowle dge whic h m a ke u s ta l k of m ec h a nic a l ne c essity d e a d m a tter , .

When our limita tion s fall w e b eh ol d th e s pirit of th e worl d like w e b e

h old th e spirit of a friend—s om ething whic h is di s cerne d in a nd th rou gh
,

th e m a teri a l p re se nta tion of a b o dy to u s .

O ur th ou ght m ea ns a re suflicie nt a t p re s e nt to sh ow u s h u m an so ul s ; bu t
a ll e xc e p t h u m a n b ei ngs is a s f a r a s sc i enc e is c onc e rne d i n a ni m a te
, O ne , .

s elf e l e m ent m u st b e go t ri d of from o u r p e rce p ti on a nd thi s wi ll b e c h an e d

g , .

B u t is th e kno wa bl eness of
un th e nou m ena l world as a b s ol ut e
f or us as it s om eti m es s eem s ?
1 98 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

In Th e C ritiqu e of P u r e R e a son a nd in o th er writi ngs Ka nt ,

“ ” “
d eni e d th e p oss ibili ty of spiritu a l sight B u t in Dr ea m s o f .

”
a Gh os t s ee r -
h e no t onl y a dmitt e d thi s p os s ibility b u t g a v e t o ,

it one of th e b es t d efi niti ons whi ch w e h a v e e v er h a d u p to now .

H e c l ea rly a fli rm s :

I c onf es s th a t I a m very m u c h in cline d to a s sert th e exi stence of im

m a teri a l n a tu re s in th e world a nd to pu t m y soul itself into th a t c l a ss ,

o f b e in g s The se i mm a teria l b ein g s

. a re i mm e di a tel y u nite d
with e ac h oth er they mi gh t form p erh a p s a grea t wh ole whic h mi ght
, , ,

b e c a ll e d th e i mm a te ri a l worl d E very m a n is a b ein g of tw o worl d s : of .

th e inc orp orea l worl d a nd of th e m a teri a l world a nd it w ill be proved

I don t kn ow wh ere or wh en th a t th e h u m a n sou l a l so in this lif e forms

’
,

a n indi ssol u b l e c o mm union with a ll i m m a te ri a l na tur es of th e sp i rit

W o rl d th a t a lte rna te l y it ac ts u p on a nd re ceives i m p re ssion s from th a t
, , ,

worl d of whic h neverth el ess it is not c on sciou s while it is still m a n a nd

as l ong a s e very thin g is in p rop e r c onditi on .

We shou l d th erefore h a ve to re gard th e hu m a n s oul a s b eing c onj oined

, ,

in its p resent lif e with tw o world s a t th e sa m e tim e of whic h it c le a rly ,

p erc eive s onl y th e m a teri a l worl d in so f a r a s it is c onj oine d with a b o dy , ,

a nd th u s form s a p ersona l unit .

It is th erefore in dee d one su bj ect which is thu s a t th e sa m e time a

, , ,

m e mb e r of th e vi sib le a nd of th e invi sib le worl d b u t no t one a nd th e ,

sa m e p erson ; f or on a ccoun t of th eir diffe rent qu a lity th e c o nc e p ti ons of ,

th e one worl d a re n ot i de a s a ssoc i a te d with th o se of th e o th er worl d ,

th u s wh a t I thin k a s a spirit is not rem e mb ere d by m e a s a m an a nd

, , , ,

c onve rsel y my st a te a s a m a n d o es n ot a t a ll ente r into th e conc ep ti on

,

of m y self a s a sp i rit .

B irth lif e d e a th a re th e state s of soul only

, , C onse quently ,

our b o dy onl y is p e ri sh a b l e th e esse nc e o f u s is not p eri sh a b le a nd m u st

, ,

h ave b een existe nt d uring th a t ti me wh en ou r b o dy h a d no existe nce

I t c on sists of tw o lives—o ne a ni m a l a nd
, .

Th e lif e of th e m a n is d u a l .

o n e sp i ritu a l Th e fir s t lif e is th e lif e of m a n a n d m a n nee d s a b ody to

.

live thi s lif e T h e s ec ond lif e is th e lif e of spirit; his soul lives in tha t
.

lif e sep a ra tely fro m th e b o dy a nd m u st live on in it af ter th e sep ara ti on

,

from th e b o dy .

In an y on Kant in T h e North ern M essenger ( 1 8 8 8

ess a ,

Ru ssi a n) A L Vo linsky say s th a t b oth in Vorlesu ngen a nd a ls o

, . .
,
“ ”
in Dr e a m s of a Gh os t s ee r Ka nt d eni e d th e p ossibility of one
-

—
t h in g only th e p ossibility of th e phy sic a l r ec eptivity of spiritu al
p h enom ena .

Th u s Ka nt a d mitt e d not onl y th e p ossibility of th e exi st ence of

a s pirit u a l con sciou s w o rld b u t a l s o th e p o s s ibility o f c omm u ni on
,

with it .
2 00 T ER T IUM ORGAN UM

S pino z a u nd ers t oo d thi s , sa ying th a t h e could not sp eak of G od ,

not knowing his a ttribu tes .

Wh en I stu di e d E u cli d I lea rn e d fi rst of a ll th a t th e su m of three

,

a ngl es of a tri a ngl e w a s e q u a l to t w o ri g h t a ngl e s a nd thi s p rop e rty of a ,

tria ngle w a s entirely c om preh ensible to m e a lthou gh I did not know ,

its m a ny oth er p rop erti e s B u t s o f a r a s spirits a nd gh osts a re c on

.

c erne d I do not kn ow e ven one of th ei r a ttri b u tes bu t c onsta ntly

, ,

h ea r diff erent fa nta stic ta les a b ou t th e m in whic h it is i mp ossib le to

disc over a ny tru th .

We h a ve t bli sh e d c erta i n c rit eri a whi ch p erm it u s to d e a l

es a
“ ”
with th e world of noum ena or th e world of spirits Th ese w e .

s h a ll m ak e u s e of n o w .

Firs t of all w e m a y sa y th a t th e w orld of nou mena c anno t b e

thr ee dim ensi ona l a nd th a t th er e c annot b e anything three
-

di m ensi ona l in it i e c omm ea sur abl e with phy s i ca l obj ec ts sim

, . .
, ,

—
ila r to th em in ou t sid e app ea r a nce h aving f orm th er e c annot b e ,

a n y thing h a vin g ext ens i on in s pa ce a nd c h a nging in ti m e An d .

m o s t i m p ort a nt th e r e c a nn ot b e a nything u nconsciou s

, In th e .

w orld of c au s es ev erything m u st b e c onsci ou s b ec au se it is con ,

sciou s ness it se lf : th e s o u l of t h e w o rld .

Fu rth er on will b e given th e prop erti es of th e world of ca u ses .

F or th e pr esent u s ing only th ose d efiniti ons whi ch w e hav e let u s

, ,

s e e k f or it in e v e ryt hi ng su rr ou n din g u s a nd in ou rse lv es , .

Let u s r em em b e r a l s o th a t th e w orld of ca u ses is th e w orld of th e

m a rv e l ou s ; th a t what a pp e a rs s im pl e to u s ca n nev e r b e r ea l .

Th e rea l app ea rs t o u s a s th e m a rv el ou s We do not b eli e v e in it .

,

w e d o not r ec ogniz e it ; a n d th e r ef or e w e d o n ot f ee l th e my s teries

of w hi c h l if e is s o f u ll .

Th e s i m pl e is only th a t whi c h is u nrea l T h e r ea l m u s t s eem .

m a rv e l ou s .

Th e my s tery of time p ene tra t e s a ll I t is felt in e v ery s tone .

,

whi c h p erh a p s m ight h a ve witnesse d th e gl a c ia l p eri od s een th e ,

i chthy o sa u r u s a nd th e m a mm o th I t is fe lt in th e a pproa c hing .

d a y whi c h w e d o n ot s e e b u t whi c h p ossibly sees u s whic h p er

, , ,

c h a n ce is ou r l a s t d a y ; o r on th e o th e r h a n d is th e d a y of s o m e

tr a ns form a ti on th e na tu r e of whic h w e do not ou rs e lv es n ow

kn ow .

Th e my s tery of th ou gh t c r e a t es a ll As soon a s w e s h a ll u nd er .

“ ”
s ta n d th a t t h ou ght is n ot a fu nc ti on of m o ti on b u t th a t m oti on ,
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 201

it se lf is only a n i llu sion of th ou ght — a nd s h a ll b egi n t o f e el th e

—
d epth of T HIS M YS T E R Y w e s h a ll p erc eive t h a t th e entir e ph e
n om en a l wo rld is som e giga nti c h a ll u c in ation whic h fa il s to
,

frigh ten u s a n d d oes not driv e u s to think that w e a re m a d si m ply

,

b ec au se w e hav e b ecom e a c cu stom e d to it .

Th e my s tery of infinity— th e grea t es t o f a ll m ys t e ri es I t t ell s u s

.

th a t a ll th e vi sibl e u niv ers e a nd its ga l a xi es of st a r s h a ve no dimen

sio n — th a t in r el a ti on to infi ni ty they are equ a l to a p oint a m ath e
,

m a tic a l p oint which h a s no e xte ns i on wh a te v er .

“
B u t in p ositive thinking w e m ak e th e effort T O F OR G E T
AB OU T ALL T HIS : NO T T O T HINK A B OUT I T .

At s om e fu tu re ti m e p ositivi sm will b e d efi ne d a s a sy st e m by
th e a id of whic h it w a s p ossibl e n ot to think of r ea l thi ngs a nd to
li mit ones e lf to th e r egi on of th e u nr e al a nd illu sory .
20 4 T ER T I U M ORGANUM

i na c cess ibl e to I f th ey m a nif est a t a ll in ou r life then we

us .
,

necess a rily rega rd th e ir m a n if est a tions a s th os e of d ea d a nd u n

c o n s c i ou s n a t u r e O u r p o w e r of a na l ogy is li mi t e d to this s ec ti on
. .

We c a nnot thin k logi c a lly ou t sid e of th e c on diti ons of th e three

di m ensi ona l se c tion Th er ef ore e verything th a t b oth liv es a nd is
.

consc i o u s of it se lf th ou g h no t a n a l ogou s t o u s m u s t a pp ea r d e ad
, ,

a n d m e c h a ni ca l .

B u t som eti m e s w e v a gu e ly f ee l a n in t ense lif e m a n if e s ti ng in th e

p h enom ena of na tu re a nd s ense a vivid em oti ona lity th e m anif es
,

t a tiOns o f whi c h c on s titu t e th e ph enom ena of ( to u s ) i na nim at e na

tu re Wh a t I wi sh to c onv ey is that b ehind th e phenomena of
.

vi sibl e m a nif esta tions is fe lt th e nou m enon of e m oti on .

I n electrica l disch a rges in th u nde r a nd lightning a re se en fl a sh es

, ,

o f th e sensu ou s nerv ou s s h u dd e ri ng s o f s om e giga nti c o rg a ni sm

-
.

A strange i n divid u a lity whi c h is a ll th eir o wn is s ense d in

c e rt a in day s . Th e re a re d a y s bri m ming with th e m a rv elou s a nd
th e m y s ti c day s h a vi ng e a c h its o wn i n divid u a l a nd u niqu e c on
,

s c iou sne ss its o w n em oti on s it s o wn th ou ght s

, O ne m a y al mos t
, .

c o mm u ne with th ese d a y s And th ey will t e ll y ou th a t th ey live

.

a l ong l ong ti me p e rh a p s e t e rna lly

, , a nd th a t th e y h a v e kno wn ,

a n d seen m a ny m a ny thi ng s
, .

I n th e pro c essi ona l of th e y ea r ; in th e irid e sc e nt l e a v es of a u t u mn ,

with th eir m em ory l a d en sm ell ; in th e fir s t sno w frosting th e fi eld s

-

a nd c o mm u ni c a ting a s tra ng e fr esh ness a nd sen s itiv e ness to th e

a ir ; in th e s prin g fr esh e t s in th e w a rming su n in th e a wa k ening

, ,

bu t s till na ke d branc h e s throu gh whi c h gl ea m s th e t u rq u oi se sky ;

in th e whit e night s of th e n orth a nd in th e d a rk h u m id w a rm , , ,

—
tropi ca l nig ht s S p a ng l e d with st a rs in a ll th ese a re th e th ou gh ts ,

th e e m o ti ons th e fo rm s p ec u li a r to it self a l o ne of som e gr e a t con

, ,

sc iou s nes s ; o r b e tt e r a ll thi s is th e expres sion of th e e m o ti ons

, ,

th ou ghts a nd form s of c onsci ou snes s of a m yst e riou s b ein g— Na tu re .

T h er e ca n b e n othing d ea d or m ec h a ni c a l in n a t u r e I f in .

gener a l lif e a nd c onsc i ou sness e xi s t th e y m u st exi st in a ll Life , .

a n d c ons c i ou s ne ss m a k e u p th e w o rld .

I f w e c ons id e r na tu re f rom ou r s ide fr om th e s id e of ph enom ena , ,

t h e n it is nec ess a ry to s ay that e a c h thi ng e a c h ph enom enon , ,

p ossess es c ons c i ou s ness .

A M OUN TA I N A T R E E A R IV E R T H E F ISH W I T HI N T H E R IV E R
, , , ,

D E W AND R A I N P LA N E T F I R E — ea c h s ep a r a t e l y m u s t p o s s e ss a
, ,

c ons c i o u s ne ss of its o w n .
 T ERT IUM ORGANUM 205

If we cons t r f rom the other side fr om th e sid e of

id er na u e ,

no u m en a ,
is nece ss ary to sa y th a t ea c h thi ng a nd e a ch
th en it
p h enom eno n of ou r w orld is a m a nif est a ti on in ou r sec ti on of som e
con s c i ou snes s i nc o m pr e h en sibl e t o u s b el o ngi ng t o a no th e r s e c
, ,

ti o n th a t c onsc i ou s n ess h a vi ng th ere f u nc ti ons i ncom pr eh ensibl e

,

to u s I n t h a t s e c ti on of sp ace one consc i ou snes s is su c h a nd its

. ,

fu nc tion is s u c h th a t it m a nifest s it self h ere a s a mou nta in som e ,

o t h e r m a nif es t s a s a tree a third a s a little fish a nd s o f o rth

, ,
.

T h e ph e no m en a o f ou r w orld a re v e ry difl e rent from o ne

'

a no th e r I f t h e r e a re nothing el se b u t m a nife s t a ti ons in ou r sec

.

ti o n of differ ent c onsci ou snesse s th en th ese c ons c iou snes ses m u s t

,

b e very difierent too

’

B e tween th e cons ciou sness of a mou nta in a nd th e consciousness

of a ma n th e r e m u s t b e th e sa me diff erence a s b e tw een a m ou nta i n

a nd a man .

We have a lre ady a dmitt e d th e p ossibility of diff e rent exi st enc es .

W e sa id th a t a h ou se exi st s a n d th a t a m a n e xi sts a nd th a t a n
id ea exi st s a l so—bu t th ey all exi s t diffe rently I f w e p u rsu e thi s
, ,

th ou ght th en w e sh a ll di scove r m a ny ki nd s of difierent exis tences

'

.
,

Th e f a nt a sy of f a iry t a l es m a king a ll th e w orld a ni m a t e

, ,

a s c rib es h u m a n c ons c i ou s ne s s t o m ou nt a i n s riv er s f o r es t s But , , .

t h i s is j u st a s u ntru e a s th e compl ete d enial of c onsc i ou sness to

i na nim a te na tu re Nou m ena a re a s distin c t a nd v a ri ou s a s ph e
.

nom ena whi c h a re th eir m a n if e s t a ti on in o u r three di m en s i ona l

,
-

sph er e .

E a ch s tone ea ch gr a in of sa nd ea ch pl a ne t h a s its nou menon

, , ,

c o ns i s ti ng of lif e a nd of c ons c i ou s n es s bi ndi ng th e m i nt o c ert a i n ,

wh oles inc om pr eh e ns ibl e to u s .

T h e ac tivity of lif e of s e p a r a t e u ni t s m ay v a ry gr ea tly Th e .

d egr ee of th e a ctivity of life c a n b e d e t erm i ne d from th e s tand

p o int oi its p o wer of r epro d u cing it s e lf I n i norga ni c m i n era l .
,

na tu r e this a c tivity is s o i n signifi ca nt th a t un it s of thi s n at u r e

,

ac cessible to ou r obs erva tion d o n ot r e pr o d u ce t h e m se lv e s a lth ou g h ,

it m a y only se em so to u s b ec a u se of th e na rro wne ss of ou r vi e w

in tim e a nd sp a c e P erh a p s if th a t vi ew em br a ce d h u ndr ed s of
.

thou sa n ds of ye a rs a nd ou r entir e pl a net si m u lt a neou sly w e ,

m ight th en see th e grow th o f m i ne ra l s a nd m et a l s .

Were w e to ob s erv e f rom th e inside on e cu bi c c enti m et e r of th e

, ,

hu ma n b ody knowing nothing of th e exi st enc e of th e e ntir e b o d y

,

a nd o f th e m a n hi m s e lf th en th e ph enom e na go i n g o n in t h i s littl e
,
206 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

cub e of fl esh w ou ld seem l ike e l em ent a l ph enom ena in i nanim a te

nat u r e .

B u t in p h e nom e na a re divid e d i nt o livi ng a nd

a ny ca s e , for us

m e ch a ni c a l a nd vi sibl e obj ec t s a re divid e d int o o rga ni c a nd in

,

o rg a ni c T h e l a tt e r a re p a rtiti one d with ou t r es i s t ence r e m a i ni ng

.
,

a s th e y w e r e b ef o r e I t is p os sibl e to br e a k a stone in h a lv es a nd
.
,

th en th er e will b e tw o s tone s B u t if one w er e to cu t a sna il in tw o

.
,

t h en th er e w ou ld not b e tw o sna il s Thi s m ea n s th a t th e con

s c io u s nes s o f th e s t one is v e ry s i m pl e pri m itiv e—so s i m pl e that
.

it m ay b e fra c tu r e d wit h ou t c h a nge of st a t e B u t a sna il c o nsis ts .

of livi ng c e ll s E a c h livi ng c ell is a com pl ex c ons c i ou sness c on

.
,

s id era b ly m o r e i ntri c a t e th a n th a t o f a s t o ne Th e b o dy o f th e .

s n a il p o ss e s ses t h e p o w e r t o m o v e t o n ou ri s h itse lf f eel pl e asu r e

, ,

a nd p a i n s eek th e fir s t a nd a v o id th e l a s t ; a n d m os t i m p o rt a n t
,

of a ll it p o s s esse s th e f a cu lty
, to m u ltiply to c r e at e ne w fo r m s ,

s i mil a r t o it s e lf to i nv o lv e i no rg a ni c su b s t a nc e withi n th es e fo r m s
, ,

su bd u i ng phy s i c al l a w s to its s ervi ce Th e s na il is a complex .

center of tr a n sm u t a ti o n o f s o m e phy s i c a l e ne rgi es into o th e rs .

Thi s c enter p oss ess es a c onsc iou sness of its ow n I t is f or thi s .

r ea son t h a t th e sna il is indivi sibl e I ts c ons c i ou snes s is infi nit ely .

high e r th a n th a t of th e stone T h e sna il h a s th e consciou sness of .

f orm i e th e for m of a s na il is c onsc iou s of itse lf as it we re T h e

, . .
, , .

form of a stone is not consc iou s of it s elf .

I n i norga nic na t u re wh er e w e s e e lif e c onsc i ou sness is m u c h

, ,

mo r e e a s ily di sc ern e d I n th e s na il a living c r ea tu r e w e alr ea dy

.
, ,

a d m it cons c i o u s n ess W ith ou t diffi c u lty B u t lif e b e l o ngs not a l one .

to sep a r a t e i ndivid u a l o rg a i
, n s m s— a nythi ng indivi sibl e is a livin g

b eing E a c h c e ll in a n orga ni sm is a living b eing a nd it m u s t b e

.

c ons c i ou s u p to a c e rt a i n p oi nt .

E ac h com bi na ti on of c e ll s h a vi ng a d efi nit e f u nc ti on is a livi ng

—
b ein g a l s o Anoth er high er com bi na ti on th e orga n is a livi ng
.
—
b e ing no l ess a nd p os sess es a c onsci ou sness of its o wn
, .

Indivi sibility in o u r sph er e is th e S ign of a d efinit e f u nction I f .

a giv e n ph eno m enon in ou r pl a ne is a ma nifes ta tion of th a t whi c h

on a no t h e r pl a n e is cons ciou s nes s th en on ou r s id e e vid ently i n di , ,

vi s ibility co rr e sp on d s to individu a lity o f con sc i ou sne ss o n th a t

o th e r s id e Divi sibility on ou r sid e sh o ws divi sibility on th a t
.

s id e
. . T h e c onsc i ou sness of th e divi s ibl e c a n b e a co ll ec tiv e non ,

i ndivid u a l c ons c iou s n es s only We r ec ogniz e c onsc iou sness in th e .

w h ole orga ni sm only .

208 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

E ntering a s a c omp onent p a rt into diffe rent gr ea t a nd little

I s th e first o f w h i c h is his lif e t h rou gh ou t its entir e c yc l e m a n
’
, ,

hi m s elf c onsi st s of a n i nnu m era bl e nu m b er of gr ea t a nd littl e I s ’

.

M a ny of th e I s livi ng in him d o not e v en know one a noth er j u st

’
, ,

a s m en w h o liv e in th e s a m e h ou s e m a y n ot kno w o ne a n o t h e r .

”
E xpr essed in t er m s of thi s a nal ogy it m a y b e sa id th a t m a n h a s ,

m u c h in c om m o n with a h ou s e fill e d with i nh a bita nt s th e m os t

div erse . Or b ett e r h e is lik e a gr e a t oc e an li ner on whi c h a re
,

m a ny trans i ent p a ss engers e a c h goi ng to h is o w n pl a c e f or h is

,

o wn p u rp os e e ac h u ni tin g in hi m s e lf e l e m e nt s th e m os t div e rs e
, .

And e a ch self cons c i ou s u nit in th e p op u l a ti on of thi s s t ea m er

-

o ri ent a t es hi m se lf i nv ol u nt a rily a n d u ncon s c i ou s ly r e g a rd s hi m

,

se lf a s th e v e ry c ent e r of th e s t e a m e r Thi s is a f a irly tru e pr e sent .

m ent o f a h u m a n b e ing .

Perh a p s it wou ld b e m or e corr ect to com p a r e a m a n with som e

littl e s ep a ra t e d pl a c e on e a rth livi ng a l ife of its ow n ; with a f ores t
,

l a ke fu ll of th e m os t div er s e l ife r efl ec ting th e su n a nd st a rs a nd

, , ,

hi ding in its d epth s s om e i ncom pr eh ens ibl e ph a nt a sm p e r h a p s ,

a n u n din e or a w a t e r sprit e
,
-
.

If w e a b a n don a na l ogi es a nd r etu rn to fac t s s o f a r a s th es e a re ,

a c ce ss ibl e to ou r ob s e rv a ti on it th e n b ec om e s nec essa ry t o b e gi n

,

with s ev e ra l som ewh a t a rtifi c i a l divi s i ons of th e h u m a n b ei ng .

Th e old divi s i o n i nt o b o dy s ou l a nd s pirit h a s in it s e lf a c e rt a i n

, ,

a u t h e n ti c ity b u t l ea d s o ft e n to c onf u s i o n b e c a u se wh e n su c h a
, ,

divi si on is att empt e d di sa greem ents i mm e di a tely a ri se as to

wh er e th e b o dy en d s a nd wh er e th e s ou l b egi ns W h e r e th e s ou l ,

e n d s a nd th e spir it b egi ns a nd so f orth Th er e a re n o s tri c t

, .

li mit s a t a ll nor c a n th ere b e I n additi on to this c onfu s i on

, .
,

e nt e r s in by r ea son o f th e opp os ition of b o dy s ou l a n d spirit whi c h , ,

a re r e cog niz e d in t hi s c a s e a s inimica l pri nc ipl es Thi s is entir e ly .

e rr one ou s a l s o b e c a u se th e b o dy is th e e xpr es s i on o f th e sou l a nd

, ,

th e s ou l of th e s pirit .

T h e v e ry t erm s b o dy sou l a nd s pirit nee d e xpl a na ti on

, ,
Th e .

”
b ody is th e p h y si ca l b ody with its (to u s) su b c onsc iou s m i nd ,

a nd th e p sy ch e s t u di e d by s c i e ntifi c p sy c h o l ogy i e th e r efl e c t e d , . .
,

a c tivity whi c h is g u id e d by i m pr e s s i ons r e c e iv e d fr om th e e xt e r n a l

“ ”
wo rld a nd from th e b o dy T h e s ou l is th e high e r p s yc hic lif e
—
. ,

g id e d b y i nner princ ipl es procee di ng fr om itself a s it w ere n o t

u

d ep endi ng u p on ou te r i m pr essi ons a nd th e ou ter w orld T h e .

”
spirit c om pri s es th os e hig h e r pri nc ipl es whi c h g u id e th e s o u l lif e -
.
 T ER T I UM ORGANUM 209

Th e i nner b eing of m a n his low e r p s ych e his sou l a nd , ,

“ ”
h is spirit a re a l so divid ed a c c ordi ng to th e natur e of consc i ou s
n e ss into thr e e c a t e go ri e s which do not coi ncide with th e pr e vi ou s
divi si on .

—
Fir st : th e su b cons c iou s r egion th e r egion of instinct s a nd th e ,
“ ”
inn er instinc tiv e c onsc iou sne ss of th e diff er ent o rga ns p a rt s of ,

th e b o dy and th e entir e o rga ni s m

, .

S ec o n d : th e r e gi o n o f th e so c a ll e d c l e a r c ons c i ou s ne s s-

h er e b elong a ll th e sensa tions a nd p erc e pti ons of th e ou t er world

a nd of th e b o dy it s e lf a ll p e r ce pti on s t h ou gh t s co nc epts id e as
, , , , ,

f ee li ngs em oti ons d e sir es eith er c ons c i ou s or u nc onsc i ou s a t a ny

, , ,

giv en m om ent b u t whi c h m a y b ecom e c onsc i ou s

, .

Third : th e r egion of th e high er c onsc iou sness T h e hig h e r con .

sc iou s ne ss d o es no t m a nif es t in th e m a j o rity of m en a t a ll o r d oes ,

so on ly in c onf u se d i nt u iti o ns a nd su gg es ti o ns Thi s is th e r egi on .

o f s ou l a nd spirit B u t wh e n m a n p o sse s s e s high e r c onsc i ou s ne ss

.
,

i e wh en h e is c onsc iou s in th ese r e gions t h en th e high er con

. .
, ,

sc io u s ness ( i e s ou l a nd s pirit ) i nc l u d e s th e p s y ch e ( b o th su b c o n
. .
,

s cio u s ness a nd c l e a r c o ns c i ou sne ss ) withi n it se lf a nd d o e s n o t ,

e x c l u d e it .

But d er th e u su a l c on diti ons of th e a v e r a ge m a n th e foc u s of

un

h is c o nsc i ou snes s is c o nfi ne d to th e psy ch e p erp et u a lly goin g fro m

o ne o bj e c t to a no th e r in th e r e gi o n o f c l e a r c ons c i ou s ne s s a nd

s u b consc i o u sn e ss

I wish to ea t .

I read a newsp a per .

I wa it f or a letter .

a nd o n ly v ery r a r ely tou ching th e r egi ons of th e s ou l a nd spirit .

B u t t h e se r e gi ons of th e s ou l a nd s pirit a re o p ening to th e r e ligi ou s ,

es th eti c a nd m or a l em o ti ons a l s o th e high e r int e ll e c t whi c h ex

, , ,

pr esses it s e lf in a b str a c t thinki ng u nite d with th e m ora l a nd ,

e s th e ti c s e n s e i e th e se ns e of th e nece s sity of th e cc ordina tion

, . .
,
-

of th ou ght f eeli ng w o rd a n d a c ti on
, , .

“ ”
B u t u su a lly in s a ying I , a m a n m ea n s n ot th e t o t a l c o m ,

pl ex of a ll these r egi ons b u t t h a t which in a giv en m om ent is in

,

th e f ocu s of h is c ons c i ou sne ss I wis h Th es e word s pl a ying . .

,

th e m o s t i m p ort a n t r o l e in th e lif e of m a n u su a lly r e f e r not a t a ll ,

210 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

to e very sid e of hi s b eing si m u lta neou sly b u t m er ely to som e ,

s m a ll a n d insignifi c a n t f a c e t whi c h a t a giv en m om ent h old s th e

,

foc u s of c onsc i ou sness a nd su bj ec ts to itse lf a ll th e r est u ntil it in ,

tu rn is for c ed ou t by a noth er e qu a lly insignifi ca nt f a ce t .

I n th e s e lf c onsc i ou snes s of m a n th ere occ u r s a c on tinu a l shift

ing o f vi e w from o ne su bj ec t to a no th e r Thr ou gh th e fo c u s o f c on
.

sc iou sn es s r u ns a c o n tinu o u s c in e m a t o gr a p hi ca l film of f eeling s

a nd i m pr e ss i on s a nd ea c h sep a r a t e i m pr ess i on d e fi ne s th e I of a
,

giv en m om ent .

From thi s p oin t of vi e w th e c onsc i ou snes s of m a n h a s oft en b een

c om p a r e d to a d a rk s l eeping t o wn in th e mid s t of whi c h night
, ,

gu a rd s with l a nt erns s l o wly m ov e a b ou t ea c h lighting u p a little,

c ir c l e a r ou n d hi m se lf Thi s is a tru e a na l ogy I n ea c h giv en m o

. .

m en t th er e a re s e v era l su c h un s te a dily light e d c irc l e s in th e foc u s

of c o ns c i o u sness a n d a ll th e r es t is e n v e l op e d in d a rkness
, .

E a c h su c h littl e lighte d c ir c l e r epr es ents a n 1 living its ow n lif e , ,

som e ti m e s v e ry s h o rt som e ti m es o u tl a s ting th e m a n hi m se lf

,

f or a l ong ti m e An d th er e is c ontin u ou s m ov em ent e ith e r f a s t or

.
,

s l o w m o vin g ou t int o th e light m o r e of ne w a nd s till n ew o bj ec t s

, ,

or e l s e old on es fr om th e r e gi on o f m em o ry or t or m entin gly r e ,

v olvi ng in a c ir c l e of th e s a m e fix e d id ea s .

Thi s c ontinu o u s m oti on go ing on in ou r c onsci ou sness thi s u n ,

interru pt e d ru nning o v e r of th e light from one I to a no t h er ex ,

pl a i ns th e ph enom enon of m oti on in th e ou t er vi sibl e w orld .

We kn o w already by ou r intellect th a t th er e is n o su ch m otion

, .

We kno w th a t every thing exis ts in infi nit e sp a c e s of tim e no thing ,

is m a d e nothing b ec om e s a ll is
, B u t w e do not s ee e v e ryt h in g
, .

a t o nc e a nd th e r e f o r e it s eems to u s th a t e v e rythi ng m o v es gr o w s
, , ,

is b ec om in g We do not s ee ev e ryth ing a t onc e eith e r in th e

.
,

ou t e r w o rld n or in th e inn e r w orld ; th en ce a ri se s th e il l u s i on o f

,

m oti on Fo r ex a m pl e a s w e rid e p a s t a h ou se th e h ou s e tu rns

.
,

b ehin d u s ; bu t if w e c o u ld s ee it not with ou r ey es not in p er

, ,

sp ec tive b u t by high e r vi si on s i m u lt a neou s ly from a ll s id e s

, , ,

from b el o w a nd from a b ov e a nd fro m th e i nsid e w e wou ld no ,

l ong e r s ee th a t ill u sory m o ti on b u t wou ld se e th e h ou s e entire ly

,

i m m obil e j u s t a s it is in r e a lity M ent a lly w e kno w t h a t th e

, .
,

h ou s e d id no t m o v e .

I t is j u st th e s a m e with e v eryt h ing el se T h e m oti on g ro wth .

, ,
”
b ec omi ng whi c h is go in g o n a ll a r ou nd u s in th e world is n o
,

m or e r e a l t h a n th e m oti o n o f a h o u s e whi c h w e a re riding b y o r ,

 21 2 T ER T IUM ORGANUM
When th e new conception is form e d it is foun d to b e q uite S imp le ‘

a nd n atur a l We ask our selves wh at we h a ve g a ine d ; a nd we a nswe r :

.

N othing ; we h a ve s im p ly re move d a n ob vi ou s lim it ation .

T h e q u e sti on m a y b e pu t : in wh a t w ay do w e c om e into conta c t w ith

th ese higher b eing s a t p resent ? An d e vi dently th e a nswer is : I n those
w a ys in which w e tend to f orm orga nic u nions—u nions in whic h th e a ctivi
ties of in divi d u a ls c oa le sc e in a livi ng w a y .

T h e c oh erenc e of a m ilita ry e m p i re o r of a su bj u ga te d p op ula ti on ,

p resenting no natu ra l nu cleu s of growth is not one th rou gh which w e ,

sh ou l d h op e to grow into direc t c ont ac t with our high e r d e sti nies Bu t .

in fri en d shi p in vol unta ry a ssoci a tions a nd a b ove a ll in th e fa mil y w e

, , , ,

tend towa rd s ou r greater life .

Ju st a s to exp lore th e di sta nt sta rs of th e h ea vens a p a rticu l a r

, ,

m ate ri a l a rra nge m e nt is nec e ssa ry which w e c a ll a te lesc op e so to exp lore .

,

th e n atur e of th e b eing s w h o a re high e r th a n w e a m ent a l a rra nge ment is ,

nec ess a ry We m u st p rep a re a m ore extende d p ower of looking We

. .

wa nt a stru ctu re develope d inside th e s ku ll f or th e one p u rp ose wh i c h a n ,

e xte ri or tel esc op e will d o f o r th e oth e r .

This i mi sm of na tu re t a kes th e m o s t div erse dir ec tions

an .

This tree is a li ving b e i ng i —

Th e birch t ee n g e e ra l the species
r n .

is a living b e ing A bir c h tr e e for e s t is a livin g b e ing a l s o

. A .

for est in whic h t h e r e a re trees of diff e r ent kind s gr a ss fl owe rs , , ,

a t s b ee tl e
n ,s —
bird s b ea st s t h i s is a living b eing to o livin g by th e
, , ,

life of e v erythin g c om p os ing it consc i ou s thr ou gh a ll th e co n ,

s c iou s nesses of whi ch it c ons i s t s .

Thi s id ea is v ery i nt er es tingly expr esse d in th e es sa y of P .

“ ”
Florensky Th e Hu m a nita ri a n Roots of Id ea li sm
, ( Th e Th eo .

l ogi c al M es senger 1 9 0 9 II p 28 8 I n Ru ssi a n)

, , , . . .

Are th ere
m a ny p eop le w h o re g a rd a forest not m erely a s a c oll ective
proper noun a nd rh etoric al e mb odim ent i e a s a pu re fic tion b u t as , . .
, ,

so m e th ing u niqu e livi ng ? , T h e re a l u nity is a u nity of self

c onsc i ou sness Are th e re m a ny w h o reco gnize unity in a fore s t
1 e th e livin g sou l of a forest ta ke n a s a wh ol e—voo doo woo d d e m on
.
,

. .
, , ,

O ld Ni c k ? D o y ou c on se nt to re c ogniz e u ndines a n d wa te r s p rite s

th ose soul s of th e a qu atic elem ent ?
Th e a c tivity of th e lif e o f su c h a c o m p osit e b eing a s a fo res t is
no t th e s a m e a s th e a c tivity o f diz f erent species of pl a nts a nd a ni
m a l s a nd th e a c tivity of th e lif e of a s p ec i e s is a ga i n d iff erent
,

fr om th e lif e of s ep a ra t e in divid u a l s .

"
M or eov e r th e div ersity o f th e f u nc ti ons e xpr es s e d in diff e rent
,

fif e a c tiviti es , r e v ea l s th e di ff er ence s e xi s ti ng b e tw een th e c on

-
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 213

s c iou sness es differ ent o rga ni sm s

of T h e lif e a c tivity of a .
-

s i ngl e l e a f o f a birc h tr ee is o f cou r se a n i nfinit e ly l o w e r f o r m o f

,

a c tivity th a n th e lif e of th e tree Th e a c tivity o f th e lif e of th e

.

tree is not su ch a s th e a c tivity of th e lif e of th e sp ec i es a nd th e ,

lif e of th e species is not s u ch a s th e lif e of th e for es t .

“ ”
T h e f u nc ti ons of th ese f ou r liv e s a re entire ly diff erent a nd ,

t h eir consc i ou snesses m u st b e c orr esp ondi ngly diffe rent a l so .

T h e c onsc i ou sne ss of a si ngl e c ell of th e h u m a n b o dy m u s t b e

a s m u c h l o w e r in co m p a ri s on with th e c o n sc i ou s ne s s of th e b o dy
“ ”—
i e with th e physi c a l consc iou s nes s of m a n
. .
, a s its lif e

a c tivity is l o w er in c o m p a ri s on with th e life a c tivity of th e -

e ntir e o rga ni s m .

Th e refore w e m a y re ga rd th e nou m enon of a ph enom enon a s

th e s ou l of th a t ph eno m enon i e th e hidd en sou l of a phe
, . .
,

nomenon is its nou m enon T h e c once pt o f th e s ou l of a ph enomenon

.

or th e nou menon of a ph enomenon i nc l u d es withi n it s e lf b o th lif e a nd

c o ns c i ou s n ess t og e t h e r with t h e ir f u nc ti ons in s ec ti ons of th e

world incom preh ens ibl e to u s ; a nd th e m a nifes t a ti on of thos e in

o u r sph e r e c ons tit u t e s a ph enom e non .

T h e id ea of a n a ni m i s ti c u niv e rse l ea d s i ne vit a bly to th e id e a

“ ”— “ ”
of a World S ou l -
a B e ing wh os e m a nifest a tion is t h i s vi sibl e
u niv e r se .

T h e id ea of th e Wo rld S ou l w a s v e ry pi c t u r e s q u e ly u nd e r
-

s t oo d in th e anc i e nt r e ligi o ns of I ndi a Th e m y s ti c a l p oem T h e .

,

B h aga va d Gita giv e s a r e m a rk a bl e pr e s entm ent of M a h a deva ,

i e th e grea t Deva wh ose life is thi s world

. .
, .

Thu s Kri shna p rop ou nde d his tea c hi ng to h is di sciples pre .

pa ring the m f or a n a pprehension of those high Spiritua l tru th s which

u nf o l d b e fore his i nne r si gh t in a m o m e nt of ill u mi na ti on .

Wh en h e sp oke of Ma h a deva h is voic e b ec a me very d ee p a nd h is fa c e ,

w a s ill u mi na te d by a n i nn e r li g h t .

O nc e Arj u na in a n i m pu l se of b ol d ne s s sa i d to him
, ,

Le t u s se e M a h a de va in his divine form M ay w e b e h ol d him ? .

An d th en Kri s h n a b e ga n to sp ea k of a b eing w h o brea thes in

e very c rea tu re h a s a n h u n dre d fol d a nd a th ou sa n d fo l d form s m any
,
- -

fa c e d m a ny ey ed fa cing everywhere a nd wh o su rp a sses everything

,
-

, ,

c re a te d by i nfinity w h o e nve l op es in hi s b ody th e W h ol e worl d t hin gs

, ,

stil l a nd a ni m a te If th e ra di a nce of a thou sa nd s u ns sh ou l d b u rst

.

forth su ddenly in th e sky it wou l d not c om p a re with th e ra dia nc e of

,

th a t bl ighty S pirit .

Wh en Krish na sp oke thu s of Ma h a deva a b e a m of light of su c h tre ,

m endons force sh one in h is ey e s th a t h is di sci pl e s cou l d not e nd u re

,
214 T ER T IUM ORGANUM
th e ra di a nc e of th a t lig ht a nd fell a t Kri shn a s fee t From very fe ar th e
,
’
.

h a ir rose on Arjun a s h ea d a nd b owing low h e s ai d : T h y word s a re

’

terrible w e c a nn ot loo k u p on s u ch a b eing a s Th ou e vokes t b efore our

,

e y es His form m a ke s u s trem b le *

. .

In a n int e r esting b ook of l ec tu r es by Prof Willi a m Ja m es

“

.
,
”
A P l u r a li s ti c U niv erse th e r e is a l ec tu r e on F ec hne r d ev o t e d to ,
”
a c on sc i ou s u ni v e r se .

O rdina ry m oni stic i de alism l e a ve s every thin g interm e di a ry ou t It .

re c ognize s onl y extreme s a s if a fter th e first ru d e face of th e ph enom enal

, ,

worl d in a ll its p a rtic ul arity , nothing b u t th e su p rem e in a ll its perfe ction

c oul d b e f o un d First y ou a nd I , j u st a s w e a re in thi s room ; a nd th e
.
,

m om ent w e ge t b elow th a t su rf a c e th e unu ttera b l e itself " D oesn t this

’
,

sh ow a sing ul a rl y indige nt i m a gin a ti on ? I sn t this b ra ve u nivers e m a de ’

o n a ri ch er p a tte rn with roo m in it f or a long hiera rc hy of b eings ?

,

M a te ri a li stic s cienc e m a k es it infinitely ri c he r in term s with its m ol e ,

c ule s a nd e th e r a nd el ec trons an d wh a t not

, , Ab s ol ute i dealism th ink .
,

ing of re a lity onl y un der intellec tu a l form s knows not wh a t to do with ,

b odies of a ny gra de a nd ca n m a ke no u se of a ny p sych o physic a l a na logy

,
-

or corres p ondenc e .

F ec hner fr om wh os e w ritings Prof Ja m e s m ak es copi ou s q u o

, .

ta tion u ph e ld q uit e a di ff er en t vi e w p oin t

’
, Fech ner s id ea s a re -
.

so n ea r to th os e whi c h hav e b een pr esent e d in th e pr evi ou s c h a pt er s

th a t w e s h a ll dwe ll u p on th em m or e e xtens iv ely .

I u se th e word s of Pr of Ja m es .

T he ri gi na l sin a ccording to Fe chner of b oth our p opu l a r a nd

o , ,

s c i e ntifi c thin kin g is ou r inve te ra te h a b it of reg a r ding th e sp iritu a l not

,

a s th e rul e b u t a s a n excep ti on in th e mid st of n a tu re Instea d of be .

li eving o u r life to b e f e d a t th e b rea sts of th e gre a te r lif e ou r i n divi du a l ,

ity to b e su sta in e d by th e gre a ter indi vi d u a lity whi c h m u st neces sa ril y ,

h a ve m ore c onsciou sness a nd m ore in dep end ence th an a ll th a t it b rings

forth w e h a bitu a lly trea t wh atever lies ou tsi d e of ou r lif e a s so m u c h
,

s l a g a nd a sh e s of life o nly .

O r if w e b elieve in Divi ne S pirit w e fa nc y it on th e one si de a s b o di ,

less a nd na tu re a s s oulless on th e oth er

, .

Wh a t comfort or p ea ce Fec hner a sk s c an com e from su c h a doc

, , ,

tri ne ? T h e fl owers with er a t its b reath th e sta rs turn into stone ; o ur ,

o w n b o dy grows u nworthy of o u r s p i rit a nd s ink s to a te ne m e nt f or

c a rn a l se n ses onl y T h e b oo k of na tu re tu rn s in to a vol u m e o n m ec h a n

.

ic s in whic h wh a te ve r h a s l ife is tre a te d a s a sort of a noma ly ; a g rea t

,

c h a s m of se p a ra tio n y a wn s b e twee n u s a nd a ll th a t is hi gh e r th a n o ur

se lves ; a nd G o d b e c o m es a thinne s t of a b stra c ti ons .

Fec h ner s gre a t in s tru m ent f or verifying th e d a yligh t view is a na

’

logy .

T h G a t I itiat by E S h
“
e re n es . c ure .
216 T ER T IUM ORGAN U M
m u sc les li mb s of h er own a nd th e only obj ec ts externa l to h er a re th e
or ,

oth e r s ta rs T 0 th ese h e r wh ole m a ss rea c ts by m os t e xquisite a lte r

.

a tions in its tot a l g a it a n d by still m o re exq uis ite vi b ra t ory re sp onse s i n

,

its su b sta nc e H er o cea n refl ec ts th e li ghts of h ea ven a s on a mighty

.

mi rr or h e r a tm osph e re refra c ts th e m li ke a m onstrou s l ens th e c lou d s

, ,

and sn ow fie ld s c o m b i ne th e m i nto white th e wo od s a n d fl owe rs disp ers e

-

th e m into c ol ors Pola riz a tion interferenc e a b sorption a wa ken sensi

.
, , ,

bilitie s in m a tter of whi c h ou r se nse s a re too c oa rse to ta ke a ny note .

F o r th ese c osmic rel a ti ons of h ers th en sh e no m ore ne e d s a sp e c i a l , ,

b ra in th an sh e nee d s eyes or ears Ou r b rains do inde e d u nify a nd c or .

e

rela te innu m era b le fu nctions O ur eye s kn ow nothing of soun d ou r .

,

e a rs nothin g of ligh t b u t h a vi ng b ra i ns w e c a n fee l s ou nd a nd li g h t

, ,

to gether a nd c om p a re the m M u st e very high er m ea ns

of u nifi c a ti on b e twee n thin gs b e a lite ra
,

l b rain fiber ? C a nnot th e ea rth -

mind kn ow o th erwi se th e contents of ou r min d s togeth er ?

I n a striking p a ge F ec hne r rel a tes one of hi s m om ents of direc t vi si on
of tru th .

“
On a certa i n m orning I went ou t to wa lk Th e fi el d s were green .
,

th e b ird s s ang th e dew g liste ne d th e s m oke w a s ri sing h ere a nd the re

, , ,

a m a n a pp e a re d a ligh t a s of tra nsfig ura tion la y on a ll t hing s

, It w a s .

onl y a littl e b it of ea rth ; it w a s onl y o ne m om e nt of h er e xiste nce ; a nd

y e t a s my look e m b ra ce d h er m ore a nd m ore it se e m e d to m e not onl y

so b eau tif ul a n i d e a b u t s o tru e a nd c l ea r a f a c t th a t sh e is a n a ngel a n
—c arrying m e a long with h er into Hea ven
, , ,

an ge l .

I as ke d m y self h ow th e opinions of men c oul d ever h a ve so s p un the m

se lves a wa y fro m lif e so f a r a s to d e e m th e e a rth only a d ry c l o d

Bu t su c h a n exp eri ence a s thi s p a sses f or fanta s

y
Th ee arth 1 s a gl ob ula r b ody a nd wh a t m ore sh e m a y be one can find i n
.

, ,

minera logi c a l c a b ine ts

Th e s p e ci al th ou gh t of Fechn er s—is his b e li ef th a t th e m ore in
.

e l u s ive fo rm s of con sci ou sness a re in p a rt cons titu ted by th e m ore limite d

forms Not th a t th ey a re th e m e re s u m of th e m ore li mite d form s As

. .

ou r m in d is n o t th e b a re su m of ou r si gh ts p l u s o u r soun d s p l u s o u r ,

p a ins b u t in a dding th e se te rms togeth er it a l so find s rel a tions a m ong

,

th em a nd wea ve s th e m into sch e m es a nd form s a nd obj ects of whic h

no one sense in its se p a ra te esta te knows a ny thing so th e e a rth s ou l ,
-

trac es rela ti ons b etween th e contents of my mind a nd th e contents of

yours of whic h neith er of ou r s ep ara te mind s is c onsc iou s It h a s .

s ch e m es form s a nd o bj e c ts p rop orti o n a te to its wi d er fi el d whi c h ou r

, , ,

m enta l fi el d s a re f a r to o n a rrow to cogniz e By ou rselves w e a re si m p ly .

ou t of r el a ti on with e ac h o th e r f or w e a re b o th of u s th e re a nd difierent
’

, ,

f rom e a ch o th e r which is a p ositive re l a ti on

, Wh a t w e a re with ou t .

knowing it knows th a t w e a re I t is a s if th e tota l u niverse of inn er lif e

, .

h a d a sort o f g ra i n or direc ti on a sort of va lvu la r struc tu re p ermittin g

, ,

knowl e dge to fl ow in one w ay only so th a t th e wider might a lwa y s h a ve ,

th e na rrowe r un d e r o b s erva tio n b u t never th e na rrowe r th e wi d er , .

Fec h ner likens ou r in divid u a l p ersons on th e ea rth u nto so m a ny

se nse orga ns of th e e a rth sou l
-
We a dd to its p erce ptive life
-
. .
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 217

It ab sorb s our p erceptions into its larger s ph ere of knowledge a nd c om

,

bines them with th e oth er d ata there T h e m em ories a nd c oncep tu a l

.

rela tions th a t h a ve sp un themselves rou nd th e perc eptions of a certa in

person rem ain i n th l a rger ea rth life a s di stinct a s ever a nd form ne w
rel a tions
e ,

Fec hner 3 i dea s a re exp ou nde d in his b ook Zenda ve s ta

’
.

I h a ve m a d e su c h a l engthy qu ot a ti on from Pr of Ja m e s b ook

.
’

in ord e r to S h o w th a t th e id e a s of th e a ni mi sm a nd of th e con
sciou s ness of th e w o rld a re n e ith e r n e w n or para d o xi c a l I t is a
.

na tu r a l a nd l ogi ca l n e ces s ity r es u lti ng fr om a broa d e r vi e w of

,

th e world th a n th a t whi c h w e u su a lly p e r mit o u r s e lv e s to h o ld .

Logica lly w e m u st e ith er r eco gniz e lif e a nd consc i ou snes s in

“ ”
e v e rythi ng in a ll
, d e a d na tu re or d eny th em c om pl et ely even
, ,

l N OUR S E LV E S .
2 20 T ER T I UM ORGANUM

inc id ents e xc it em ent s a nd a ttra c tions ine vitably l e a d s u s T O T H E

, ,

KN O W LE D G E O F SOM E T HING All lif e exp eri enc e is KNO W LE D G E .

-
.

T h e m o s t p o w e rf u l e m oti on in m a n i s hi s y e a rnin g t o w a rd th e
u n kno wn EVE N I N LO VE th e m ost p ow erf u l of a ll a ttr a c ti ons
.
, ,

t o whic h e v erything is sa c rifi ce d is thi s y ea rni ng t o w a rd th e u n ,

,
—
kn own t o wa rd th e NE w cu riosity .

Th e P ers i a n p oe t phil os op h e r Al G h a zz a li s a y s :
-
The h igh es t ,
-

,
”
f u nction of ma n s sou l is th e p erception of tru th
’
.

I n th e v ery b eginn ing o f t his b oo k CO NSCIOUS NE SS a nd T H E

W OR LD w er e r ecogniz e d a s exi sting : I a nd Not I T h e w orld is -
.

e v eryt hin g th a t exis t s C ons c iou sness m a y b e d efi ne d a s the

.

rea liza tion of exis tence .

T h e I r ea liz es its exi st enc e a nd th e e xi s t enc e of th e w orld a p a rt ,

of whi c h it is I ts r el a ti on to itse lf a nd to th e w orld is c a ll e d

.

knowl e dge T h e exp a ns ion a nd d eep ening of its r el a ti on to it se lf

.

a n d t o th e w o rld is th e exp a n si on of kno wl e dge .

All of th e s ou l prop erti e s of m a n a H th e e l em ent s of h is con

-

—
,

s c iou sne ss sens a ti ons p erc eptions , c onc epti ons id ea s j u dg

, , ,

,
—
m ent s r ea sonin gs f ee lings em oti ons e v en c r ea ti o n a ll th ese a re
, , ,

th e I N S TR UM E NT S O F KNOW LE D G E whi c h th e I p osse s se s .

—
F eelin gs from th e s im pl e em oti ons u p to th e m o st c om pl ex ,

s u c h a s es th e ti c , r eligi ou s a nd m o r a l e m oti on — a n d c r e a ti o n

from th e c r ea ti on of a s a va ge m aking a stone h a t ch et f or hi m s elf

u p t o th e c r ea ti o n of a B e e th o v en— th es e i n d e e d a re ins tru ments

of know ledge .

Onl y to our n a rr o w H UM AN vi e w do th ey a pp ea r t o s erv e oth er

—
p ur p oses th e pr eserva ti on of lif e th e c onstru c tion of som e thing , ,

or m e r e ly pl ea s ur e I n r e a lit y a ll thi s condu ces to kno wl e dge

. .

E vol u ti onist s follo we rs of D a rwin sa y th a t th e stru ggl e f or

, ,

e xi s t e nc e a n d th e s e l ec ti on of th e fitt e s t c r e a t e d th e min d a nd

fe e lin g of c ont em p or a ry m a n—t h a t min d a nd f eelin g S E R VE LI F E ,

pr eserv e th e life of s ep a r a t e individ u a l s a nd of th e s p e ci es a nd —

th a t bey ond this th ey h a v e no m ea ning in th em se lv es B u t it is .

p oss ibl e to a ns wer this wit h th e s a m e a rgu m ent s b efor e a dva nc e d

a g a in st th e mech a nic a lit o f th e u n iv e r se ; n a m e ly t h a t if c o n
y ,

s c iou sn es s exi st s th en no t hi ng e xi st s e x c ept c o ns c i ou s n e s s

,
Th e .

s tr u gg l e f or e xis t enc e a n d th e su rviv a l of th e fitt e st if t h e y tr u ly ,

pl a y s u c h a ro l e in th e c r ea ti on of lif e a re a ls o not m erely a ccid ent s ,

b u t pro d u c t s of c ons c i ou sness O F W HICH — W E D O N O T KNOW ; a nd ,

t h ey a l s o c ond u c e like e v ery thi ng e l se T O KNOW LE D G E

, ,
.

Al G
-
h az z ali , T he Al h m y o f H
c e ppiness
a .
 T ER T I UM ORGANUM 22 1

B u t w e do not r ea liz e , d o not di scern th e presenc e o f c on

s c io u snes s in th e l a w s of na t u r e Thi s h a pp ens b ecau se w e s tu dy
.

a lw a y s n ot th e wh ol e b u t th e p a rt , a nd w e do not divi ne th e con

s cio u sne s s b e l ongi ng t o th e W h ol e

—b y stu dying th e littl e fi nge r
of a m a n w e c a nn o t di sc ov e r h is c on sc i ou sness I t is th e s a m e .

w a y in ou r r el a ti on to n atu r e : w e st u dy a lw a y s th e littl e fi n ge r of
t r
na u e . Wh en w e c om e to r ea liz e t h is w e sh a ll u nd erst a n d th a t
E V E R Y LI F E I S T H E MANI F E S TA T IO N O F A PA R T O F SOM E S E L F

CONSCIOUS W HOLE .

I n ord e r t o c om pr eh en d th e c onsc i ou sness of th e wh ol e it is ,

nec e s sa ry to u n d ers t a n d th e c h a ra c t e r of th e wh o l e C on s c i o u s .

n e s s is th e fu nc ti on of th e W h o l e t h u s th e f u nc ti on of m a n is c on
,
“ ”
s c iou sn ess B u t with ou t u nd er st a n ding m a n a s a wh ol e it is
.
,

i m p oss ibl e to u n d er s t a nd h is consc iou sness .

T o u n d e rst a nd wh a t ou r c onsc i ou sne ss is it is nec e ssa ry to c l e a r

u p ou r r e l a ti on to lif e
—
.

I n C h a pt e r X a n a tt em pt w a s m a d e a v e ry artifi c i a l one ,

fou nd e d u p on th e a na l ogy with a wo rld of tw o di m ensi ona l b eing s -

— to d efi ne life a s m o tion in a sp h e re high er in di m ensiona lity in

c o m p a ri s on with o u r s From thi s st a ndp oint e v er y sep a ra t e life
.

is a s it w e r e th e m a nif est a ti on in ou r sp h er e of a p a rt of one of th e

c on s c i ou sness of a no th er sph e r e Th ese cons c iou sne sses l ook in
.

u p on u s a s it w e r e in th es e liv e s whi c h w e s ee
, , Wh en a m a n di es .
,

one eye of th e Universe clos es sa y s F e c h ne r E v ery sep a r a te

, .

h u m a n life is a m om ent of consc i ou sness of s om e grea t being whic h ,

liv es in u s E v ery sep a r a t e life of a tree is a m om ent of co n

.

s c iou sne ss of a b e i ng th e lif e of whi c h is com p o s e d of th e liv es of

,

trees T h e consc i ou snesses of th ese high er b ei ngs d o not exi s t

.

i n d ep end ently of th es e lo wer liv e s Th e y a re t w o s id es of o ne .

a nd th e sa m e thin g E ve ry single h u m a n c onsc i ou sness in som e

.
,

o t h e r se c ti on of th e w o rld m a y pr o d u ce th e ill u s i o n o f ma ny liv es

, .

Th i s is di ffic u lt to ill u stra t e b y a n ex a m pl e B u t if w e t a ke .

’
H into n s spira l p a ssing thr ou g h a pl a ne a nd th e p oin t ru nni ng in
, ,

c ir c l e s on th e pl a n e ( see p a nd c o nc e iv e o f th e s pir a l a s
.

consciou s ness th en th e m o vi ng p o i nt o f i n t e r sec ti on o f th e s pir a l

,

with th e pl a ne will b e lif e Thi s ex a m pl e c l ea rly ill u stra t es th e

.

r e l a ti on b etw een c on sc i ou sness a nd lif e .

T o u s life a nd consc i ou sne ss a re di ff er e nt a nd sep a ra t e fr o m

,

o ne a no th e r b eca u se w e a re i nept a t see i ng i n e pt a t l oo king a t

, ,

th i ngs And thi s in tu rn d ep end s u p on th e fa c t th a t it is v ery

.
2 22 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

difficu lt f or u s to st ep ou t sid e th e fr a m e s of o u r divisions We .

s e e th e lif e of a tr e e of this tree; a n d if w e a re t o ld th a t th e lif e o f

,

a tr e e is a m a nif e s t a ti on of c o nsc i ou sn ess th e n w e u n d e r s t a n d it ,

in su c h a w a y th a t th e lif e of this tree is th e m a nif est a ti on of th e

c onsc i ou snes s o f this tree B u t thi s is of c o u r s e a n a b su rdity re
.

” “
su lting from t h r e e dim ens io na l t h inkin g
-
th e E u c lidi a n ,

m in d . T h e lif e of this tree is a m a n if es t a ti on of th e cons ciou s ness

of th e sp ecies or f a mi ly
, o r p erh a p s of th e c ons c i ou s ne s s of th e
,

entire vegeta ble kingdom .

I n e x a c tly th e s a m e w a y ,
.
p a ra t e lives a re m a nif e s t a ti on s of
ou r se

s o m e gr e a t cons ci ou s ness We find th e proof of this in th e f a c t

. .

th a t ou r liv es h a v e no oth er m ea ni ng a t a ll a s id e from t h a t process

of a cqu iring knowledge p e rf o r m e d by u s A t h ou ghtf u l m a n c ea se s .

to f e e l p a inf u lly th e a b s enc e of m ea n in g in lif e on ly wh en h e r e a l

iz es t h i s a nd b egins to s triv e consciou s ly f or th a t f or whi ch h e
,

s tr o v e u nc o ns c i o u s ly b e fo r e .

Thi s pr oc ess of a c qu iri ng kn o wl e dge r epre senting ou r f u nction ,

in th e world is p e rfor m e d not by th e i nt e ll ec t only b u t by ou r

, ,

entir e o rg a ni s m by a ll th e b o dy by a ll th e lif e a n d by a ll th e lif e

, , ,

of h u m a n s oc i e ty its o rga niz a ti o ns it s i ns tit u ti ons by a ll c u lt u r e

, , ,

a n d a ll c iviliz a ti o n And w e a c qu ir e th e kn o wl edge of th a t whi c h

.

w e d eserv e to kn o w .

I f w e d ec l a r e in r e ga rd to th e i nt ell ec tu a l sid e of m a n th a t its

p u rp os e is knowl e dge thi s will evok e no d ou bts All a gr e e t h a t .

th e h u m a n i nte ll ec t t og eth e r with e v e rythi n g su bj ec t e d to its

fu nc ti ons is f or th e p u rp os e of knowl edge B u t c onc e rnin g th e .

e m o ti o ns : joy so rr o w r a g e f e a r l o v e h a tr e d prid e c o m p a ss i o n
, , , , , , , ,

j e a l ou sy ; c on c erning th e s ense of b ea u ty es th eti c pl ea su r e a nd ,

a rti s ti c c r ea ti on ; conc e r nin g th e m or a l s ens e ; c o nc e rni ng a ll r e

lig iou s e m oti ons : f a ith h op e v ener a ti on e tc e tc

,
— conc erni ng
, , .
, .
,

a ll h u m a n a c tivity
— thi ngs a re not s o c l ea r We u su a lly d o n ot .

s ee th a t a ll e m o ti ons a nd a ll h u m a n a c tivity s e rv e kn o wl e dg e
, .

How d o f ea r o r love or work serve kno wl e dge ? I t s eem s to u s

—
, ,

th a t by emotions w e f ee l ; by work c rea t e Feeling a nd crea tion .

se e m to u s a s som e thi ng d ifl erent fr o m knowledge

’
C onc e r ni ng .

work c r ea tive p ower c re a ti on w e a re r a t h er i nc li ne d to thi nk

, , ,

th a t th ey dema nd kno wl e dge a nd if th ey s erv e it do s o o nly i n di , ,

re c tly . I n th e s a m e w a y it is i n co m pr eh ensibl e h o w religiou s

emotions serv e k no wl e dg e .
2 24 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

a nd we ca ll th t
a m a n wea k willed in wh om th e line of th e will
-

ta ke s a zig zag c ou rse tu rning a sid e h e r e or th er e u nd er th e infl u

-

enc e of e v e ry n e w d es ir e B u t thi s d o es not mea n th a t will a n d

.

desire a re s om e t h i ng o pp os it e ; qu it e th e r e v er s e th ey a re one a nd ,

th e s a m e b ec a u se th e will is c o m p o se d of d esir es
, .

Reas on c a nno t con qu e r f ee li ng b ec au s e f eeling c a n b e c on

,

qu ere d onl y by feeling R ea son c a n only giv e th ou g hts a nd

.

pi c t u r es evokin g fe e lings which will c onqu er t h e fe e li ng of a giv en

,
”
m om ent S pirit u a lity is not opp os e d to i nt ell ec t u a lity o r em o
.

tion a lity . I t is only T H E IR HI G H E R F LI G H T I nt ell ec t h a s no .

“ ”
li m its : only th e h u m an E u c lid e a n m in d is lim ite d .

“ ”
B u t wh a t is int e ll ec t ?
I ntell ec t is th e a c tiv e a sp ec t of a ny giv en c onsc i ou sness I n .

th e ea rth s a nim a l ki ngd om in a ll a ni m a l s l o w er th a n m a n w e s e e

’

, ,

p ass ive co ns ci o u snes s B u t with th e a pp ea r a nce of concep ts c on

.

s c io u sn ess b ecom es a c tiv e a n d it s a c tiv e p a rt b e gins t o w o rk a s

,

int ell ec t Th e a nim a l is c onsc iou s thr ou gh h is em otions T h e

. .

int ell ec t is pres ent in th e a ni m a l only in a n em bryonic s ta t e a s a n ,

emotion of cu riosity .

I n m a n th e gr o wth o f consc i ou sness consi st s in th e g ro wth of

th e int e ll ec t a nd th e a cc omp a nyi ng gr o wth of th e high e r e m o
—
ti o s esth etic r el giou s
n , i m ora l
,
— whic h acc ording to th e m ea su re
of th e ir gr o wth b ecom e m o r e a n d m ore intellectu a lized w h ile ,

s i m u lt a neou s ly with thi s th e i nt e ll ec t is a ss i mil a tin g e m oti o n

a lity c ea s in g t o b e
, c old .

“ ”
T h u s S piritu a lity is a fu si on of th e inte ll ec t with th e high e r
e m o ti ons . Th e i nt e ll e c t is sp iritu a lized fro m th e e m oti ons ; th e
e m o ti ons a re sp iritu a lized fr o m th e in t e ll ec t .

T h e f u nc ti ons of th e int ell e c t a re no t li m it e d b u t not o ft en d o e s

,

th e h u m a n i nt e ll ec t ri s e t o its high e s t f or m I t is i ncorr ec t t o

.

sa y th a t th e hi g h es t f o rm o f h u m a n kn o wl e dg e will no t b e in

tellec tu a l b u t of a difl erent c h a r a c t er b eca u s e th e intu itive mind

, , ,

from th e h u m a n st a ndp oin t is th e hig h e r i nt e ll ec t ; a nd thi s high er

,

i nt ell ec t is entir ely u nr e stri c t e d b y logic a l concepts a nd by E u

c lid e a n m o d e s of t h ou ght We a re likely to h ea r a gre a t d ea l c o n
.

c ern ing thi s fr om th e s t a ndp oi n t o f ma th ema tics whi c h a s a m a tt e r ,

of f a c t tr a nsc e nd e d th e r ea soni ng of l o gi c l on g a g o B u t it a c hi e v e d .

thi s by the a id of th e intellect I ntu iti on gro ws in th e s o il o f th e

.

i nt ell ec t a nd o f th e high e r em otions b u t it is no t c r ea t e d by th em

, .

A tr ee gr o w s in th e ea rt h b u t it is not c r ea t e d by th e e a rth
, A .
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 22 5

s ee d is nec e ssa r y Thi s see d m a y b e in th e sou l or ab sent fr o m

.
,

it Wh en it is th er e it c a n b e c u ltivat e d or it c a n b e c hoke d ; w h en
.

it is not th er e it is i m p ossibl e to re pl a ce it with any thi ng el se .

T h e soul ( if a sou l it m a y b e c a ll e d ) l ac king th a t s ee d i e in , . .

,

ept to f e e l an d r e fl ec t th e w o rld o f th e w ondr ou s will ne v e r p u t ,

forth th e livi ng s prou t of i nt u iti on b u t will a lwa y s r e fl ec t th e

,

ph enom ena l world a nd th a t a l one

, .

At th e pr e s ent s t a ge of h is d e v el op m ent m a n co m pr eh en d s
ma ny thin gs by m ea ns o f hi s in t ell e c t b u t a t th e sa m e ti m e h e ,

co m pr eh e nd s m a ny thing s by m e a ns of h is e m o ti o ns I n no c a se .

a re e m o ti ons m e r e ly o rg a ns of f e e li n g for f eeling s s a k e : th e y a re a ll

’

o rg a ns of kno wl e dg e I n e v e ry e m o ti o n m a n kno w s so m e thi n g

.

—
th a t h e cou ld no t kno w with ou t its a id s om ethi ng th a t h e c ou ld
know by no oth er e m oti on by no efl ort of th e in t e ll ec t If w e
,
’
.

c o ns id e r th e e m o ti ona l na t u r e of m a n a s s e lf cont a i ne d a s s ervi ng -

life a nd not s e rvi ng knowledge w e s h a ll ne v e r u n d er s t a nd its tru e

c ont e nt a n d s ignifi c a nce E m oti ons s erv e kno wl e dge Th ere a re
. .

things a nd r el a ti ons whic h c a n b e kno wn only em otiona lly a nd ,

only thr ou gh a given emotion .

T o u nd ers t a nd th e p syc h ol o gy of p lay it is ne c e ss a ry to e xp eri ,

enc e th e e m o ti o n s o f th e pl a y e r ; to u n d er s t a n d th e p sy c h o l ogy of

th e h u nt it is ne c e s sa ry to e xp eri enc e th e e m oti ons of th e h u nt e r ;

,

th e p sy c h ol ogy of a m a n in l o v e is in com pr eh en s ibl e t o hi m w h o

is c o ld a nd u nf ee lin g ; th e s t a t e o f m i nd of Ar c hi m e d es wh e n h e
j u m p e d ou t of th e b a th tu b is in com pr eh ens ibl e to th e s t a id c itiz en ,

wh o w ou ld l ook on su c h a p erfor m a nc e a s a s ign o f insa nity ; th e

fe e lings of th e glob e tr ott er d e light edly brea thing in th e sea a ir
-

a nd s w eeping with his e y es th e wid e h o riz on is i nco m pr eh en s ibl e ,

to th e s e d ent a ry st a y a t h om e Th e f e e lin g of a b e li e v e r is incom

- -
.

pr eh ensible to a n u nb e li e v er a nd to a b e li ev e r th e f e eling of a n u m
,

b eli ever is q uit e a s str a nge M en u n d e rs t a n d one a not h er s o im

.

p erfe c tl y b eca u se th ey live a lwa y s by difierent e m o ti ons And

'

wh en t h ey feel si mi l a r e m oti ons si m u lt a neou sly th en a nd th en ,

only do th e y u n d e r s t a n d o ne a no th e r T h e pro v e rbi a l phil osophy

.

“
o f t h e p e o pl e kn o w s thi s v e ry w e ll : A F U LL MA N DOE S NO T
” “
UND E R S TAND A H UNG R Y O NE it sa y s : A dr u nk a rd is no c om
,
” “ ”
r a d e f o r a s ob e r m a n O ne rogu e r e c ogniz es a noth e r
. .

I n this m u tu a l u n d erstanding or in th e illu si on of m u t u a l un

,

—
d e rsta nding in t h i s i mm e r s i on in s i m il a r e m oti ons— li es o ne o f
th e prin c ip a l c h a r m s of l o v e T h e Fr enc h nov eli st d e M au
.
,
226 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

p a s sa nt h a s written v ery d e lightfu lly ab ou t thi s in h is littl e sto ry

”
S o litu d e T h e sa m e ill u s i on expl a ins th e s ec r e t p o w e r o f a l c oh o l
.

o v e r th e h u m a n s ou l f o r a l coh o l c r ea t es th e ill u s i on of a com

,

mu nion o sou ls a n d i nd u c e s si m il a r f a nta si es simu lta neou s ly in

'

, , ,

t w o or s e v er a l m en .

E m o tions a re th e s t a ine d gl a ss w ind o ws of th e sou l ; c ol o r e d

gl a ss es throu gh whi ch th e sou l l ooks a t th e world E a c h su c h .

gl a ss a ss i st s in fi ndin g in th e cont em pl a t e d obj ec t th e s a m e or

s i mil ar co l o r s b u t it al s o pr e v ent s th e fi ndi ng of o pp os it e one s
, .

Th ere for e it h a s b een c orr ec tly sa id th a t a one s id e d e m oti on al -

ill u m ina tion c a nno t giv e a c orr ec t p ercepti on of a n obj e c t Noth .

ing giv es one su c h a c l ea r id ea o f things a s th e e m oti ons y e t ,

n o th ing d el u d es o ne so m u c h .

E v ery em oti on h a s a m ea ning for its exi stenc e a lthou gh its ,

va lu e fr o m th e s t a n dp o int of kno wl e dge vari e s C erta in em oti ons

.

a re i m p o rt a n t a nd nec es sa ry f or th e lif e o f kno wl e dge a nd c e rt a i n

e m o ti ons hin d er r a th e r th a n h e lp on e to u n d e r s t a n d .

Th eoretic a lly a ll e m oti ons a re a n a id to kn o wl e dge ; a ll em o

tions a rose beca u se of th e kno wing of one or anoth er thing Let u s .

c on sid e r one o f th e m os t el em ent a ry e m o ti on s

— sa y T H E E MO T IO N

O F F E AR Un dou bt e dly th er e a re r el a ti ons whi c h c a n b e kn own

.

only throu gh f ea r T h e m a n wh o ne v e r exp eri ence d th e sensa ti on

.

of f ea r will ne v e r u nd e r s t a n d m a ny thing s in l if e a nd in na t u r e ; h e

11 ne v er u nd erst a nd m a ny of th e c o ntro lli ng m o tiv es in th e life

of m a n .
(Wh a t el s e b u t th e fea r of h u nger a nd c old forc es th e
m a j ority of m en to w ork ? ) H e will ne v e r u nd ers ta nd m a ny
things in th e a ni m a l w orld For exa m pl e h e will no t und erst a n d
.
,

th e r e l a ti on o f m a m m a l s to r eptil es A s nak e e xc it es a f e e li ng of
.

r ep u l si on a n d fea r in a ll m a mm a l s By thi s repu ls ion a nd f ear

.

th e m a mm a l kn o w s th e na tu r e of th e s na ke a nd th e r el a ti on of
that na tu r e to its own a nd k no ws it c orr ectly b u t strictly per
, ,

sona lly a nd only fr om its o wn s ta ndp oi n t

, B u t wh a t th e sna k e
.

is in its elf th e a ni m a l ne v e r kno ws by th e em oti on of fea r Wh a t .

th e s n a k e is in itself — not in th e phil osophi ca l m ea nin g of th e

thing in itself (nor fro m th e st a ndp oint of th e m a n or a nim a l
- -

wh om it h a s bitt en or m ay bite) b u t s i mply from th e st a ndp oi nt of

—
z ool ogy T HIS C A N B E KNO WN B Y T H E I NT E LLE C T O N LY .

E m oti ons u nit e with th e difierent I s of o u r c onsc i ou sness ’

.

E m oti ons a pp a r ently th e sa m e m a y b e u nit e d with th e v ery sm a ll

’
I s of th e l o wes t pl a nes of c onsci ou sne ss a nd with th e v e ry gr ea t
,
 228 T ER T IUM ORGANUM
cu be . We le a rn th e b loc k with rega r d to thi s a xis so th at w e c an ,

m entally conc eive th e di sp o siti on of every c u b e a s it c omes re ga rde d

fro m one p oint of vi ew N ext w e su pp ose ou rselves to b e in a noth er
.

c u b e a t th e e xtre mi ty of a noth er a xis ; a nd l oo king from this a xi s w e ,

le a rn th e a sp e c t of a ll th e c u b e s a nd so on , .

Thu s w e i mp res s on th e feelings wh at th e b loc k of c u b e s is li ke from

e very a xis I n this w a y w e g et a knowl e dge of th e b l oc k of c u b es
. .

Now to get th e knowle dge of hu m anity w e mu st stu dy it from th e

, ,

sta ndp oint s of th e i ndi vi d u a l s c o m p osing it .

Th e e goti st m ay b e comp a re d with th e m a n w h o knows a cu b e from one

ta n dp oin t o nly .

Tho se w h o fe el su p erfi cia ll y w ith a grea t m a ny p eople a re like those ,

l ea rners w h o h a ve a slight a c qu a inta nc e with a b l oc k of cu b es from ma ny

p oints of view .

Those w h o h ave a f ew dee p a ttach m ents are like those wh o know

th em well from only one or tw o points of vi ew .

An d a fter a ll p e rh a p s th e diff e renc e b e twee n th e good a nd th e rest of

,

us , lies ra th er in th e former being a wa re Th ere is something ou tsi de .

th em whic h dra ws th e m to it w hi c h th ey s ee while w e do not *

.
, ,

Ju st is in c o rr e c t in r e l a ti on to ones elf to e v a l u a t e e v e ry
as it
thin g fr om th e s ta ndp oint of one emotion , c ontra s ting it with a ll
th e r e s t , s o is it c orr e s p on din gly inc o rr ec t in r e l a ti on to th e
world a nd m en to e va l u at e e ve rythin g fr om th e sta ndp oint of
’
one s o w n I c ontr a s tin g o nes e lf with th e r es t
, .

Th u s th e pro bl em of c orr ec t e m oti ona l kno wl e dge c ons i st s in

th e f a c t th a t on e sh a ll f eel in r e l a ti on t o th e world a nd m en f rom
some s ta ndpoint oth er th a n th e p ersona l, s h a ll f ee l not on ly f or o ne

s e lf b u t a l s o f o r o th e r s
, And th e bro a d e r th e c irc l e b ecom e s f or
.

which a p e r s on f e e l s , th e d ee p e r b eco m es th e kno wl e dge whi c h h is

e m oti on s yi e ld B u t not a ll e m oti ons a re of e qu a l p ot enc y in
.

lib e ra ti ng from s elf elements C e rta in e m oti ons from th eir v e ry

-
.

na t u r e a re disru p tive s ep a ra tiv e , a li ena ting f o r c in g m a n t o f ee l

, ,

h i m s elf a s i ndivid u a liz e d a nd sep a ra t e ; su c h a re h a tre d f ea r , ,

j e a l ou s y , prid e , e nvy Th es e a re e m o ti ons of a ma teria lis tic

.

order f or c in g a b e li e f in m a tt e r
, And th e r e a re e m o ti ons whi c h .

a re u nitive h a r m onizin g m a kin g m a n f ee l hi m self t o b e a p a rt o f

, ,

s o m e gr ea t w h o l e ; su c h a re l o v e s y m p a thy , fri en d ship , c o m ,

p a ssi on l o v e of c ou ntry l o ve of na tu re l ov e of h u m a n ity Th ese

, , , .

e m o ti on s l ea d m a n ou t of th e m a t e ri a l w o rld a nd s h o w h im th e

tru th of th e world of th e won drou s E m oti ons of this c h a ra c t er .

l ib era t e h im m o re e a sily from self el em ent s th a n th os e of th e -

f or m er c l a ss Ne v erth el ess th er e c a n b e a qu it e imp ersona l prid e

.

C H . . Hi t o
n n, A N w E o f T h o ght pp
e ra u . . 77 , 78 .
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 229

th e prid e in a n h eroic d e e d a ccom pli sh e d by a noth er ma n Th er e .

c a n e v e n b e impers ona l e nvy wh en w e e nvy a m a n w h o h a s c o n

,

q u ere d h i m self con qu e re d h is persona l d e sire to liv e sa crifi ce d

, ,

hi m se lf fo r t h a t whi c h e ver y one consid ers to b e right a nd j u st b u t ,

whi ch w e ca nno t bring ou rs elv e s to do c a nnot e v en thi nk of d o ing , ,

beca u se of wea kness of love of life Th e re ca n b e impersona l h a tr e d

.

—oi inj u stic e of bru t e fo rc e a nge r a g a i ns t st u pidity d u lln ess ;

,

, , ,

a v e r s i on to n a s ti ne ss to hyp oc ri sy Th es e f e eli ngs u nd o u bt e dly

, .

e l e v a t e a nd p u rify th e s o u l o f m a n a nd h elp h im to see thi ngs

whi ch h e wou ld not oth erwis e s ee .

C hri st driving th e m oney c h a nger s ou t of th e t e m pl e or ex

-

pr ess in g h is opin i on a b ou t th e Ph a ri sees w a s not e ntir e ly m eek ,

a n d mi ld ; a nd th e r e a re c a ses wh e r e in m ee kn es s a nd m ild ness a re

n o t virtu es a t a ll E m oti ons of lo v e s y m p a thy pity tra nsfor m

.
, , ,

th em se lv es v ery r ea dily i nto s enti m e nt a lity in to wea kness ; a nd ,

th u s tra nsform ed th ey c ontrib u t e of cou r se to nescience i e , . .

ma tter .

Th er e is a divi si on of e m oti ons i nto p u re a nd impu re We a ll .

kno w thi s w e a ll u se th es e word s b u t u n d e r st a n d littl e of W h a t

, ,
“ ” “ ” “ ”
th ey m ea n Tru ly wh a t d oes p u r e a nd dirty or i m p u r e
.
,

m ea n with r e f e r ence to f ee ling ?

C omm on m or a lity divid es a priori a ll em o tions i nt o p u r e a nd
, ,

i m p u r e a ccording to c ert a in ou twa rd s igns j u s t a s No a h divid e d ,

“ ”
th e a ni m a l s in hi s a rk All fl e sh ly d e sir e s f a ll i nt o th e c a t egory
.

“ ”
o f th e i m p ure B u t I h a v e a lr ea dy pre s ent e d th e id ea of V V
. . .

Ro s a nofl a b ou t th e l a tte r th a t in a sc eti c i s m th e id ea of a bomina

’
,
“
tion d eriv es fr om s exu a l p e rv er si on I n r ea lity ind ee d fl e shly
.
,
”
d esir e s a re j u s t a s p u r e a s is e verything in na tu re Neverth el ess .

e m oti ons a re p u r e a nd i m p u r e We kno w v ery w ell th a t th er e is

.

tru th in thi s c l a ssifi ca ti on B u t wh ere is it a nd wh a t d oes it m ea n ?

.
,

O nly a n a na ly si s of em oti ons fr om th e st a ndp oint of kn o wl edg e

ca n giv e th e key to t hi s .

—
I m p u r e em otion t h i s is q u it e th e sa m e thing a s i m p u r e gl a ss ,

i m p u re wa t er or i m p u r e sou n d 1 e e m otion whi c h is not p u r e

, , . .
, ,

b u t c ont a in ing s e di m ent s d ep osit s or e ch oes of oth e r e m oti ons

, ,

—
IMP UR E M IX E D I m p u r e em otion giv es ob scu re not pu re knowl
.
,

e dge j u s t a s i m p u r e g l a ss g iv e s a confu s e d i m a g e
, P u r e em oti on .

g iv e s a c l ea r p u r e i m age of th a t f or th e knowl edge of whi ch it is

i ntend e d .
230 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

This is th e onl y p ossibl e d ec i sion of th e qu esti on Th e a rriva l .

a t thi s c onc l u s i on s a v e s u s fr om th e c omm on mi s t a k e o f m or a li s t s

“ ” “ ”
w h o di vid e a rbitr a rily a ll e m o ti on int o m or a l a n d i m m ora l .

B u t if w e try f or a m om ent to s ep a ra t e e m oti ons fr om th e ir u su a l

m ora l fra m es th en w e s ee th a t m att e rs a re c onsid e r a bly si m pl e r
, ,

th a t t h er e a re n o in their na tu re p u r e em oti ons n or i mp ur e in th eir ,

na tu re b u t th a t ea c h e m oti on will b e p u r e or i m p u r e a cc ording t o

,

wh et h e r or not th e r e a re a dmixt u r es of oth er e moti ons in it .

“
Th er e c a n b e a p u r e sensu a lity th e sensu a lity of th e S ong of
,
”
S ongs , which initi a te s into th e sensa tion of c osmic lif e a nd gives
th e p o w er to h e a r th e b ea tin g p u l se of n a tu r e And th ere c a n b e .

a n im p ur e s ensu a lity
— s om e t ing u s e l ess a nd a i ml ess m i xe d with
h
th e s e nse of sin a nd s h a m e 1 e with a c ons c i ou sness of its u s e
,

, . .
,

l essnes s .

Th er e c a n b e p u r e sy mp a t h y a nd th er e c a n b e sy m p a thy
,

m ixe d with c a l c ul a ti on to r eceiv e s om e thing f or one s s y m p a thy

’
.

Th er e c a n b e p u r e l ov e of kn owl e dge a thi rs t f or kn owl e dge f or

,

its own sa k e a n d th er e c a n b e a n inc lina ti on to kno wl e dge wh ere in

,

c ons id e rati ons of u tility or profi t a ssu m e th e c hi ef i m p o rt a n c e .

I n th eir ou t e r m a nif e st a ti on p u r e a nd i m p u r e em oti ons m a y

diff er v ery littl e Tw o m en m a y b e playing c h ess a c tin g ou t
.
,

w a rdly v ery s i m ila rly b u t in on e will b u rn s elf l o v e d esir e of

,
-

,
’
vic tory a nd h e will b e fu ll of difl erent u npl e a sant fee lin gs tow a rd
,

—
his riv a l f e a r envy of a c l e v e r m o v e spit e j e a l ou sy a ni m o sity
, , , , ,

or s c h em e s t o w in ; whil e th e oth e r w ill s i m ply s olv e a c o m pl e x

m a th em a ti c a l probl em whi c h li es b efor e hi m n ot th inking a b ou t ,

h is riv a l a t a ll .

Th e e m oti on of th e firs t m an will b e i m p u r e if only b ec a u se it ,

c ont a in s m u c h o f th e m i xe d T h e e m oti on of th e s econ d will b e

.

p u r e T h e m ea nin g of this is of c ourse p erf e ctly c l e a r I n th e

. .

firs t ca se th e e m otion dwell s on th e l o w er p sy chica l pl a ne I n th e .

s econ d c a se it dw e lls on th e int ell e c t u a l i e on th e high e r , . .

,

p syc hi c a l pl a ne wh er efro m it is ea sily tr a nsl a te d into th e em o ti ons

o f th e s ou l in th e tr u e sense of thi s wo rd
, .

E xa m pl es of a si mi l a r divi s i on of ou twardly s i m il a r em otions

m a y b e c o nst a ntly s een in th e a esth eti c lit era ry sci e ntifi c p u blic
, , ,

a nd e v e n t h e s pirit u a l a n d r e ligi ou s a c tiviti es o f m en I n a ll .

r egions of thi s a c tivity only c om pl et e vi c to ry ov er th e p seu d o

p ersona l e l em ent l ea d s a m a n to th e c orrec t u nd erst a nding of th e
world a nd of hi m self All em otions col or e d by fa l se S E LF E LE
.
-
232 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

c ia l l r
c e a ne s s in th e a c tivity o f v a ri ou s s pir it u al m o v e m e nt s .

M a n s t a rtin g ou t in one direc ti on tu rns in th e opp os it e o ne with

, ,

o u t hi m self no ti c i ng it a nd o ft e n d e s c e n d s in t o th e a by ss t h i nki ng
,

th a t h e is sca lin g th e h e igh ts .

Th er e is no t h in g m or e c ontra di c t o ry m or e p a ra doxi c a l th a n ,

th e m a n w h o is enticed a w a y by a ctivity We h a ve b e com e so a c .

“ ”
c u st om e d to m a n th a t th e s tra nge p e rv e r s i ons to whi c h h e is
s om e ti m e s su bj ec t f a il t o s t a rtl e u s a s c u ri os iti e s .

Vi o l ence in th e na m e o f fr ee d o m ; vi o l e nce in th e n a m e of l o v e ;
th e G o sp e l of C hri s ti a nity with s w ord in h a n d ; th e s t a k e s of th e
I n qu i siti on f or th e glory of a G o d o f Me rc y ; th e o ppr ess i on of
th ou g h t a nd s p eec h o n th e p a rt of th e mini ster s of religion— a ll
th es e a re in c a rn a t e d a b su rditie s of whi c h h u m a nity is ca p a bl e by
*
r ea son o f its o wn s tra nge du a lity .

A c o rr ec t u n d e rs t a ndi ng of mora lity c a n pres e rv e u s in so m e

d e gr e e fro m s u c h p erv e rs ions of th ou ght I n ou r life in gene r a l .

th er e is no t m u c h of m ora lity E u ro p ea n c u lt u re h a s gone a long .

th e p a th of i nt e ll ec t u a l d e v e l op m e nt Th e i nt e ll ec t i nv e nt e d a nd .

o rg a niz e d with ou t cons id e ri n g th e m o r a l m ea n ing of its o wn a c

tivity . O u t o f thi s a ro s e th e s itu a ti on th a t th e c ro wn o f E u ro p ea n

”
c u lt u r e is th e dre a d na u ght .

M a ny p e opl e r ea liz e a ll t h is a nd on a cc ou nt of it a ss u m e a ,

n e ga tiv e a ttit u d e to a ll c u ltu r e B u t thi s is u nj u st .E u r op ea n .

c u lt u r e c r ea t e d m u c h b es id e s dr e a d na u ght s th a t is n e w a nd va l

n a bl e f a c ilit a ti n g lif e
, T h e e l a b ora ti o n of th e principles of fr ee
.

d o m a nd rig h t ; th e a b o liti o n of s lav e ry (th ou gh th e s e a re i nd ee d

n o mina l ) ; th e vi c t o ry o f m a n in m a ny r eg i o ns wh e r e n a t u r e p re
s e n t e d t o h im a h o s til e fr o nt ; th e m e t h o d s f o r th e di s trib u ti on of .

th ou g h t th e pr es s ; th e mira c l e s of c ont em p or a ry m edic ine a nd

,

su rg e ry
— a ll th ese a re i ndi sp u t a bly r ea l c o n q u e s t s a nd it is im ,

p os sibl e n ot t o t a ke t h e m i nt o c ons id er a ti on B u t th ere is no mor .

a lity in th em T h e m a n of E u rop ea n c u ltu r e i nv e nt s wit h e q u a l

.

r ea diness a m a c hi ne gu n a nd a new su rgi ca l a pp a ra t u s E u r op ea n .

c u lt u r e b e ga n fr o m th e lif e o f th e sa v a g e t a ki ng thi s lif e a s a n e x ,

a m pl e a s it w e r e a n d st a rti ng to d e v e l o p a ll its sides to th e u tt e r

m o s t witho u t th inking of th eir m o ra l a s p e c t s Th e sa v a ge c r u sh e d .

th e h e a d of h is ene m y wit h a s i m pl e c l u b We i nv e nt e d f or thi s .

p u rp os e c om pli ca t e d d e vi ces m a king p oss ibl e th e c r u s h i ng of

,

h u ndre d s a nd th ou sa nd s of h ea d s a t once Th e re for e s u c h a thi ng .

a s thi s h a pp e n e d : a e ri a l n a vig a ti on t o w a rd w h i c h m e n h a d l o o k e d ,

Co i g thi d ali ty
nce r n n s l at i ga d t o th t w o a
u se e er n re p i o f m n Ch apt XXI I I
r e r ces or s e c es e er
d t h t a b l o f F o m o f Co o
.
,
“ "
an e e r s ns c i u s ness .
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 233

forwa rd f or millenni u ms fi na lly a chi ev ed is u se d first of a ll f or

, ,

p u rp oses of w a r .

M ora lity : thi s is th e cc ordina tion a nd th e nece ssity f or co—

-
or

d in a tion o f a ll s id es of lif e with th e high e r e moti ons a nd th e high e r

c om pr eh ens i ons o f th e i nt e ll e c t Fr om this p oi nt of V i e w th e
.

s t a t e m ent pr e vi ou sly m a d e th a t m or a lity is a f or m o f e s th eti c s

, ,

— —
b e com es c l ea r E sth etic s th e s e se of b ea u ty is th e sensa tion of
. n

th e r el a ti on of p a rt s to a wh o l e a nd th e p er c epti on of th e nece s,

s ity f or a c ertain h a r m on i ou s r e l a ti on And m ora lity is th e s a m e . .

Th ose a c tions th ou ghts a nd feelin gs a re no t m or a l whi c h a re not

,

co o rdina t e d
-
whic h a re not h a rm oniou s with th e high er u nd e r
,

s t a n din g a nd th e high e r sens a ti o ns a ccess ibl e t o m a n Th e in tro .

d u c tion of m ora lity in to ou r lif e wou ld m a k e it l ess p a r a d o xi c a l ,

—
l es s contra dic t ory m or e logica l a nd m ost i mp ort a nt m or e
,
—
civilized; b ec a u s e no w ou r v au nt e d c ivi liz a ti on is m u c h c o m pro
”
m ised by drea d na u ghts i e war a nd e v e rything th a t go e s with
, . .
,
“ ”
it a s w ell a s m a ny things of p e a c efu l lif e su c h a s th e d ea t h
,

p ena lty pri sons e tc

, , .

M ora lity or m ora l e st h etics in su c h a sens e a s is h er e s h o wn is

, ,

necess a ry to u s With ou t it w e too ea sily fo rg et th a t th e word h a s

.

a ft e r a ll a c ert a i n r e l a ti on to th e a ct We a re inte r est e d in m a ny .

thin gs w e ent er i nto m a ny th ings b u t f or som e stra nge r ea s on w e

, ,

fa il to not e th e i ncongr u ity b e tw een our sp iritu a l lif e a nd ou r lif e

o n ea rth . Th u s w e c r e a t e tw o lives I n one w e a re pre terna t .

u ra lly s tri c t with o u r s e lv e s a na lyz e with g r ea t c a r e e v e ry id ea

,

b efor e w e di s cu s s it ; in th e oth e r w e p erm it with extr e m e ea se a ny

c om pr o m i ses a n d ea sil y k eep fr o m s ee i ng th a t whi c h w e d o no t
,

c a r e t o s ee . M or e ov e r w e r ec onc il e ou r selve s to t h i s divi s ion

, .

W e do n ot find it necessa ry se riou sly to intro du c e i nt o ou r lives

o ur hig h e r id e a l s a nd a l m o s t a cc e pt a s a pri nc ipl e th e divi si on
,
“ ” “ ”
of th e r ea l from th e spiritu a l All of th e i n d e c enc i e s of.

o u r lif e h a v e a ri se n a s a r esu lt of t h i s ; a ll of th ose i nfi nit e f a lsifi

c a ti o s of o u r lif e
n — f a lsifica tio ns of th e pr ess a rt dr a m a sc i e nc e , , , ,

p liti
o c s— f a lsific a tio ns in whi c h w e su ffoc a t e a s in a f etid s w a mp ,

b u t whi c h w e ou rs e lv es c re a t e b e c a u s e w e a nd none o th e r a re
,

s e rv a nt s a nd min i s t e r s o f th ose f a ls ifi c a tions W e h a v e n o s en s e o f .

th e neces s ity t o intro d u c e ou r id ea s i nt o l if e to i ntr o d u c e th em ,

into ou r da ily activity a nd w e e v e n a d m it th e p oss ibility that thi s

,

a c tivity m a y g o c ou nt e r to o u r s pirit u a l q u e s t s in a cco rd a nc e with ,

one of th o s e e s t a bli sh e d s t a nd a rd s th e har m of whi c h w e r ecog niz e ,

 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

bu t f or which no one h o ld s him se lf r esp onsibl e b ec au s e h e did not

c r ea t e th e m hi m s e lf We h a ve no sense of persona l responsibility ,
.

no b o l dness , a nd w e a re e v en with ou t th e c o n s c i ou sness of th e ir

nec e ssity All thi s wou ld b e v ery s a d a nd h op e l e ss if th e c oncept
.

“ ”
w e w er e no t so d u bi ou s I n r ea lity , th e c orr e c tne s s of th e v e ry
.

“ ”
expr e ssi on w e is s u bj ec t to gr a v e d ou bt T h e e n o r m ou s m a
.

jority of th e p opul a tion of thi s gl ob e is enga ge d in eff ec t in de

s tr o ying di sfigu ring , a nd f a l s ifyin g th e id ea s of th e mino rity
, Th e .

m a j ority is with ou t id e a s I t is inca p a bl e of u n d er sta n ding th e

.

id ea s of th e m inority a nd l eft to its elf it m u s t inevitably disfig u re

,

a nd d es tr o y I m a gin e a m ena geri e f u ll of m onk eys I n thi s

. . .

m e na geri e a ma n is working Th e m onkey s ob serv e h is m ov e

.

m ent s a nd try to i mit a t e hi m b u t th ey c a n i mi t a t e only hi s vi s ibl e

m ov em ent s , th e m ea ning a nd a im of th es e m o v em ent s a re c l o s e d
t o th em ; th er ef or e th e ir a c ti on s will hav e q u it e a n oth er r e su lt .

An d sh ou ld th e m onk ey s e s ca p e from th eir c a ges a nd g et h old of

th e m a n s tool s , th en p erh a p s th ey will d es tr oy a ll h is w ork a nd
’
,

in fli c t gr ea t d a m a ge on th em selv es a s w ell B u t th ey will nev e r .

b e a bl e to c r ea t e a nythi ng Th er ef or e a ma n w ou ld m a k e a gr e a t
.

“ ”
mist a k e if h e r ef err e d to th eir work , a nd sp ok e of th em a s
C‘ ”
W6
C r ea ti on a nd d estr u c ti on—or m or e c orr ec tly th e a b ility to
.

c r e a t e or th e a b ility only t o d e s tr oy — th ese a re th e princ ipal signs

o f th e tw o typ es or r a c e s of m en , Mor a lity is nec essa ry to u s
. .

O nly by r ega rding e v erythin g fro m th e s t a ndp oint of m ora lity is

it p o ssibl e to diff er entiat e u nm i sta k a bly th e work of m a n from th e
a c tivity o f a p es B u t a t th e s a m e ti m e d e l u si ons a re n o wh ere
.

m or e ea sily c r e a t e d th a n in th e r egi on of m o r a lity All ure d by .

his ow n p articu la r mora lity a nd m or a l go sp el a m a n f orget s th e ,

a im o f m o r a l p e rf ec ti on f o rg et s th a t this a im c on s i s t s in kn o wl
,

e dg e H e b egin s to s e e a n a im in mora lity its elf Th e n occ u rs th e

. .

“ ”
a pri ori divi s i o n of th e em o ti ons int o g oo d a n d b a d m o r a l a nd ,
“ ”
i m m or a l T h e c o rr ec t u nd e rs t a ndin g of th e a im a nd m e aning
.

o f th e e m oti ons is l os t a l ong with thi s M an is ch a rm e d with h is

.

“ ”
ni ce ness He d es ir es th a t e v ery one e l s e sh ou ld b e j u st a s ni ce
.

a s h e o r a s th a t r em o t e id e a l c r e a t e d by hi m se lf
, Th en a pp ea rs .

d e light in m or a lity f or m or a lity s sa ke a s ort of m ora l sp ort th e

’
,
—
e x e r c i s e o f m o r a lity f or m o r a lit y s sa k e A m a n u nd e r th e s e
’
.

c ir c u m st a nc es b egins t o b e a fr a id o f e v e rything E verywh ere in .

,
“ ”
a ll m a nif e s t a ti o ns o f lif e s om e thing , i mm ora l b e gins to a pp ear
2 36 T ER T I UM ORGANUM

T h e a im of it is to giv e God t o m a n t o giv e him mora lity , i e , to

, . .

giv e h im a ce rta in kn owl e dge of th e m y st eri ou s sid e o f th e world .

R eligi on m a y d evi a t e from its tru e a im , m a y serve ea rthly int er

est s a nd p u rp os e s , b u t its f ou n d a ti on is th e s ea r c h f or tr u th , f or

G od .

Art s e rv es beau ty , i e , em o ti ona l kn o wl e dg e of its o wn kin d

. . .

Ar t di sc o v ers b ea u ty in e v e rythin g a nd c om p el s m a n to f eel it a nd

,

th e r efo r e to know Art is a p o werf u l ins tru m ent of kno wl edg e of

.

th e nou m ena l w orld : m y s t eri ou s d epth s ea ch o ne m or e a m a zin g

,

th a n th e last op en to th e visi on of m a n wh en h e h old s in hi s h a nd s

,

thi s m a gi ca l key B u t let him only th ink th a t this m y st ery is n ot

.

f or kno wl e dg e b u t f or pl ea su re in it , a nd a ll th e c h a r m di s app ea r s
at once Ju s t a s s oon a s a rt b egins to t a k e d e light in th a t b ea u ty
.

whic h is a lr ea dy f ou nd, in stea d of the s ea rch f or new bea u ty a n

a rr e s t m e nt o c cur s a n d a rt b ecom e s a su p e rfl u ou s es th e ti c i s m , e u

c om p a s s in g m a n s vi s i o n lik e a w a ll Th e a im of a rt is th e s ea rch
’
.

f or beau ty j u s t a s th e a im of r e ligi on is th e se a rc h f or G od a n d
,

tru th .And e x a c tly a s a rt s t op s , s o r e ligi on s t op s a l so a s s oon a s

it c ea s es to sea rch f or G od a nd tru th thinkin g it h a s fou nd th em
, .

This id ea is expre ss e d in th e pr ec ept : S eek

of God a nd his righ teou s ness

i
S c e ce
n ph i l
, oso phy r e ligi
, o n a rt— th ese a re form s of kno wl
,

e dg e . T h e m eth o d of sc i e nc e is exp erim ent ; th e m e th o d o f

phil os ophy is sp ecu lation ; th e m eth o d of r eligi on a nd a rt is m or a l
or e s t h e ti c emotiona l in spir a ti on B u t b oth s c i ence a nd phil os
.

oph y r eligi on a nd a rt b egin to s erv e tru e knowledge onl y wh en

, ,

intu ition c omm ences to m a nifest in th em a nd by intu iti on is ,

m e a nt th e s ensin g a nd fi n din g o f so m e inne r pro p e rt y in things .

—
I n ge ne r a l it is qu it e p os s ibl e to s a y a nd p erh a p s it wil l b e m os t
—
tru e to f ac t t h a t th e a im of e v en p urely int ell ec t u a l sy s t em s of
phil oso phy a n d s c i enc e c ons i sts n ot a t a ll in th e givin g to m a n
o f c e rt a in d a t a of kno wl e dge b u t in th e r a i s ing o f m a n t o s u c h a
,

h eight of thinkin g a nd f ee lin g a s to ena bl e h im to p a ss to th ose n e w

a nd high er f o r m s of kn o wl e dge t o whi c h a rt a nd r e ligi on a ppro a c h

m or e n e a rly .
 CHA PTER XI X
Th e int ll t al m th o d
e ec u Obj tiv nd bj t iv knowled g T h
e . ec e a su ec e e . e

t dy of th Not I nd th t dy of th I I m po ibility of th b
s u e -

, a e s u e . ss e o

j
ec tiv t dy of t h
e s uI T h lim it of o bj t iv kn ow l d g
e T h . e s ec e e e . e

p o ibility of th xp an ion of bj tiv knowl d g Th b p

ss e e s su ec e e e . e a sor

t ion of ll No t I by th I T h id a of Plo tin

a -
D ff nt fo m e . e e s us . i ere r s

o f o n io nc Sl p (th p o t nt ial ta t of on o n )
sc us e ss . ee e e s e c sci us e ss .

D m ( on io n
rea s n loc d in it lf fl t d f om it lf)
sc us ess e c se se , re ec e r se .

Waking on io n (d ali ti n ation of th wo ld th d ivi

c sc us ess u s c se s e r , e

s io n of th I nd th No t I ) e E t a y (th lib ation of th S lf )

a e -
. cs c e er e e

( th a b ol t o n io n of ll of th lf)
” “
T iy ur a e s Thu e c sc us ess a , as e se . e

d wd op lip into th hining

e r s s Ni vana e s sea .
” “
r .
”

AVI NG t b li sh e d th e princip le of th e p os sibl e u nifi

es a

c a ti on o f th e f o r m s of o u r kno wl e dg e in th e i nt u iti o n

o r by a id o f th e int u iti on le t u s disc o ver if thi s u nific a ,

tion is no t so m e w h e re r ea liz e d ; h ow it m a y b e r ea liz e d

a n d wh eth e r it will b e r e a liz e d in a f orm entirely new ,

o r in on e of th e e xi s ti ng fo r m s whi c h s h a ll i n c l u d e a ll o th e rs in its e lf .

F or thi s w e sh a ll r e t u rn to th e f u n d a m ent a l pri nc ipl e s of ou r

kno wl e dge a nd com p a re th e p os sibl e c h a nces f or th e d eve l opm ent
,

of di ff e r en t p a t h s i e w e sh a ll try to fin d ou t a s b e s t w e m a y
, . .
,

t h a t p a th whi c h l e a d s to intu ition a nd in th e s h ortes t ti m e , .

Up to a c e rt a i n p oi nt w e h a v e a lr e a dy es t a bli sh e d thi s r eg a rd
ing the emotiona l p a th ; th e gr o wt h of th e e m oti ons th eir pu rific a ,

tion a nd th eir lib e r a ti on fr om th e m a te ri a li s ti c e l em ents of p os ses

si on a nd f ea r of loss m u s t l e a d t o su p e r p e r s on a l kno wl e dg e a n d
,
-

t o i ntu iti on .

B u t h ow c a n th e int e ll e c t u a l p a t h l ea d to i n t u iti on ?
We r ea liz e th a t a ll w e kno w in t ell ec tu a ll y w e kn ow eith er
s u bjectively or objectively — su bj ec tiv e l y a s p a rt of ou rse lv e s ; oh

jec tively a s p art of th a t which is not ou rs elves .

Let u s find ou t w h i c h kno wl e dg e th e su bj ec tiv e or th e o bj ec tiv e , ,

c o nt a i ns th e gr e a t e r p oss ibi lity o f d e v e l op m e nt a nd whic h c a n ,

l e a d th e m or e qu ic kly to intu iti on .

Fir s t of a ll w h a t is intu ition ?

,

Intu iti on is direct know ledge by a n inner s ense directly by , ,

consciou s nes s I feel m y own p a in direc tl y ; i ntu iti on c a n give m e

.
2 38 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

th e p owe r to s ense a s mine th e p a in of a noth e r m a n Th u s i nt u i

, , .

tion is in its e lf th e e xp a ns i on of su bjective know ledge B u t p erh a p s .

th e i nt u itiv e e xp a ns i o n o f obj ec tiv e kno wl e dge is p os s ibl e a l s o .

Le t u s a n a lyz e th e na tu re of o bj e c tiv e kno wl e dge .

O u r obj e c tiv e kn o wl e dge 1 s c ont a in e d l n s c i enc e a nd phil os o

ph y .

S u bjective experience sc i e nc e h a s alwa y s r e ga rd e d a s a th ing gi ven ,

“ ”
whi c h c a nnot b e c h a nge d b u t a s som ethi ng d ou btfu l stan ding , ,

in n ee d of v erifi c a ti on a nd affi rm a ti on by th e o bj ec tiv e m e th o d .

S c i enc e h a s s tu di e d th e wo rld a s a n o bj e c tiv e ph eno m en o n a nd it ,

h a s s triv en to s t u dy th e I a nd its pr op erti es a s su c h a not h e r o h

jec tive ph enom en on .

I n a no th er qu a rt e r th e s t u dy of th e I fr om th e i nsid e s o to
, ,

s p ea k w a s pr oc ee din g s i m u lt a n eou s ly with thi s b u t to thi s s t u dy

, ,

no gr ea t s ignifi c a nc e w a s e v e r a tt a c h e d Th e li m it s of s u bj ec tiv e .

kno wl e dge 1 e th e li m it s of th e I we r e c ons id er e d to b e stric tly

. .

d efi n ite e st a blish e d a nd u nc h a ngea bl e

, ,

, , O nly f or o bj ec tiv e .

kno wl e dge w a s th e p o s sibility of e xp a nsi on ad mi tt e d .

Let u s di sc ov e r if th er e is no t s om e mis t a k e h e re : is th e exp a n

s i on o f o bj ec tiv e kn o wl e dg e r e a lly p o ssibl e a n d th a t of su bj e c tiv e ,

kn o wl edge r ea lly limit e d ?

D e v el oping sc i enc e i e obj ec tiv e kno wl e dge is enc ou nt e ri ng

, . .
, ,

o b s t a c l e s e v e rywh e r e S c i e nc e s t u di es ph e no m e na ; j u s t a s s oo n a s
.

it a tt em pts to di sco v e r ca u ses it is conf r onte d with th e w a ll of th e ,

u nknown a n d to it u nkno wa bl e
, Th e qu e s ti on na rro ws it s e lf
.

d own to thi s : is thi s u nkno wa bl e a b sol u te l y u nkno wa bl e or is it ,

s o o n ly f or th e o bj ec tiv e m e th o d s o f ou r sc i enc e ?

At th e pr e sent ti m e th e s it u a ti on is j u s t thi s : th e nu m b e r of
u nk no wn f a c t s in e v e ry r e gi o n of sc i e ntifi c k n o wl e dg e is r a pidly

i nc re a sin g ; a nd th e u nkn o wn threa t e s to s wa ll o w th e kno wn o r

n —
th e a ccepte d a s kno wn O ne m ight d efi n e th e pr o gre s s o f s c i e nc e
.
,

e s p ec i a lly l a tt e rly as a v ery r a pid growth of the regions of

,

nescience .

Nesc i enc e r oxi st e d b efo r e a nd not in l ess d egree th a n

f c ou se e ,

a t pr e s e nt , ,
—
B u t b efor e it w a s no t so c l e a rl y r ecogniz e d a t th a t
ti m e s c i e nc e did n o t kn o w wh a t it does not know No w it kn o ws .

thi s m or e a nd m or e a nd m or e a nd m or e kno ws its conditiona lity

, .

A littl e m ore a nd in e v ery s e p a r a t e br a nc h o f s c i e nc e th a t wh ich

,

it does not know will b ec om e gre a t e r th a n th a t which it knows .

240 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

not e ven su sp ec t a h u ndr e d y e a rs a go h a s now b ecom e a gener a lly

,

know n a nd genera lly u nd er s to o d fa c t E v eryt h in g th a t is p oss ible

.

to b e kno wn will b ec om e kn o w n a ft e r thi s m ann e r .

Th u s d o th e a d h e r ents o f th e p ositivi s ti c vi ewp oi nt s s p ea k ,

bu t a t th e f ou n d a ti o n o f th es e r ea sonings li es a d e ep d e l u si o n .

Th e a ffirm a ti on o f p o s itivi s m wo u ld b e qu it e tr u e did p os i

tivis m m o v e u n if o r m ly in a ll dir ec ti on s of th e u nkno wn ; if s ea l e d
d oors did n ot e xi st f or it ; if in th e m u ltitu d e of qu es ti ons th e
princip a l q u e s ti ons did n ot r e m a in j u s t a s o b sc u r e a s in th o s e
ti m es wh en s c i enc e did not exi st a t a ll We s ee th a t enorm ou s .

r egions a re c l os e d u tte rly to sc i enc e th a t it never p enetr a t e d in to

,

th em a nd wo r s t of a ll it m a d e not a single s tep in th e direc tion of

,

th es e r e gi ons
"
.

Th e r e a re m u ltitu d e s of pr o bl em s th e so lvin g of whi c h s c i enc e

h as not even a ttemp ted; pr obl em s in th e pr e s enc e of whi c h th e con
te m p ora ry s c i enti s t a rm e d with a ll h is sc i enc e is a s h e lpl ess a s a
, ,

sa v a g e or a f o u r y ea r o ld c hild
,
- -
.

S u ch a re th e pro bl e m s of lif e a nd d e a th th e probl e m s of s p a c e ,

a nd ti m e th e m y s t e ry of cons c i ou sness e tc
, e tc , .
, .

We a ll kno w thi s a nd th e only thin g w e c a n do is to try not to

,

think a b ou t th e e xi s t enc e of th ese pro bl e m s to fo rge t a b ou t th e m , .

We do s o a s a ru le b u t thi s d oes not a nnihil a te th e m Th ey con

, .

tinu e to exis t a nd at a ny giv en m om ent w e m a y t u rn to th e m

,

a nd try on th em th e rigidity a nd f o rce of ou r scientifi c meth od .

And e v ery ti m e a t su c h a n a tt em pt w e find th a t ou r s c i entifi c

, ,

m e th o d is not e qu a l to th es e pro bl e m s By its a id w e ca n di sc o v e r

.

th e c h emi c a l c om p ositi on of r e m ot e s t a r s ; c a n ph ot o gr a ph th e
s k e l e t o n within th e h u m a n b o dy invi s ibl e to th e h u m a n ey e ;
,

c a n i nv ent a fl oa ti ng m in e whi c h c a n b e c ontr o ll e d fr o m a d is

ta nc e by m ea ns of e l e c tri c a l wa v e s a nd c a n in this w a y a nni

,

hila te in a m om ent h u n dr e d s of liv e s ; b u t by th e a id of thi s

m e tho d w e c a nno t t e ll wh a t th e m a n s ta ndi ng b es id e u s is thi n k
ing a b o u t No m a tt e r h ow m u c h w e m a y w eigh s ou nd o r pho t o
.
,

gr a ph a m a n w e sh a ll never kno w h is th o u ght s a t a giv en m o m ent

, ,

u nless h e hims elf tells th em to u s B U T T H I S I S T R U LY " U I T E A

.

D I F F E R E N T M E T HO D .

Th e sph e re of a c ti on of th e m e th o d of e x a c t s c i enc e is s tri c tly

li mit ed Thi s s ph e re is th e world of th e o bj e ctiv e I n th e world
. .

of th e s u bj ec tiv e e x a c t sc i e nc e h a s never p ene tr a t e d a nd will never

penetra te .
 T ER T IUM O R G A NU D/I 24 I

Th e p a ns i on o f obj ec tiv e kn owl e dge a t th e exp ense o f th e

ex

s u bj ec tiv e is i m p oss ibl e I n spit e of a ll th e g r o wt h of th e o bj ec tiv e

.

s c i e nc es t h e b o rd er li n e b e tw een th em a nd th e w o rld of th e su b
,

ec tive r e m a i ns in th e s a me p la ce C ou ld science t a k e a si ngl e s t ep

j
in this di rec ti o n w er e it a bl e to e xpl a in s om ethin g su bj ec tiv e I n
.

t erm s of th e o bj ec tiv e th en w e might a d mit t h a t it cou ld ta k e two

, ,

thr ee ten a nd te n t h ou sa n d st ep s B u t it h a s t a k en not even one

, , .
,

a nd it is th e re fo r e r ea s on a bl e to b eli e v e th a t it will n e v e r t a k e it .

T h e wo rld of th e s u bj ec tiv e is c l os e d to o bj e c tiv e in v es tig a ti on ,

a n d f or this qu it e d efi nit e c a u s e s e xi s t .

By no m ea ns e v erything th a t e xi s ts h a s a n obj ec tiv e e xi st ence ,

i e n ot e v eryt h ing ca n b e m a d e o bj e c tive Nega tiv e qu a ntiti es

. .
, .

e xi s t b u t th e y d o n o t e xi s t o bj e c tiv e ly
, S u c h l o gi c a l c onc ept s a s .

goo d e vil tr u th b ea u ty m a tter m oti on a nd so forth e xi st a l so

, , , , , ,

b u t t h e y do not e xi st o bj ec tiv e ly in th e s ens e th a t this inks ta nd ,

th a t ta ble y onder w a ll exi s t

, All m e t a phy s i c a l f a c ts exi s t b u t th e y
.
,

d o n o t exi s t o bj ec tiv e l y .

O bj ec tive e xis t ence is a v ery n a rro wly d efi ne d f orm o f e xi st enc e ,

a nd d o es n ot by a ny m ea ns e xh a u s t o r c o m pr eh en d e xi s t e nc e a s a

wh ol e T h e m i sta k e of p os itivi s m c onsi st s in th e fa c t th a t it h as

.

r ec ogniz e d a s r e a lly existin g o nly th a t whic h e xis ts o bj ec tive ly ,

a n d it h a s e v e n b eg u n to d eny th e very exis tence o f t h a t whi c h is n ot

o bj ec tiv e .

B u t wh a t is o bj e c tivity ?
We c a n d efine it in this w a y : b e c a u se of th e prop e rtie s of our
c onsc i ou sness or b ec au s e of th e conditions u n d e r whi c h ou r c on
,

s c iou s ne ss w ork s w e s e gr e ga t e a s ma ll nu mber of f acts i nt o a d efi

,

nit e gr ou p This g r ou p of fa c ts r epresent s in its elf th e obj ec tive

.

wo rld a nd is a ccessibl e to th e in v es tiga ti on of sc i enc e B u t in no

, .

ca se d oes thi s gr ou p r e pr e se n t in it se lf E V E R Y T HI N G T H A T I S

E XI S T I N G .

Al ongsid e of thi s gro u p w e m a y pl a ce a no th e r one : th e grou p of

th e s u bj e c tiv e .

Wh a t is th e s u bj ec tiv e ?
Th a t w h ic h w e f ee l dir ec tly M y tooth a ch e is f or m e a su b .
-

j i m A noth er s t o oth a c h e is f or m e a c onc ept

’
e c t v e p h e n o e n o n .
-

o n ly I t is tr u e t h a t it is a c co m p a ni e d by or h a s a s its c a u se th e
.
,

o bj ec tiv e ph e no m enon a d ec a y e d t oo th ,B u t th e p a in it s e lf .
,

wh en it is s om eone e l se s p a in is only a c oncept T h e su bj e c tiv e :

’
, .

this is w h a t I fee l myself directly a s p a rt of m e , .

242 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

Th e bj ec tive cons titu t es its o w n sep a r a t e grou p I n e v e r y

su .

m a n thi s grou p is diffe ren t I n o ne it m ay b e sm a ll e r a nd in

.
,

a no th e r gr ea t e r .F or one a wh o l e se ri es of s e ns a ti o ns (m u s i ca l
,

f o r i n st a nce ) b el ongs to th e r egi on of th e su bj ec tive f or a no t h e r ,

thi s entire seri es r em a ins a c oncept Un d ou bte dly h o we ve r th e .

,

r egi on of th e su bj ec tiv e m a y exp a nd cons id er a bly by th e a id of

s p ec i a l e d u c a ti o n a nd tr a i ning .

If w e t a ke a cont em p ora ry a v erage m a n w e m a y sa y th a t ,

e v erythi n g exi s ti n g is divid e d f or h im in t o thr ee gr ou p s : th e ob

jec tive th e s u bj ec tiv e a nd th a t whi c h is neith er obj ec tive nor

, ,

su bj ec tiv e su c h a s a nega tive ma gnitu de a n d g en e ra lly s u c h fa c ts

, ,

a s a re k n o wn to h im a s c onc e pt s o n ly .

Th e qu es ti on c ons i s t s in thi s : by w h i c h p a th will th e e xp a ns i o n

o f th e s c i enc es g o by th e p a th of th e o bj ec tiv e o r by th e p a t h of
, ,

th e su bj ec tiv e ?
With r ega rd to a v e ry l a rge c l a ss of fa c t s w e m a y b oldly d ec l a r e ,

th a t th e e xp a ns ion of obj ec tiv e sc i enc e in th e ir dir ec tion is im poss i

ble . An ab stra c t c onc ept will n e v e r b ec om e a n o bj ec tiv e ph e
n om enon ; th e th o u ght s o f a no th e r m a n a nd my ow n will n e v e r , ,

b ec om e f or m e a n o bj ec tiv e ph e no m enon .

Th e o bj e c tiv e m eth o d is i ns u ffic i e nt a nd u nfi t f or th e st u dy o f

th e ph en om en a of con s c i ou s n ess A noth er meth od is necessa ry
. .

E v erythin g p o ints to th e f a c t th a t by th e p ositiv e m eth o d it is

p oss ibl e to a dva nce in d efi nite conditiona l dir e c ti ons only Sc i enc e .

h a s no t t a k e n one s t e p in th e direc ti on of th e o bj ec tiv e kno wl e dge

o f th e su bj ec tiv e a n d e vid e n tly c a n n o t t a k e a ny s t e p ; m o r eo v e r
,

o bj ec tiv e kn o wl e dg e is f o u n d e d u p o n s u bj ec tiv e a n d c a nn o t e xi s t ,

wit h ou t it t h ou g h su bj ec tiv e kn o wl e dg e c a n e xi s t p e rfec tly w ith

,

o u t o bj ec tiv e k n o wl e dg e I f w e s tri c tl y a na lyz e th e su b s t a nce o f

.

o bj e c tiv e kn o wl e d g e w e s h a ll s ee th a t it c on si s t s o f s u bjective ele

,

ments W e h a v e a lre a dy m a d e in p a rt su c h a n a na ly si s in d is
.
, ,

c u s s in g s p a c e a nd ti m e E xt ensi on in sp a c e a nd e xi s t enc e in ti m e
.

—thi s is th e fir s t c ondition of o bj e c tiv e exi st enc e And e t th e

y .

form s o f th e e xt ens i on of a thi ng in s p a c e a nd th os e of its ex ,

is tenc e in ti m e a re c r ea t e d by th e c o gnizi ng su bj ec t a nd do no t ,

b el ong to th e thi ng its elf T h i s l a st consid era ti on p erm its u s to

.

p a rt with a ll th e hyp ot h e ses of th e five s ta tes of m a tter energetic ,

a nd psy ch o phy sica l ema na tions e tc All t h ese h yp o t h e s e s su fl e r

-
’
.
,

from one c om m on d efec t : th e y do no t t a ke in to c o nsid e ra ti on th e

fa c t th a t m a teri a lity o r ene rg i s m is a comp lex property B E LO NG I NG
24 4 T ER T I UM ORGANUM

co mm a nd diff e r ent vi e ws ; to p erf orm o pp os ite a nd m u tu a lly ex

c lu sive a c ti ons s im u lt a neou s ly .

I n s p ea kin g o f m a tt e r it is n ec ess a ry a lwa y s to r em em b e r th a t

m a tt e r is not a s u b st a nc e bu t a condi ti on S u pp os e f o r e x a m pl e
, .
,

th a t a m a n is blin d I t is i m p oss ibl e to r ega rd this blin dness a s a

.

s u b s t a nc e ; it is a c ondi ti on of th e e xi s t e nc e of a giv e n m a n .

Ma tt er is s om e sort of blin dnes s .

F or t h es e r e a sons it is p erfec tly u s el e ss a nd na iv e to h op e th a t

s u c h s u bj e c tiv e ph enom e na a s th o u ght s a n d f e e lin g s c a n b y a ny

p ossibility b e sh o wn to e xi s t o bj ec tiv e ly a lth ou gh o nly s ligh tly ,

—
m a t eri a l thu s r e du c ing e v e rythin g exi sting to th e obj e c tiv e ly .

e xi stin g . T h e r e is obj ec tiv e kn o wl e dge a nd th e r e is su bj ec tive

kn owl e dge Let u s now in ve stiga t e th e p os sibiliti es of pr ogr es s in
.

th e o n e a n d in th e oth er .

O bj ec tiv e kno wl e dge c a n gr o w infi nit e ly its pro gr ess d ep en di ng ,

o n th e p e rf e c ti on o f its in s tru m e nt s a nd th e r e fi n e m e nt o f it s

m e th o d s of o b s e rv a ti o n a nd exp eri m ent O ne thing only it c a nno t .

—
tr a nscen d th e limi ts of th e thr ee dim ensi ona l sph er e i e th e -

, . .
,

c o n d iti o ns of s p a c e a n d ti m e f or th e r e a so n th a t o bj e c tiv e kn o wl
,

e dg e is c r e a t e d u n d e r t h ese c on diti o ns a nd th e c on diti ons of th e

,

exi st en ce o f th e thr ee di m ens i on a l w o rld a re th e c o nditi on s o f it s

-

exis t e n c e . O bj ec tiv e kn o wl e dg e w il l a lwa y s b e su bj e c t to th e se

c o nditi o n s f or o t h e rwi se it w ou ld c ea se to e xi s t
, No a pp a r a tu s .
,

no ins tr u m ent will e v e r con qu e r th es e con diti ons f or s h ou ld th e y

, ,

c o n q u er th e y w ou ld d e s tro y th em se lv es fir s t of a ll P erpetu a l .

motion wou ld b e th e only vi c tory ov e r th e thr ee di m ens i ona l -

world in th e three dimens iona l world its elf

-
.

O bj e c tiv e kn o wl e dge d o es not s tu d y fa c t s b u t only th e p ercep

S u bj e c tiv e kno wl e dge s tu di e s th e f a cts—th e f a c t s of
,

tion of f acts .

c o ns c i ou sne s s whi c h le t u s r em e m b e r w e h a v e f o u n d ou t to b e
,

th e o nly r e a l f a c t s Th u s obj e c tive kno wl e dge h a s to do with th e

.

u nrea l w ith th e r efl ec t e d
, with th e i m a gin a ry world : su bj ec tiv e
,

kn o wl e dge h a s to do with th e r ea l w orld .

I N OR D E R T H A T O B J E C T IVE KNOW LE D G E SH A LL T RA N SCE ND T H E

LI M IT S O F T H E T H R E E D IM E N SIO NA L S PH E R E I T I S NE C E SSAR Y
-

T H A T T H E CO ND I T IO N S O F SUB J E C T IV E R E C E PT I VI T Y SH A LL CHANG E .

S o l ong a s thi s d oes not h a pp en o u r o bj ec tiv e kn o wl e dge is c on

,

fin e d with in th e li mits of a n infinite three dimensiona l sph ere I t -

.

c a n pr ocee d infi nit e ly u p o n th e r a d ii of th a t s ph e r e b u t it will ,

ne v e r p e ne tra t e into t h a t r eg i o n a s ection of which cons titu tes ou r

 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 245

three di m ens ional world Mor eover w e kno w fro m th e pre c e din g
-
.
, ,

th a t shou ld our su bj ective r e ceptivity b ec om e m ore li m it e d th en ,

o bj ec tiv e kno wl e dg e w ou ld b e c o rr e sp ondin gly li mit e d a l so I t is .

i m p ossibl e to convey to a dog th e id ea of th e sph eri c a lity of th e

ea rt h ; to m a k e it r em e m b e r th e w eight of th e s u n a nd th e di st a nc es

b e tw een th e pl a nets is e qu a lly i mp ossibl e I ts obj ec tive kn owl .

e d g e is v a s tly m o r e p erson a l th a n o u rs ; a nd th e c a u s e of it li e s in

th e d og s m or e li mi t e d p sy ch e
’
.

Thu s w e s e e th a t obj e c tiv e kno wl e dge d ep en ds u p on th e pr op

O r to pu t it d ifl erently th e d e gr ee
’
e rties of s u bj ec tiv e kno wl e dg e .
,

of su bj ec tiv e kn o wl e dge d e te rmin es th e d egr ee of obj e c tiv e

kno wl e dg e .

In d ee d b etw een th e obj ec tive kn o wl e dge of a s a va ge a n d t h a t

,

of H e rb e rt S p enc e r th e r e is a n enorm ou s d ifl ere nc e ; b u t th a t o f

’

n e ith e r th e o n e n or th e o th e r tra nsc en d s th e li m it s o f th e thr e e

“ ”
dim ensi ona l s p h e re i e th e li m its of th e conditiona l u nr ea l
, . .
, .

I n ord e r to tr a nscen d th e three di m ens i ona l sp h er e it is n ec ess a ry

-

to e xp a n d s u bj e c tiv e knowl e dge Th e exp a ns i on of su b .

j e c tiv e kn o wl e dg e i s t h e e xp a n s i o n o f th e li m it s o f t h e I t h e e x ,

p a nsion of th e f ocu s of consc i ou sn ess th e i nc l u s i o n in it s i m u l ,

ta neou sly of m a ny h e t e r o ge neo u s I s whi c h u su a lly t e n d to

’

e xc l u d e o n e a no th e r .

I s th e e xp a nsi on of th e li mit s o f th e I p os s ibl e ?

T h e s tu dy of c om pl ex fo rm s of c onsc i ou sne s s a ssu r es u s th a t
it is p ossibl e T h e exp ans ion of s u bj ec tiv e kn owl e dge —
. th e ex
a n s io n o f th e li m it s of th e I — m ea n s th i s : th e i nc l u s i on in o u r I o f
p
th a t whic h u su a lly is p erceiv e d a s Not I T h e li m its of th e I a re -
.

v ery conditiona l a nd in genera l ind efi nit e Ani m a l s th ou gh y et

, .
,

im p erfec tly consc i ou s of th e ir I u nite it with th a t t o wa rd s whi c h

,

th ey are s triving a t a giv en m om ent M a n lim it s h is I by h is b o dy

. .

S tu dying th e wo rld h e r ef ers his b o dy to th e r egi o n o f th e Not I

,
-

a nd a c c ept s a s th e I th e inne r th e kno win g c ent e r o nly , With .

th e e xp a n si on of c ons c i ou snes s th e e xp a ns i on of th e I pr ocee d s

fu rth er Wit h ou t d efi nin g th e m a tt e r m or e exa c tly w e m a y sa y
.
,

th a t our sense of ou r I c h a nges wit h th e c h a nges of th e form s of

cons c i ou sn ess .

Pl otinu s th e fa m ou s Al ex a ndri a n philo soph er (third c ent u ry )

,

affirm e d th a t f or p erfec t knowle dge th e su bj ec t a nd obj ec t m u s t b e

uni t e d
— that th e r a tiona l a gent a nd th e thin g b ei ng com pr eh end e d
m u s t not b e sep a ra t e .
24 6 T ER T IUM ORGANUM
For th a t whic h S E E S is it self th e thin g whic h Is S E E N —"S elect .

Works of Plotinu s B ohn s I/ibra ry , p .

’
.

H er e it is in d ee d n e cessa ry t o u n d er s ta nd to s ee in th e s ens e
of in t u iti on .

B u t wh a t form s of c onsc i ou sne s s e xis t ?

H in du phil osop h y m a kes th e divi si on into fou r s ta tes of c on
sc iou sne ss s l ee p dr ea m wa ki ng a nd th e state of a b s ol u te con
, , ,

s c iou s ne s s
—tu riy a *
( Th e A ncient Wisdom A nnie B es a nt ) .
, .

Acco rdin g to ou r t ermin o l ogy th ese fo u r s t a t es of c onsc i ou sness

will b e : th e p ot enti a l s t a t e of c onsc iou sness c onsc iou sness in ,

p ot enti a lity (s l e ep ) ; th e ill u sory s t a t e of c onsc iou sness (th e vi s i on

of dr ea m s ) i e n o divi si on in t o I a nd No t I th e o bjec tivisa tio n
, . .
,
-

,
”
of one s f o r m s of p e rc e pti on ; th en (th e
’
c l ea r c ons c i ou s ness ,

wa king consc i ou sness) th e divi s i on into I a nd Not I ; a nd l a stly ,

-

t h a t u nknown fou rth s ta t e of c onsc iou sness a b ou t whi ch ou r

s c i e ntifi c p sy c h o l o gy h a s o nly a v e ry v a gu e c once pti on ecs ta sy , .

G R S M ea d in th e prefa c e to Ta yl o r s tra nsl a tion of Pl oti nu s

. . .
,
’

(B oh n s Library ) c o rr e l a tes th e t er minol ogy of Sh a nk a r a ch a ry a

’

th e l e a d e r of th e A dva ita Ve d a nt a s c h o ol of a nc i ent I n di a — w ith -

th a t of Plotinu s .

Th e first or s piritu a l sta te w a s ec sta sy ; fro m ec sta sy it fo rgot itself into

deep slee p ; from p rofou n d sl e e p it a woke ou t of unc onsciou sness b u t ,

still withi n itself into th e inte rna l wo rl d of dre a m s ; fro m drea ming it
,

pa sse fin all y into th e th orou gh l y wa king state a nd th e ou te r worl d of

d
,
L
s e nse .

E c s ta s y is th e ter m u se d by P lotinu s ; it is entir ely id enti c a l with

th e t er m tu riy a of H in d u p s y c h o l o gy .

Un d er ordina ry c o n diti ons th e c onsc i ou sn e ss is su rrou n d e d by

w h a t c onstit u tes its s ens e orga ns a nd r ec eptive a pp a ra tu s in th e -

“ ”
ph enom en a l wo rld ; it diff ere nti a t es th e su bj ec tiv e from th e
obj ec tiv e ; divid es th e w orld i nto I a nd Not I a nd di s c erns its -

,
“ ”
for m s of p er c eption from r ea lity I t r ec ogniz es th e ph enom .

e n a l o bj e c tiv e w o rld a s r ea lity a n d dr ea m s a s u nr ea lity a nd in , ,

c lu des a l o ng with it a s b e i ng u nr e a l th e e ntir e su bj e c tiv e w o rld

, , .

I ts v a g u e se nsa ti on o f r ea l thi ngs lyi ng b ey on d th a t whi c h is a p ,

pr eh en d e d by th e orga ns of sense i e s ens a tions of nou m ena , . .

, ,

c o ns c i ou s nes s id entifi e s a s it w e r e with dr ea m s

— with th e u nr ea l ,

A o di g t o th i t
cc r t atio o f th S o th
n H i d S h ool o f o
e n e l t i m t h f o t at o f
re n e u e rn n u c ccu s e ur s es
c o io
ns c d t i
us ness a re u n o m wh a—t d ifl —t o d T h m o t m f om th T —t h m o t
ers oo n s e
'

e re n r er e s re ot e r
,

e rue , e s
ill o y i t h wak i g t a t ; t h o d l p i al ady a t o t h T ; t h thi d d p l
.

with o t d am — o t a t with t h T : d t h f o th Amfidhi t a y— io with th T

us r , s e n s e e se c n s ee s re ne rer e ru e e r ee s o op
u re s c n c e ru e an e ur , s , or e cs s un n e ru e .

bd p
I i , . xxvn .
24 8 T ER T I U M ORGANUM

I n th e o bj e c tiv e w o rld i n d e e d , thi s slipp ing of th e d ewdro p

”
int o th e sea l ea d s to th e a nnih il a tion of th e drop , to th e a b s orp
ti on of it by th e se a We h a v e ne v er ob serv e d a noth e r ord e r of
.

thi ngs in th e obj ec tiv e worl d a nd th er efore c a nno t im a gi ne it .

B u t in th e rea l i e , th e su bj ec tiv e w o rld , of c ou rs e a not h e r o rd e r

, . .

m u s t e xi s t a nd op era t e Th e DR O P O F CO N SCIOU S NE SS m erging

.

with th e S E A O F CO N SCIOUS NE SS knows it bu t does not itself cea se to ,

exis t beca u se of th a t Th erefor e u ndou bte dly th e s ea is a b so rb e d

.
,

by th e drop .

“
I n th e L e tt ers to Fla ccu s of Pl o ti nu s , w e find a w ond erf u l
d escripti on of a p sy c h o l ogy a nd th e ory of kn owl e dge fou n d e d
e x a c tly u p on th e id ea of th e expans i on of th e I .

E xterna l o bj ec ts p re sent u s only with a pp e a ra nc es C onc e rning .

th e m therefore w e m ay b e sa id to p osse ss opinion rathe r th a n knowl

, ,

e d ge . T h e di stinc ti on s in th e a c tu a l worl d of a pp e a ra nc e a re of i m p ort

o nl y to ordin a ry a nd p ra c ti c a l m e n O u r q u esti on li e s with th e i d e a l
.

rea lity th a t exists b e hin d appea ra c nce H ow does th e min d perceive

.

th es e i d e a s ? Are the y with ou t u s a nd is th e rea son li ke sensa tion oc cu

, , ,

pie d with obj ects e xtern a l to itself ? Wh at c erta inty woul d we then
h a ve—W h a t a ssu ra nce th at ou r p ercep tion w as infa llible ? T h e obj ect
p erc eive d woul d b e a som eth in g different from th e mind p erceiving it .

We sh oul d h a ve th en a n im a ge in stea d of re a lity It wou l d be m on .

strou s to b e li e ve f or a m o m ent th a t th e mi n d w a s u na b le t o p e rce i ve

i d ea l tru th exa ctly a s it is a nd th at w e h a d not certa inty a nd re a l knowl

,

e d ge c oncernin g th e worl d of inte lli g enc e It foll ows therefore th a t

.
, ,

this regi on of tru th is n ot to b e inve stig a te d a s a thing extern a l t o u s ,

a nd so o nly i m p erf ec tly kn own It is within u s H ere th e obj ec ts w e

—
. .

conte m p l a te a nd t h a t whic h c onte m p l a tes a e i d e nti c a l

r b oth a re
th ou ght T h e su bj ec t c a nnot su rely know a n obj ec t difl e re nt from itse lf
.
’
.

Th e wo rl d o f i d e a s lies within ou r intelli g enc e Tru th th e refore is not

.
, ,

th e a gree m e nt of ou r a pp re h e n si o n of a n e xte rna l o bj ect w ith th e o bj e c t

itself I t is th e a gre e m e nt of th e min d with itse lf C on sciou snes s
. .
,

therefore is th e sole b a si s of c ertainty T h e min d is its own witness

, . .

R e a son sees in itself th at whi c h is a b ove itself a nd its sou rc e ; a nd a ga in ,

th at whic h is b el ow itself a s s till itself once m ore

Knowle d ge h a s th re e d eg rees—O pinion sci enc e ill u mina tion T h e
.

, , .

m e a ns or i nstru m ent of th e fi rs t is se nse ; of th e sec ond d ia lec tic ; of th e

third intu ition T o th e l a st I su b ordin a te rea son It is a b sol u te knowl
. .

e d g e fou nd e d on th e i d e ntity of th e min d kn owin g with th e o bj e c t kno wn .

Th e re is a ra yi ng ou t of a ll ord ers of exi stenc e a n exte rna l e m a na tion

,

from th e inefl able O ne Th ere is a ga in a retu rning i mp u lse d ra wing

’
.
,

a ll u p wa rd s a nd i nwa rd s towa rd th e cente r fro m wh e n c e a ll c a m e .

T h e w ise m a n rec og ni z es th e i d ea of th e goo d withi n hi m Th is h e .

d evelop s by w ithdra wa l into th e h oly p la c e of h is ow n sou l He W h o .

d oe s not u nd e rsta nd h ow th e s ou l c ontains th e b e a u tif u l W ithin i tself ,

 T E R T I UIM ORGANUM 249

s eeks to realize be a u ty with ou t by l ab ori ou s pro d u cti on His a im sh oul d .

ra th e r b e to c onc e ntra t e a n d si m p lify a nd s o to exp a n d his b e ing ; i nste a d

,

of g oin g ou t i nto th e m a n ifol d to fors a k e it f or th e O ne a nd to fl oa t u p

, ,

wa rd s towa rd s th e divine foun t of b eing wh ose stre a m fl ows within him .

Y ou a sk h ow c a n w e kn ow th e I nfinite ? I a nswer not by rea son I t

, , .

is th e o ffic e of rea son to distinguish an d d e fine T h e infinite th eref ore .

, ,

c annot b e ra n k e d a m on g its o bj e ct s Y ou c a n onl y a pp reh end th e

—
.

in finite by a fa c ulty su p erior to rea son by entering into a sta te inwhich ,

y ou a re y ou r finite se lf n o longe r in whi c h th e di vine e s senc e i s c om

m u ni c a te d to y ou Thi s is e csta cy It is th e lib era tion of y our min d
. .

from its finite c onsc i ou sne ss Like c an only a ppreh end like ; wh en y ou
.

th u s c ea se to b e finite y ou b e c ome one with th e infinite I n th e re du c

, .

tion of y ou r soul to its si mplest self its divine e ssenc e y ou rea liz e thi s
—
, ,

u ni on this i d entity .

B u t thi s s u b li me c ondition is not of p e rm a nent d u ra tion I t is onl y .

now an d th e n th a t w e c a n e n j o y thi s e l e va ti on a b ove th e li mits of th e

b ody a nd th e worl d I m y self h a ve realize d it b u t thre e tim es a s y et
.
,

a nd Porphy ry hith e rto n ot o nc e .

All th a t tend s to p u rify a nd el eva te th e m ind will a ssist y ou in this a t

tainm ent a nd fa c ilita te th e a pproa c h a nd th e re c u rrence of th ese h a ppy
,

inte rva l s The re a re then diff e rent roa d s by whic h thi s e nd m a y b e

. , ,

re a ch e d T h e l ove of b ea u ty whi c h exa lts th e p oet ; th a t devotion to

.

th e O ne a nd th a t a sc ent of s c ienc e whic h m a kes th e a m b iti on of th e

philosophe r a nd th a t love a n d those pra yers by whic h som e d evou t a n d
,

a rd ent soul ten d s in its m o ra l p u rity towa rd s p e rfe c ti on— th ese a re th e

g re a t high wa y s c on d u cting t o th a t h e i gh t a b ove th e a ctu a l a nd th e p a r

ticu la r wh e re w e sta n d in th e i mm e di a te p res ence of th e I nfinite w h o
, ,

s hine s ou t a s from th e d e p th s of th e sou l .

In t h e r pl a c e in hi s wo rks Pl otinu s d efi nes th e e c s t a tic

a no ,

kno wl e dge m or e e xa c tly pr e senti ng s u c h prop e rti es of it a s to

,

r e v ea l to u s q u it e c l ea rly th a t th e i nfi nit e e xp a nsi on of su bjective

knowledge is th er e m e a nt .

Wh en w e see G od s a y s Plotinu s w e see him not by rea son b u t by

, , ,

s om ethi ng t h a t is h i gh e r th a n re a son I t is im p ossib le h owever to sa y

.

a b ou t h im w h o see s th a t h e sees b ec a u se h e d oe s not b e h ol d a n d disce rn

,

two difierent th ings (th e seer a nd th e thin g seen ) H e c h a ng es c om

'

ple tely c ea se s t o b e him se lf p re serves n othing of his I

, , I mm erse d in .

G o d h e c on stitu tes on e wh ole wit h H im ; li ke th e center of a c irc le

, ,

whic h c oinc ide s with th e c e nter o f a noth e r circle .

252 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

We h a v e a lr ea dy exa m i ned i nto th e m a nner in whic h a tw o

dim ensi ona l b e ing mig h t a ppro a c h to a c om preh ensi on of th e third
dim ensi on B u t w e h a v e n ev er a ske d ou r selves th e q u es ti on :
.

wh a t woul d it feel b eg inning to s ens e th e thir d di m ensi on b eg in

, ,
“ ”
ni n g t o b e c on s c i ou s of a n e w w o rld en vir o ni ng it ?

Firs t of a ll it wou ld feel a stonis h m ent a nd fright fright a p

,
—
p roa c h ing h o rr o r ; b ec a u s e in o rd e r t o fin d th e n e w w o rld it m u s t

lose th e ol
d o ne .

Le t u s i m a gi ne th e pr e di c a m ent of a n a ni m a l in whi c h fl a sh es
o f h u ma n cons ciou snes s h a v e b e gu n to a pp ea r .

Wh a t will it b e c onsc iou s of f irs t of a ll? Firs t of a ll th a t its old ,

w orld th e w orld of th e a nima l its c omf ort a bl e h a bitu a l wo rld th e

, , , ,

o n e in whi c h it w a s b or n t o whi c h it h a s b ecom e a c c u st o m e d a nd

, ,

whi c h it i m a gi ne s to b e th e only r ea l one is c ru m bl ing a wa y a nd ,

fa lling a ll a r ou n d it E v eryt h ing th a t b efor e s eem e d r ea l b ec om es

.
,

f a l se d elu s ive fa nt a s ti c u nr ea l T h e i m pr ession of th e u nr ea lity

, , , .

of a ll its e n vir o nm e nt will b e v e ry s trong .

Until su c h a b ei ng s h a ll l ea rn to c om pr eh end th e r ea lity of

ano th er hig h er ord er u ntil it sh a ll u n d erst a n d th a t b ehin d th e
, ,

c ru m blin g old w o rld o ne infi nit e ly m o r e b eau tif u l a nd ne w is

o p eni ng u p c o ns id e r a bl e ti m e will nec es s a rily p a s s

, And d u ri ng .

a ll thi s ti m e a b e in g in wh om t hi s ne w c onsc i ou s ne ss is in pro c e ss

,

o f b e ing b o r n m u s t p a ss fr om o ne a by ss of d esp a ir to a no th e r
, ,

fr om one nega ti on to a noth er I t m u st r ep u di a t e every thing .

a r ou n d it s e lf O nly by th e r ep u di a ti on of e v erythin g will th e

.

p oss ib ility of ent e ring into a ne w lif e b e r e a liz e d .

With th e b eginni ng of th e g r a d u a l l oss of th e old w orld th e

l o gi c of th e tw o dim ensi ona l b e ing—or th a t whi c h s too d f or it f or
,

—
l og i c will su ff e r continu a l vi ol a tion a n d its stronges t i m pr essi on ,

will b e th a t th e r e is no logi c a ta ll th a t no l a ws of a ny sort e v en exi s t

, .

F o rm erly wh en it w a s a n a ni m a l it r ea sone d :
, ,

This is this . This h ou se is my own .

Th a t is th a t . Th a t h ou se is s tra nge .

This is not th a t . Th e s tra nge h ou s e is not my own .

Th e tr a nge h ou s e a nd its o wn h ou se th e a nim a l r ega rd s a s

s

diflerent objects h a ving nothi ng in comm on a s a h ou s e a nd a tre e

, , .

B u t now it will su rpri s e dly u nd ers t a nd th a t th e s tra nge h ou se a nd

its ow n h ou s e a re E " UA LLY h ou s e s .
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 25 3

Ho w will it press thi s in its l a ngu a ge of p erc epti ons ? S tri c tly
ex

s p ea ki ng it will n ot b e a bl e to expr ess thi s a t a ll b e c a u s e it is im

, ,

p ossibl e to expr ess conc ept s in th e l a ng u a ge of a n a nim a l Th e .

a ni m a l will s i m ply m ix u p th e s e n sa ti ons o f th e s tr a ng e h ou se a n d

its o wn h ou se C onf u se dl y it will b egi n to feel s om e new proper

.
,

ties in h ou s e s a nd a l ong with t h i s it w ill f e e l l e s s c l ea rly th o s e

,

prop erti e s whic h m a d e th e str a ng e h ou s e str a nge S i m u lt a ne .

ou s ly with thi s th e a ni m a l will b egin to se n se new pr o p erti es whic h

,

it did no t kno w b efor e As a r esu lt it will u nd ou bt e dly exp eri enc e

.

th e n ecessity f or a s y st e m of ge ner a liz a ti o n o f th ese n ew pr op e r

—
ti es th e n ec essity f or a n ew l ogi c expr essi ng th e r e l a tions of th e
n e w or d e r o f t h i ng s B u t h a vin g no c onc ept s it will not b e in a
.

p os iti on to constr u e th e a xi om s of Aristototelia n l ogic a nd will ,

e xpr ess its i m pr e ssi on of th e ne w o rd e r in th e f o r m of th e entir e ly

a b su rd pr op os iti o n :

This is th a t .

F u rth er let u s i m a gine t h a t to th e a ni m a l with th e ru di m ent a ry

,

l og i c expr essi ng its s ens a tions ,

This is this .

Th a t is th a t .

This is not th a t .

s om e b ody tri es to diff er en t obj ect s tw o h ou s es

prov e th a t tw o
its ow n a nd a s tra nge one —a re si m il a r t h a t th ey r e pr e s e n t one a nd
,

th e sa me thing th a t th e y a re b oth h ou s es
, T h e a ni m a l will ne v er
.

c r e dit thi s s imila rity F or it th e t w o h ou se s its o w n where it is f ed

.
, , ,

a n d th e s tr a ng e o n e wh ere it is bea ten if it ent er s

, will r em a in ,

entirely d fierent Th er e will b e no t h i ng in c omm on in th em f or it

i
'

.
,

a nd th e e ff o rt to pr o v e t o it th e s i m il a rit y o f th es e t w o h ou s es will

l ea d to nothing u ntil it s ens es this its elf T h en se n si ng c onf u s e dl y .

,

th e i d e a of th e like ness o f t w o difl ere n t o bj e c ts a nd b ei n g wit h ou t ,

c o n c e pt s th e a ni m a l will e xpr e ss thi s a s s o m e thi n g illogica l fr o m

,

its o wn p oi nt o f vi e w T h e id e a this a nd th a t a re simila r objects

.
, ,

th e a rti c u l a t e tw o di m ens i on a l b eing will tr a n s l a t e i nto th e la n

-

gu a g e of its l o gi c in th e s h a p e of th e form u l a : This is th a t; a nd of

,

c o u r s e will pr onou nc e it a n a b su rdity a nd th a t th e s e ns a ti on of

.
,

th e n e w ord e r o f thi n gs l ea d s to l ogi c a l a b su rditi es B u t it w ill b e .

u na bl e to e xpr e s s th a t whi c h it sen s e s in a ny o th e r w a

y .
25 4 T ERT IUM ORGAN U M

We a re in p o s ition —wh en we dea d a wa ken

e x a c tly th e sa m e

i e wh e n w e m en c o m e to th e r e a liz a ti on of t h a t oth e r lif e to

. .
, , , ,

th e c om pr eh ens ion o f h igh e r th ings .

Th e s a m e fright th e s a m e loss of th e rea l th e sa m e i m pr ess io n

, ,

of u tt e r a nd n e v er e n din g ill o g i c a lity will a ffl i c t u s

-
.

I n o rd er to r ea liz e th e new w orld w e m u s t u nd e r st a nd th e new ,

logica l order of things .

Our l l ogic a s si s ts u s in th e inv estiga tion of th e re l a ti ons of

u su a

th e ph enom ena l w o rld o nly Ma ny a tt em pts h a ve b een m a d e to

.

d efi ne wh a t logic is B u t l ogi c is j u s t a s es sentia lly u ndefina ble

.

a s is m a th em a ti cs .

Wh a t is m a th em a tic s ? Th e sc i enc e of m a gnitu d e s .

Wh a t 1 s l ogic ? Th e sc i enc e of concept s .

B u t th e se a re not d efi niti ons th e y a re only the tra ns la tion of ,

th e na m e M a th em a ti c s or th e s c i enc e of m a gnitu d es is that

.
, ,

s y s t e m whi c h s t u di e s th e qu a ntitive r e l a ti o ns b e tw e e n thi ngs ; l o gi c ,

or th e s c i e nc e of c onc ept s is th a t s ys t em whi c h s tu di e s th e

,

qu a lititive ( c a t e go ri ca l ) r e l a ti o ns b e twee n t h i ngs .

Logi c h a s b een b u ilt u p qu it e in th e s a m e w a y a s m a th em a tics .

As with l ogi c s o a l so with m a th e m a ti c s (a t l ea s t th e ge nera lly

,
“ ” “ ”
kno wn m a t h em a tic s of fi nite a nd c ons t a nt nu m b e rs ) b ot h ,

we re d e d u c e d by u s from th e ob s erva ti on o f th e ph em om ena of

our w o rld G ene ra lizing ou r ob s erva tions w e gra d u a lly di scove r
.
,

e d th o s e r e l a ti ons whi c h w e c a ll e d th e f u n d a m e nt a l l a w s o f th e

world .

I n l ogi c th e s e f u nd a m e nt a l l a ws a re i nc l u d e d in th e a xi o m s of
,

Ar i st o tl e a nd of B a c o n .

A is A .

( Th a t which wa s A , will be A .
)
Ma i
A is not A A .

( Th a t which wa s . not A , will not be A .

)
(Every thing is eith er A or not A ) .

(E very thing will be eith er A or not A ) .

Th e l ogic of Ari s totl e a nd B a con d e v e l op e d a nd s u ppl e m e nt e d ,

by t h e ir m a ny foll o we r s d ea l s with concep ts only , .

Th e w o r d logos— t h i s is th e obj e c t o f l o gi c
, An id e a in o rd e r .
,

to b ec om e th e o bj ec t o f l o gi c a l r e a s oni ng in o rd e r to b e s u bj e c t e d ,
25 6 T ER T IUM ORGAN UM

Th e l a ws of m a t h e m a ti c s a nd th e
l a ws o f —
l ogic th ese a re th e
l a ws of th e r efl ec tion o f th e ph enom ena l world in ou r c onsc o u s i
ne ss .

Ju s t as th e a xio m s of l ogic
d e a l with conc epts onl y a nd a re
can ,

re l a te d so l e ly to th em so th e a xi om s of m a th em ati cs a pply to
,

fi nite a nd cons ta nt m a gnitu d e s only a nd a re re l a t e d sol ely to ,

th em .

TH E S E AX IOM S A R E UNT R UE I N R E LAT ION T O I NF INI T E AND

VAR IA B LE MAG NI T UD E S j u st a s th e axi om s of l ogic a re untr u e in
,

re lati on to em otions to sy m b ol s to th e m u sic a lity a nd the hidden

, ,

mea ning of words .

Wh a t d oe s this m ea n ?
I t m ea ns th a t th e a xi om s of l ogic a nd o f m a th e m a tics a re d e
du ce d by u s from th e ob se rva ti on of phenomena i e of th e ph e , . .
,

nom ena l w o rld a n d r e pr esen t in th e m s e lv e s a c e rt a in conditiona l

,

incorrectness whi c h is n ece ss a ry f or th e kno wl e dge of th e u nrea l

,

world .

As h a s b een s a id b efore w e h a ve in r e a lity two ma th ema tics

, .

O ne th e ma thema tics of finite a nd cons ta nt nu mbers , r epr esents a

,

qu ite a rtifi c ial c ons tru c ti on f or th e so l u tion of problem s b a sed on

c on diti o na l d a t a Th e c hi e f of th es e c onditi onal d a t a c ons i s ts in
.

th e f a c t th a t in probl e m s of this ma th ema tics th er e is a lwa y s t a k e n

the t of th e u nivers e only , i e on e s ec ti on only of th e u niv er s e is
. .
,

t a ken, which sec ti on is nev er t a k en in c onj u nc tion with a noth e r

one . This m a th em a tics of fi nit e a nd c onsta n t m a gnitu d es s tu di es
a n a rtifici a l u niverse a n d is in it s e lf s om e thin g e sp ec i a lly c r e a t e d
,

o n th e b a s i s of ou r o b se rv a ti o n of ph enomena , a n d se rv e s f or th e

s i m plifi ca ti on o f th ese ob s erv a tions B eyond phenomena th e .

m a th em a ti cs of fi nit e a nd c ons t a n t nu m b ers c a nno t g o I t is .

d ea ling with a n i m a gina ry world with i m a gina ry m a gnit u d es , .

Th e o th e r , the ma th ema tics of infi nite a nd va ria ble magnitu des ,

r epr esent s s om ething entir ely r e a l , b u ilt u p on th e r ea sonings in
r eg a rd to a rea l world .

Th e firs t is r e l a t e d to th e wo rld o f ph e nom e na whi c h rep re ,

s e nt s in it se lf nothin g oth e r th a n ou r incorrect a ppr eh ens i on a nd

p ercepti on of th e world .

T h e s e cond is r e l a t e d t o th e wo rld of nou m e na whi c h repre ,

s ent s in it s e lf th e w orld a s it is .
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 25 7

Th e first is u nr e a l it e xi st s in
, ou r c onsc ou s ness ,i in our im a gina
tion .

Th e s ec on d is r ea l it
, ex pre sses th e r elations of a r eal world .

Tra nsfinite nu mbers s o c a ll e d m a y serv e a s a n exa m pl e of

, ,
”
r ea l m a th ema tic s , vio l a ting th e fu nda mental axi om s of ou r
m a th e m a ti c s (a nd l ogi c ) .

By tra nsfinite nu mbers , a s th e ir n a m e i m pli es is m ea nt nu m b ers ,

bey ond i nfi ni ty .

Infinity a s r epr esente d by th e sign C1 ) is th e m a th em a tic al

,

expr ess i on with whi c h a s s u c h , it is p oss ibl e to p e rf o rm a ll op e r

,

a tio ns : divid e , m u ltiply , r a i se to p ow e rs I t is p ossibl e to raise .

—
infi nity to th e p ow er of infi nity it will b e CI D Thi s m a gnitu d e is
a n i nfi nit e nu m b e r of ti m es gr ea t er th a n s im pl e infi nity A nd a t .

th e s a me time th ey a re both equ a l: (1 ) CD An d this is

th e m os t r em a rka bl e pr op erty o f tra nsfinite nu m b e r s Y ou m a y .

p e rf orm with th em a ny op era ti ons wh a tsoever , they will ch a nge

i n a corresp onding ma nner remai ni ng a t the s a me time equ a l
, .

This vi ol a tes th e fu nd a m ent a l l a ws of m ath em ati cs accepte d f or

finite nu m b ers Af t er a ch a nge th e fi nit e nu m b er c a nnot b e e qu al
.
,

to it self B u t h er e w e s ee h ow , ch a nging th e tra nsfinite nu m b er

.
,

r em a ins e qu a l to itse lf .

Aft e r a ll tra nsfinite nu m b e rs a re entir e ly r ea l

, We c a n find .

e xa m pl es rr esp on di ng to th e expr e ssion (1 ) a nd e ven CI D

co

a d m
n 0 ° in ou r wo rld .

—
Le t u s t a k e a line a ny se gm ent of a line We kn o w th a t th e .

nu m b er o f p o int s on thi s line is e qu a l to infi nity f or a p o in t h a s ,

no di m e nsi on If ou r segm ent is e qu a l to one i nch a nd b esid e it

.
,

w e s h a ll i m a gine a se gm ent a mil e l ong th en in th e littl e se gm e nt ,

e a c h p o i nt will c orr esp ond to a p o int in th e l a rg e one Th e nu m .

b er of p oi nt s in a s egm ent one inc h l ong is infi nit e Th e nu m b e r .

of p o int s in a s e gm ent o ne m il e l ong is a l s o infi nit e W e g et .

CD CD
Let i m a gine a s qu a re one s id e of whic h is a giv en seg
u s now ,

m e nt a T h e nu m b e r of lines in a s qu a r e is infi nit e Th e nu m b e r

, . .

of p oi nt s in e a c h lin e is i nfi nit e C onse q u e ntly th e nu m b er of

.
,

p o int s in a s qu a r e is e qu a l to infi nity m u ltipli e d by itse lf a n i nfi nit e

n u m b er of ti m e s m This m a gnitu d e is u nd ou bt e dly in
fi nit ely gr ea ter th a n th e firs t one : m a nd a t th e s a m e ti m e
25 8 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

th ey a re e qu al a s a ll infi nite m a gnitu d es a re e qu a l b ec a u s e if

, , ,

th ere b e a n infi nity th en it is one a nd c a nno t c h a nge , , .

2
Up on th e s q u a r e a let u s constru c t a c u b e This c u b e c onsi st s
, .

of a n infini t e nu m b e r of s q u a r e s j u s t a s a s q u a r e consi s t s of a n ,

infi nite nu m b e r of lin e s a nd a line of a n i nfi nite nu m b er of p oints , .

3
C onse qu ently th e nu m b er of p oints in th e cu b e a is e qu a l to
, ,

m 0° thi s expression is equ a l to th e expressi on m

a nd m i e thi s m ea ns that a n infi nity continu e s to gro w re
. .
, ,

ma ining me time u nch a nged

at the sa .
*

Th u s in tra nsfinite nu m b er s w e see th a t tw o m a gnitu des e qu a l ,

se p a r a t e ly to th e third c a n b e no t e q u a l to e a c h o th er G enerally
, .

s p ea king w e s e e th a t th e f u n d a m e nt a l a xi om s of ou r m a th em a ti c s
,

do not work th e r e a re not th e r e v a lid We h a v e th erefore a fu ll

, .

right to esta bli sh th e la w th a t th e fu n d a m enta l a xiom s of m ath e ,

m a tic s enu m era te d a b o v e a re not a ppli c a bl e to tra nsfinite nu m

b ers b u t a re a ppli ca bl e a nd v a lid only f or finite nu m b e rs
, .

We m a y a l s o sa y th a t th e fu nd a m enta l a xi om s of our m a th e
m a tic s a re valid f or cons ta nt m a gnitu d es onl y O r in oth e r
word s th ey d em a n d u nity of time a nd u nity of a cting a gents Th a t
, .

is e ac h m a gnit u d e is e qu a l to it se lf a t a given moment B u t if w e

, .

take a m a gnitu d e whic h v a ries a nd t a ke it in differ ent m om ents , ,

th en it will not b e e qu a l to itse lf Of c ou rse w e m a y sa y th a t .

,

c h a nging it b eco m es a nother m a gni tu d e that it is a giv en m a gni

, ,

tu d e only s o l ong a s it do es not ch a nge B u t thi s is pr ec i se ly th e .

thing th a t I a m t a lki ng a b ou t .

Th e a xi om s of our u s u a l m a th em a ti c s a re a ppli c a bl e t o fi nit e

a nd cons ta nt m a gni tu d e s o nly .

Th u s q u ite in opp ositi on to th e u su a l Vi e w w e m u st a d mit th a t ,

th e m a th em a ti c s o f fi nit e a nd const a nt m a gnitu d es is u nr e a l i e , . .

,

th a t it d ea l s with th e u nr ea l r el a tions of u nrea l m a gnitu d es ; whil e

th e m a th em ati c s of infinit e a nd fl u ent m a g nitu d es is r ea l i e , . .
,

th a t it d eal s with th e r ea l r el a tions of r e a l m a gnitu d e s .

Tr u ly th e gr ea t est m a gnitu d e of th e first ma thema tics h a s no

di m ension wh a te v er it is e qu a l to zero or a p oint in c om p a ri son
, ,

with a ny m a gnitu d e of th e secon d m a th em a ti cs A LL MA G NI TUD E S ,

OF WHICH D E S PI T E T H E IR D IV E R SI T Y A R E E " UA L AM O NG T H E M
, ,

S E LV E S .

Thi p a ag aph d th p di g o p t o iti i m f om th t h i al t a d p oi t I t p ob ab l

s r r an e re ce n are en cr c s r e ec n c s n n
'

is r e
th a t th a th o a ifi d t h i al xa t hi d i t o giv th o wh o t i i tia t d i t o th
.

e u r s cr ce ec n c e c ne ss i n s e s re e se a re no n e n e
my t i o f m a th m a ti a l a
s e r es d it w e t a gib l ill t a tio o f t
cs c e fi it
r, a n mb as ere n e us r n ra ns n e nu ers
Th o ad w h o
se re t f
e rs i l ma th m a ti ia
a re nod d i t o k o w m o ab o t thi b
ro e ss o na e c ns , a n e s re n re u s su

j t m y fi d a l a
ec a d imp
n p x p o itio o f th
c e r an p ti so f t fi it m b
e e s I t od
n tio e re er
s es ra ns n e nu e rs i n n r uc n
t o M ath m ati l Phil o o phy h y B t a d R lp( M a mil l ) T l
.
"
e ca s er r n usse c an . ra ns .
260 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

s ion a l world d oes not exi s t in r ea lity I t is a c r eati on of ou r im .

p erfec t s ens es th e r esu lt of th eir im p e rfec ti on This is not the

, .

world bu t m e r e ly th a t whic h w e s ee of th e world Th e three .

—
dim ensi on al w orld this is th e fou r dim ensi ona l world ob serv e d -

throu gh th e n a rro w s lit of ou r senses Th er efor e a ll m a gnitu d es .

whi ch w e r ega rd a s su ch in th e thr ee dim en siona l world a re no t -

r ea l m a gnitu d es bu t m ere ly artificia lly as su med

, .

Th ey d o not exi st r ea lly in th e s a m e w a y th a t the present d o es

,

not e xis t r ea lly Thi s h a s b een dwelt u p on b efor e By the present

. .

w e d es ignat e th e tr a nsiti on fr om th e fu tu r e i nt o th e p a st B ut thi s .

tra nsiti on h a s no ext ensi on Th e r efor e th e pr esent does not exi st. .

O nly th e f u tu r e a nd th e p a s t exi st .

Th u s c onsta nt m a gnitu d es in th e thr e e dim ensional world a re -

only a b s tra c ti ons j u s t a s motion in th e thre e di m e ns i ona l w o rld

,
-

is in s u bs ta nce a n a b s tra c ti on
, , I n th e three dimensiona l world .
-

th e re is no c h a nge no m o tion I n ord er to think m oti on w e a l

, .
,

r e a dy nee d th e fou r dim ens iona l world Th e thr ee dim ensi onal
-
.
-

world d oes not exi st in r ea lity o r it exi s t s o nly d u ri ng one id ea l ,

m om ent I n th e n ext id e a l m om ent th e r e a lr ea dy exist s a noth er

.

thr e e di m ensi ona l world Th er efore th e m a gnitu d e A in th e f ol

-
.

l owin g m om e nt is a lr ea dy no t A b u t B in th e ne xt C a nd so , , ,

forth to i nfi nity I t is e qu a l to itself in one id ea l m om ent only

. .

I n oth e r wo rd s withi n th e li mi ts of ea c h id ea l m om e nt th e a xi om s
,

of m a th em a ti c s a re tr u e ; f or th e c om p a ri s on of t w o id e a l m om e nt s

th ey a re m er e ly conditiona l a s th e l ogi c of B a con is c on dition al in

com p a ri s on with th e l o gi c of Ari s t o tl e I n time i e in r e l a ti on to .
, . .
,

va ri a bl e m a gnitu d e s from th e st a n dp oin t of th e id ea l m om ent

, ,

th ey a re u ntr u e .

Th e id e a of c ons t a nc y or v a ri a bility e m a na t e s fr om th e im
p ot enc e of ou r limi t e d r e a son to com pr eh end a thing oth erwi se
th a n by a sec ti on I f w e w ou ld c om preh en d a thing in fou r
.

dim e nsions let u s s a y a h u m a n b ody fr om birth to d ea th th en it

, ,

will b e th e wh ol e a nd consta nt th e s ec ti on of whi ch w e c a ll ,

a ch a nging in time h u m a n b o dy
- - -
A m om e nt of lif e i e a b ody a s .
, . .
,

w e kn o w it in th e thr ee di m ens i ona l w o rld is a p oi nt o n a n i nfi nite

-

li ne C ou ld w e c om pr eh en d this b ody a s a wh ol e th en w e wou ld

.
,

kno w it a s a n a bsolu tely cons ta nt m a gnitu d e with a ll its m u ltif a ri ,

o u sne s s o f f or m s s t a t es a nd p os iti ons ; b u t th en to thi s cons t a nt

,

m a gnit u d e th e a xi om s of ou r m a th em a ti c s a nd l ogi c w ou ld b e in
a pp li c a bl e b ec au s e it w ou ld b e a n inf inite m a gnit u d e
, .
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

We ca nno t c om prehend thi s i nfi nite m a gnitu de We c om pre

.

h end a lwa y s its sections only And ou r m a th em a ti c s a nd lo gi c a re

.

re l a t e d to thi s im a gi na ry s ec ti on of th e u niverse
.
2 64 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

th e r el a ti ons of th e o th e r wo rld or the w orld of ca us es c a n b e

,

l ogi ca l fr om our p oin t of Vi e w On th e contra ry it m a y b e s a id

.
,

th a t E VE R YT HIN G LOGICA L I s NO T O F T H E OTH E R W OR LD n o t ,

nou m en a l b u t ph enom ena l

, No thing c a n b e l ogi c a l from o ur
.
,

s t a n dp oin t th ere, All th a t is th ere m u s t seem to u s a logica l a b

.

su rdity n ons e n se
, W e m u st r em em b er th a t it is i m p ossibl e to
.

p ene tr a t e th er e with ou r logic .

T h e r el a ti on of th e g enera l tr end of th eth ou ght of h u m a ni ty

t o wa rd th e oth er wo rld h a s a lwa y s b e en highly incorr ect .

“ ”
I n p ositivi sm m en hav e d e ni e d th a t o t h e r w orld a lt og eth er .

This w a s b ec a u se n ot a d mitting th e p ossibility of r el a ti ons oth er

,

th a n th ose for m u l a te d by Ari stotl e a nd B a con m en d enie d the ,

very exis tence of th a t whi c h s eem e d a b su rd a n d i m p o ss ibl e fr om

th e s t a n dp o int o f th os e f o r m ul ae Al s o; in du a lis ti c spiriti s m
.

th ey a tt em pt e d to c onstru ct th e nou m ena l world on th e m o d el of

th e ph enom en a l th a t is aga ins t r ea son a ga i nst n a t u r e th e y
, , , ,

w a nt e d a t a ll c os ts to pro v e th a t th e oth er world is logica l from

ou r s ta ndp oint th a t th e s a m e l a w s of c a su a lity o p er a t e j u s t a s in
,

o ur w o rld a nd that th e o th e r w o rld is no th ing m o r e t h a n th e

,

ext ensi on o f ou r s .

M o d ern th e os ophy whi c h b ega n with th e d eni a l of d u a li s ti c

,

th eses a s a b su rd ca m e fi na lly to th eir a ffirm a ti on

, .

Positiv e phil os ophy p er ceiv e d th e a b su rdity of a ll d u a li sti c

th eses bu t h a ving no p o wer to e xp a nd th e fi e ld of its a c tivity
, ,
“ ”
li mit e d by th e infi nit e sph e r e c ou ld think of n othin g b e tt e r
,

th a n to D E NY .

My sti c a l phil osophy a l on e fe lt th e p ossibi lity of r el a tions oth e r

th a n th ose of th e p h enom ena l world a nd to thi s w e sh a ll c om e a t ,

th e e n d of a ll en d s a ft e r l ong w a n d e ri ngs in m a teri a li s ti c spirit ,

istic a nd n eo th eo sophic l a b yrin th s

,
-
.

? S cience mu st come to my s ticis m .

S ci enc e c a n not d e ny th e f a c t t h a t m a t h em a ti c s gr o w s exp a n d s , ,

a n d esc a p es fr o m th e li m it s of th e vi sibl e a nd m e a su a b le w o rld .

E ntire d ep a rtm ent s of m a th em a ti cs t a ke i nto c onsid er a ti on qu a n

titive r el a ti on s whic h did n ot e xi s t in th e r e a l w orld o f p o s itivi s m ,
i e r el a ti on s whic h h a v e n o c orr e sp ond ence to a ny r e a liti es in th e
.

vi si b l e thr e e di m ens i ona l w orld

,
-
.

B u t th e r e c a nno t b e a ny m a t h em a ti c a l re l a ti ons to whi c h th e

r e l a ti on of som e r e a liti e s w ou ld n ot c orr esp on d Th ere f or e m a t h .

e m a tic s tr a n s cen d s th e li m it s o f ou r w o rld a n d p e ne tr a t e s i n t o a ,

 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 2 65

world u nkno wn Thi s is th e telescope by th e a id of whi ch w e

.
,

b e gin to i nv estiga t e th e sp a ce of ma ny dimensions wit h its worl d s .

Ma th em a ti c s goes a h ea d of ou r th ou ght a h ea d of ou r p ow er of ,

i m a gi na tion a n d p ercepti on E ven now it is enga g ed in c a l c u l a ting

.

r e l a ti ons whi c h w e ca nno t i m a gin e a t a ll .

I t is i m p ossibl e to d eny a ll thi s e v en from th e stri c tly p os i ,

”
tivistic i e p os itive s t a ndp oi nt Th u s s c i enc e h a vi ng a d m itt ed
, . .
, .
,

th e p oss ibility of th e e xp a n s i on o f m a th e m a ti c s b ey o n d th e li m it s
of th e sensu ou s ly p e r ce iv e d w o rld
— th a t is b ey on d th e limits of a ,

w orld accessible (th ou gh th eor eti ca lly ) to th e orga ns of s ense a nd

th eir m ech a ni c a l a id s— m u s t th e r eby r ec o gniz e th e exp a ns ion of
“ ”
th e rea l world f a r b ey o n d th e li mit s of a ny infi nit e sph er e i e , . .
,
“
m u st r ecogniz e th e r ea lity of th e w orld of m a ny di m ens i ons .

Th e r e co gniti on o f th e r ea lity of th e w orld of m a ny di m e nsi o ns

is th e a lrea dy a ccomplish ed tra nsiti on to a nd u n d ers t a ndi ng of , ,

th e world of th e wo n dr ou s And thi s tra nsiti o n t o th e w on drou s

.

is i m p o ssibl e with ou t th e r e cogniti on of th e rea lity of n e w l o gi c a l

r el a tions whi ch a re a b su rd fr om th e s t a n dp oi nt of ou r l o gi c .

Wh a t a re th e la ws of ou r logi c ?
Th ey a re th e l a ws of ou r r ec eptivity of th e thr ee di m ensi ona l -

world or th e la w s of ou r three dimensiona l receptivity of th e w orld

,
-
.

I f w e d e sire to es ca p e from th e thr ee di m ensi ona l world a nd g o -

fa rth e r w e m u s t firs t of a ll wo rk ou t th e fu nd a m ent a l l ogi c a l pri n

,

c iple s whi c h wou ld p e r mit u s t o ob s e rv e th e r e l a ti on s of thi ng s in

a w orld of m a ny di m ensi ons— s ee i ng in th e m a ce rt a i n r e a son a bl e

n ess a nd n ot c om pl e t e a b su rdity
, I f w e ent er t h er e a rm e d only
.

with th e pri nc ipl es of th e l ogi c of th e thr ee di m ensiona l world -

th ese pri nc ipl es will dra g u s b a c k will not giv e u s a c h a nc e to ri se

,

from th e e a rth .

Firs t of a ll w e mu s t thro w off th e c h a i ns of ou r l ogi c This is .

th e firs t th e gr e a t th e c hief lib er a ti on t o wa rd whi c h h u m a nity

, ,

m u s t s triv e M a n thro wi ng off th e c h a i ns o f three di m e nsi ona l

“
-
.
,

l ogi c h a s a lr ea dy p enetra t e d in consc i ou sne ss i nt o a not h er

, , ,

world And not o nly is t h i s tra nsiti on p ossibl e b u t it is a c c om

.
,

l
p ish e d const a ntly Alt h ou gh u nh a p pily w e a re n ot entire ly c o n
.

“
s c i ou s o f ou r ri g h t s in a noth e r w o rld a nd o ft e n s a c rifi ce t h e s e
,

right s r ega rdi ng ou rse lves a s li mit e d to thi s ea rth ly wo rld p a th s

, ,

ne v e rt h e l ess e xi s t Poetry my s ti ci s m th e id ea li s ti c phil osop h y

.
, ,

of all a g es a nd p eopl es pr e s e rv e th e tr a c es of su c h tr a n s iti o n s .

Foll owi ng th es e tr a ces w e ou rse lv es c a n find th e p a th Anc i e nt

, .
266 T E R T I UM ORGANUM

a nd m o d e rn t h ink e rs h a v e giv en u s m a ny k e y s with w h i c h

w e m a y o p en m y s t eri ou s d oo r s ; m a ny m a gi c a l f or m u l ae, b e fo re
whic h th ese d oo rs op en of th em s elv es B u t w e h a v e not u n d er .

s t o o d e it h e r th e p u rp os e o f th ese k e y s nor th e m e a ning of th e ,

form u l ae We h a v e a l so l os t th e u n d ers t a nding of m a gi ca l c ere

.

m oni es a nd rit es o f i ni ti a ti on in to m y st eri es w h i c h h a d a s ingl e

pu rp os e : to brin g a b ou t this tr a nsfo rm a ti on in th e s ou l of m a n .

Th erefo re th e d oors r em a in e d c l ose d a nd w e e ven d enie d that ,

th er e w a s a nythin g wh a te ver b eh ind t h em ; or s u sp ec tin g th e ex ,

ist en c e o f a noth er world w e r e ga rd e d it a s s i mil a r t o ou r s , a nd

,

s ep a r a t e fro m our s a n d tri e d t o p en e tr a t e th e r e u nc ons c i ou s of

,

th e f a c t th a t th e c hi e f o b st a c l e in ou r p a th w a s oi1 r o wn divi si on of
th e w o rld in t o th is w o rld a n d th a t .

Th e world is one, th e wa ys of kn o wing it a l one a re d iff e rent

a nd with i m p e rf e c t m e th o d s of kn o wl e dg e it is i m p o s s ibl e t o p e ne

tra te into t h a t w h i c h is a ccess ibl e to p erf ec t m eth o d s only .

All att e m pt s to p en etra t e m ent a lly in t o t h a t high er nou m ena l ,

wo rld or world of c a u se s by m e a ns of th e l ogi c of th e ph en om ena l

,

world if th ey did not fa il a lt ogeth e r or did not l ea d to ca stles in the

,

a ir g a v e on ly o n e r es u lt : in b ecomin g c on s c i ou s of a n e w o rd e r of
,

th ings a m a n l o st th e s e ns e of th e r ea lity of th e old ord er T h e

, .

vi s ibl e world b ega n to seem to h im f a nt a s ti c a nd u nr ea l e ve ry ,

thing a ll a b ou t him w a s di s a pp ear in g w a s v a n i shi ng like sm oke , ,

le a ving a dr ea df ul f ee lin g of illu sion I n e verything h e felt th e .

a by s s o f infi nity , a nd e v erything w a s pl un gin g in t o th e a by s s .

Thi s s ense of th e infinit e is th e fir st a nd m o s t t erribl e tri a l b efor e

initi a ti on Nothin g exist s " A littl e mis er a bl e s ou l f eel s it self s u s
.

p e n d e d in a n infi nite v o id Th e m y sti ca l lit er a tu r e of a ll p eopl es

.

a b ou n d s in r e f er e nc e s to this se ns a ti on of d arkness a nd emp tiness .

S u ch w a s th a t m y st e ri ou s d e ity of th e a nc i ent E gypti a n s a b ou t ,

whic h th er e exi s t s a sto ry in th e Orph eu s m yth in whi c h it is de ,

sc rib e d a s a Thrice u nknown darkness in contemp la tion of whic h

-

a ll know ledge is resolved into

Thi s m ea ns th a t m a n m u s t h a v e f elt h orr or tra nscending all

li m it s a s h e a pproa c h e d th e world of c a u s es with th e kno wl e dge of
th e w orld of ph eno m e n a on ly , hi s in str u m ent of l ogi c h a vin g
pr ov e d u s e l es s b ec a u se a ll th e n ew elu d ed him I n th e new a s y et
, .

h e se ns e d c h a o s only , the old h a d di sa pp ea r e d gone a wa y a nd ,

b e c om e u nr ea l Horror a nd re gr e t f or th e l oss of th e old mingl e d

.

wit h h orr or of th e ne w— u nkno wn a n d terrible by its infinitude .

“
T he A
nc ie n t W isd o m by Annie B es a nt
, , t od p
In r . . 23 , Th o ophi a l P b li hi g S
e s c u s n od e ty , L o nd o n .
2 68 T ER T I UM ORGAN U M

I t d oes so o ccu r a nd m u st b e e xa c tly thu s M y sti ca l lit era ture

, .

giv es u s e x a m pl es of it T h e si mu ltaneou s s ensa tion of light a nd

.

d a rkness joy a nd h orror sy m b oliz e a s it wer e th e stra nge d u a lity

, ,

a n d c on tr a di c ti o n o f h u m a n lif e I t m a y h a pp en to a m a n of .

d u a l na tu re w h o fo llo wing one s ide of h is na tu r e h a s b een le d far

, ,
“ ” “
in to spirit a n d on th e oth er sid e is d eeply i mm ers e d in m a t
,

t er,
”
. .
,
—
i e in ill u s i on in u nre a lity to one w h o b e li ev es too m u c h
,

in th e r ea lity of th e u nr ea l .

G enera lly sp ea kin g th e se nsa tion of light of l if e of c onsc i ou s ,

n ess p ene tr a ting a ll o f h a ppin e s s giv e s a new w orld

, B u t th e , .

s a m e w o rld to th e u npr e p a re d min d will giv e th e sen sa ti on of

infi nite d a rkness a n d h orror I n this ca se th e s ens a tion of h orr or .

will a ri se from the loss of every thing rea l from th e di sa pp ea r a nc e of ,

this wo rld .

I n o rd e r not to e xp eri enc e th e h orr or of th e ne w wo rld it is ,

n ece s sa ry to kn o w it b e f o r e h a n d e ith e r e m o ti on a lly— b y f a ith o r

—
,

l o v e ; or intell ectu a lly b y reason .

And in ord er not to exp eri enc e h o rror from th e loss of th e old
world it is necessary to have r enou nc e d it volu ntarily e ith er
,

throu gh fa ith or rea son .

O ne m u s t re noun c e a ll th e b e a u tif u l bright wo rld in whic h w e ,

a re livi n g o ne m u s t ad mi t that it is gh os tly pha nt a sm al u n r e al

, , , ,

d eceitfu l illu sory may a vic O ne m u s t r ec onc il e onese lf to this u n

, , .

r e ality not b e a fra id of it b u t r ej oi ce a t it One m u st giv e u p

, , .

e v e rything O ne m u st b ec om e P OOR I N S P IR I T i e m a k e ones elf

.
, . .
,
’

p oor by th e effort of one s s pir it .

Thi s m os t pr ofou n d phil osophi ca l tru th is express e d in th e

b ea u tif u l E vangeli c al sym b o l :
is the kingdom
’
B lessed a re the poor in s pirit: f or their s f
o hea ven .

Th ese word s b ec om e c l ea r in th e s ense of a r enou nc em ent of th e

“ ”
m a t eri a l w orld only Poor in spirit d oe s not m ea n p oo r m at e
.

ria lly , in th e w orldly m e a ning o f th e w ord a nd s till l ess d oes it ,

s ign ify p overty of spirit —

S piritu a l p o v erty this is th e r enou nc e
.

”
m ent o f m a tt er ; s u c h p o v e rty is h is wh en a m a n h a s n o ea rth
u nd e r his f ee t n o sky a b o v e hi s h e a d
, .

Foxes h ave holes , a nd birds o f th e a ir h a ve n es ts , bu t the S on f ma n

o
h a th not wh ere to la y his head .

This is th e p ov e rty of th e m a n w h o is entirely a lone b ec au se ,

f a th e r m oth er oth er m en e ve n th e nea r est h ere on ea rth h e re

, , ,
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 269

ga rd s a s ph a ntom s ill u sions a nd r enou nces th em b ec a u se bey ond

, ,

th es e ph a nt om s h e di sc erns th e tru e su bs ta nces th a t h e is s triving

to w a rd j u st a s r enou nc in g th e ph enom ena l ill u si ons of th e world
, , ,

h e is a pproach ng th e tru ly r e a l .

—
T h e m om ent of tr a nsiti on t h a t t e rribl e m om e nt of the los s of
th e old a nd th e u nf oldment of th e new — h a s b een r epre s ent e d in
i nn u m er a bl e a ll e gori es in a nc i ent lit era tu r e T o m a k e thi s tr a n si .

ti on ea sy w a s th e p u rp ose of th e mysteries I n I n di a in .
,

E gypt in G r ee ce sp ec i a l pr ep a ra tory ritu a l s e xi s t e d som etim e s

, , ,

m e r e ly sy m b o li c a l som e ti m es r ea l whi c h a c tu a lly brou ght a s ou l

, ,

to th e v ery p ort a l s of th e n e w wo rld a nd op en e d th e s e p ort a l s a t

,

th e m om ent of initia tion B u t no o u twa rd rit u a l s a nd c e rem o ni e s

.

c ou ld t a k e th e pl a c e of s e lf i niti a ti o n Th e gr ea t w ork m u s t h a v e
-
.

b een going on inside th e sou l a n d m in d of m a n .

B u t h ow c a n logic h e lp a m a n to p a ss to th e consc ou sne s s of a

i
ne w a nd high e r w orld ?

We h a v e seen th a t M AT H E MA T IC S h a s alre ady foun d th e p a th into

that high er o rd er of things P enetra tin g th er e it fir st of a ll re
.
,

no unc es its f u nda menta l axioms of id entity a nd diffe r enc e .

I n th e wo rld of infi nit e a nd fl u ent m a gnitu d es a m a gnit u d e m a y ,

b e not equ a l to itself; a pa rt may be equ a l to the whole; a nd of two

eq u a l ma gnitu des one ma y be infi nitely grea ter th a n the other .

All thi s sou nd s lik e a n a b su rdity fro m th e s t a ndp oi nt of th e

m a th em ati c s o f fi nit e a nd c onst a n t n u m b ers B u t th e m a th e .

m a ti es of fi nite a nd c ons ta nt nu m b e rs is it se lf th e c a l cu l a ti on o f
r el a ti ons b etween n on exi stent m a gnitu d es i e a n a b sur dity
-

, . .
, .

And th er efor e only that which fr o m th e st a n dp oi nt of t hi s m a th

e m a tics seem s a n a b su rdity c a n b e th e tr u th , .

Logi c now goes a l ong th e sa m e p a th I t m u s t r enou nc e itse lf .

,

co m f
e to p er ce ive th e ne c ess ity or its o wn a nn h —
i il a tion t h en ou t
of it a n e w a n d hig h e r l ogi c c a n a ri s e .

“ ”
I n hi s C ritiqu e of P u r e R e a son K a nt pro v e d th e p oss ibility
of tra nscendenta l logic .

B efor e Bacon a nd ea rli er th a n Ari stotl e in th e a nc i ent Hi n d u ,

s c ript u r es th e f orm u las of t h i s hi g h e r l ogi c w e r e giv e n op eni ng

, ,

th e d o or s of m y st e ry B u t th e m ea nin g of th ese fo rm u l ae w a s
.

ra pidly l ost Th ey were pr eserve d in a nc i ent b ook s b u t r e m a i ne d

.
,
2 70 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

th e r e a s so m e stra nge m u m m e ri es of e xting u i sh e d thou ght th e ,

word s with ou t r ea l c ont ent .

New thin k er s a ga in di sco v e r e d th ese pri nc ipl e s a nd expr es s e d ,

th em in new w ord s b u t a ga in th e y r em a in e d incompr eh ensibl e

, ,

a g a in th e y su ff e r e d tr a n s f o r m a ti o n in t o s om e u n n ec ess a ry o rna

m ent a l f orm of wo rd s B u t th e id ea exis ted

. A consc i ou sne s s of
.

th e p os sbility of findi ng a n d e s t a bli s hing th e l a ws of th e hig h e r

world w a s nev er l os t My s ti c a l philos ophy ne v er r ega rd e d th e
.

l ogi c of Ari s to tl e a s a ll em br a c ing a nd a ll p o w erf u l I t b u ilt

- -
.

its s y s t e m ou tside of logic o r a b o v e l o gi c un c o n sc i ou s ly go in g a l on g

, ,

th os e p a th s of th ou ght p a v e d in r e m ot e a ntiqu ity .

T h e high e r l ogi c e xi s t e d b e f o r e dedu ctive a nd indu ctive l ogi c w a s

form u l a t e d Thi s high er l ogic m a y b e c a ll e d intu itive l ogi c th e
.
—
l ogic of in fi nity th e l ogi c of e c s t a sy
, .

No t only is t h i s l o gi c p ossibl e b u t it exists a nd h a s e xi s t e d fr o m

, ,

ti m e i mm em ori a l ; it h a s b e en fo rm u l a t e d m a ny ti m es ; it h a s
e nt e r e d in t o phil oso phi c a l s y s t e m s a s k —
th e ir ey b u t f or s om e
s tr a ng e r e a son h as n ot been recognized a s logic .

I t is p os s ibl e to d e du c e th e s y s tem of thi s logic from m a ny

p hil os op hica l s y s t e m s Th . e m os t pr ec i s e a n d c o m pl e t e f o r m u la

ti on of th e l a ws of high er l ogi c I find in th e w ritin gs of Pl oti nu s ,

”
in h is O n Int el ligibl e B eau ty I s h a ll qu ot e thi s p a ssa ge in th e
.

s u cc ee d ing c h a pt e r .

I h a v e c a ll e d thi s sy stem of high er l ogic Tertiu m Orga nu m b e

c a u se f or u s it is th e third orga n of th ou gh t a ft e r th os e of Ari s t o tl e

a nd B a con .Th e fir s t w a s th e Orga non th e secon d Novu m , ,

Orga nu m B u t th e third e xi s t e d e a rli e r th a n th e firs t

. .

M a n m a st e r of t h is ins tr u m ent m a y op en th e d oor of the w or ld

, ,

of ca u ses w ith ou t f ea r .

T h e a xi om s w h i c h Tertiu m Orga nu m e m bra c e c a nnot b e f or

m u la t e d in ou r l a ngu a ge If w e a tt em pt to form ul a t e th em in
.

s pit e of this th e y will pr o du c e th e i m pr ession of a b su r diti es

, .

Ta king th e a xi om s of Ar i s to tl e a s a m o d el w e m a y expr ess th e ,

pri nc ip a l a xi om of th e new l og i c in ou r p oo r e a rthly l a ngu a g e in

th e f o ll o wi n g m a nn e r :

A is both A a nd not A .

E very thing is both A a nd not A .

E very thing is A ll .
2 72 T ERT IUM ORGAN UM

ano th e r m a y b e p a rts of som e to it in com pr eh ens ibl e wh ole o r ,

th a t the y h a ve m u c h in c omm on whi c h it d oes not p erce iv e ;

a n d t h a t thin gs w h i c h s ee m to it one a n d i n di vi s ibl e a re in r e a lity

infi nit ely com pl e x a nd m u ltifa ri ou s .

T h e m ent a l gro wt h of th e t w o di m e ns i ona l b e ing m u s t proc e e d

-

a l ong th e p a th of th e r ec o gniti on of th os e co mm on prop e rti es o f

o bj e c t s u nknow n to it bef ore whi c h a re th e r es u lt of th e ir s i mi l a r

, ,

o rigin or s i m il a r f un c ti ons inc om preh ensibl e from th e p oint of

,

Vi e w of a pl a ne .

Wh en onc e th e tw o di m ensi ona l b e ing h a s a d mitt e d th e p os s i

-

bility o f th e exi s t enc e of hith e rt o u nk no wn common pr op erti e s of

o bj ec t s , whic h b efor e s eem e d differ ent th en it h a s a lr ea dy a p ,

p ro a ch e d t o our o w n u n d e r s t a n din g o f th e w orld I t h a s a ppr oa c h e d .

to ou r l o gi c h a s b e gun to un d e rs t a n d the collective na me i e a

, , .

wo rd u s e d not a s a prop er nou n b u t a s a n a pp e ll a t e nou n a wo rd

,
—
e xpr e s s in g a c onc ept .

“ ”
Th e idol s of th e tw o dim ens ona l b ein g hin d erin g th e d e
-

ve lop m en t of it s c on s c i o u sn e ss a re t h os e p roper nou ns whi c h it

, ,

it s elf h a s giv en to a ll th e obj ec ts s ur rou n ding it For s u c h a b ei ng .

ea c h o bj ec t h a s its o w n pro p e r n ou n c o rr e s p on ding t o it s p er c e p ,

ti on of th e obj e c t ; c omm on na m es c o rr esp on ding to c onc epts it , ,

kn o ws n ot of O nl y by getting rid of th ese idols by u nd er s t a n d

.
,

in g th a t th e n a m e s of t h in gs c a n b e not only prop e r b u t c omm o n ,

on es a s w ell will it b e p oss ibl e f or it to a dva nc e f u rth er to d e

, ,

velop m en t a lly to a ppro a c h th e h u m a n u n d e r s t a ndi n g o f th e

,

wo rld Ta k e th e m o s t s i m pl e sent enc e :

.

J ohn a nd P eter a re both men .

dim en si ona l b ein g t h i s will b e a n a b su r d ity

Fo r t h e t w o -

, a nd it
will r epresent th e id e a to its elf a fter this fa shion :
J oh n a nd P eter a re both J oh ns a nd P eters .

In o th er word s e very one of o u r l ogic a l prop os iti ons will b e a n

,

a b su r di ty to it Why thi s is s o is c l ea r S u c h a b e ing h a s no c on

. , .

cepts ; the proper nou ns whi c h c on s tit u t e th e s p e e c h o f s u c h a b e i ng

h a v e no pl u r a l I t is e a s y to u n d erst a n d th a t a ny pl u ra l of o u r
.

s p ee c h will s ee m t o it a n a b s u rdity .

”
Wh ere a re our id ol s ? Fro m w h a t s h a ll w e lib e ra t e o u rselve s
in o rd e r to pa ss to a n u nd e r s t a n di n g o f th e m u lti di m e ns i ona l -

world
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 2 73

Firs t of a ll of course w e m u s t not be thr ee dim ens i onal Thi s

, ,
-
.

is th e pri m e c onditi on Th en w e m u st g et rid of ou r a ssu ra nc e

.

th a t w e s ee a nd s ens e th a t whic h exi sts in r ea lity a nd th a t th e

rea l world is lik e th e world which w e s ee —
,

i e w e m u s t rid ou r
. .
,

se lv es of th e ill u s i on o f th e m a t e ri a l w orld We m u st un d erst a n d

.

m ent a lly a ll th e ill u sori ness of th e w orld p erc eive d by us in sp a c e

a nd ti m e a nd kn o w th a t th e rea l w o rld c a nno t h a v e a nythi ng in
,

c omm on with it ; to u n d e rs t a nd th a t it is i m p oss ibl e to i m a gi ne

th e r e a l wo rld in t er m s o f f or m ; a nd fi na lly w e m u s t p er ceiv e th e

c on diti ona lity of th e a xi o m s of ou r m a th em a ti c s a n d l ogi c r e l a t e d ,

a s th ey a re t o th e u nr e a l ph eno m en a l w o rld .

I n m a th e m a ti c s th e id ea of infinity will h e lp u s to do this Th e .

u nr ea lity of finite m a gnit u d es in c o m p a ri s on with i nfi nit e o nes is

o bvi o u s .I n l ogi c w e m a y dw ell u p on th e idea of monis m i e th e , . .

,

fu nd a m ent a l u nity of ev e r y thing whic h exi s ts .

Th e l ogi c of Ar i sto tl e a nd of B a c on is a t b o tt om du a lis tic I f w e .

s h a ll r e a lly d e eply a ssi mi l a t e th e id ea of m oni s m w e s h a ll d e thro ne

,
”
th e id ol of this l ogic .

T h e f u nd a m ent a l a xi om s of o u r l o gic r e d u c e th em s elv e s to

id entity a nd c ontra dic ti on j u st a s d o th e a xiom s of m a th em a ti c s
, .

At th e b ott om of t h em a ll li es th e a d miss i on of o ur ge ne r a l axi o m ,

na m e ly th a t e v e ry giv en s omething h a s someth ing o pp os it e to it ;

,

th er efore e ve ry prop os iti on h a s its a nti pr op osition e ve ry thesis

-

h a s its a ntithesis T o th e exis tence of a ny thing is o pp os e d th e

.

non existence of th a t thi ng

-
T o th e exi s te nc e of th e w orld is o p
.

p os e d th e non exi stenc e of th e world Object is opp os e d to s u b

-
.

ject; th e obj ec tiv e w orld to th e su bj e c tive ; th e I is o pp ose d to th e

— —
Not I to m otion i mm obility o v a ri a bility c onst a nc y to u nity
-
t
—h e terogeneity ; to tru th—fa lseh oo d ; to goo d—e vil And in .

co nc l u s i on to e v e ry A in g ene r a l is o pp ose d not A

, .

T h e r e cogniti o n of th e r ea lity of th es e divi si ons is nec e ssa ry f o r

th e a c c ept a nc e of th e fu n d a m ent a l a xi om s of th e l ogi c o f Ari st otl e
and B ac on i e th e a b sol u te a nd i ncontes ta bl e r e c o gniti on of th e
du a lity of th e w orld—of d u a li sm Th e r e c o gniti on of th e u nrea lity
, . .
,

o f t h ese divi s i on s a nd t h a t o f th e u nity o f a ll o pp o s it es is necess a ry ,

f o r th e c o m pre h ens i on o f higher logic .

At th e v e ry b e ginning of t h i s b ook th e e x s e nc e o f T H E
i t W OR LD
a nd CO N SCIOU S NE SS w a s a d mi tt e d—th e I a nd th e No t I i -

, . e .
, th e
27 4 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

rea lity of th e d u a l divi si on of e v erything exi s tent b ec au se a ll ,

o th e r o pp os it e s a r e d e riv e d fro m th e o pp o s iti on of th e I a n d th e

Not I -
.

Th ere a fter w a s e l u c id a t e d th e p ossibility of th e exp a nsi on of

consciou s ness u p to th e c om pl e t e a b so rpti o n by it of th e wh o l e

world We rec ogniz e d th a t one I c ou ld i nc l u d e withi n it s e lf

.

e v e rythin g Not I w e r ec o gniz e d th a t th e divi s i on in t o I a nd

-

Not I is conditi ona l th a t it is n e c es sa ry with a c e rta in d e gre e of

-

kno wl e dge of th e world b u t that it denies itself wh en knowl e dg e

,

passe s o v e r to th e high er d e gree Du a lity is th e condition of ou r

.

kn o wl e dge of th e ph enom ena l ( thr ee dim ensi onal) world ; thi s is -

th e ins tru ment o f o u r kno wl e dg e o f ph e nom e na B u t wh en w e .

com e to th e kn o wl e dg e o f th e n ou m e na l w o rld ( or th e wo rld of

m any di m ensi ons ) thi s d u a lity b egi ns to hind e r u s a pp ea rs a s a n

, ,

o b s t a c l e to kn o wl e dge .

Du a lism is th e c hi e f id o l le t u s fr e e ou rs e lv e s from it .

Th e t w o di m e nsi on a l b ei n g in o rd e r to c om pr eh en d th e r e l a
-

tions of things in thr e e dim ensi ons a nd ou r lo gi c m u st r enou nce , ,

“
its ido l th e a b so l u t e s i ngu l a rity o f o bj ec t s whi c h p er mit s it to
-

c a ll th e m so l e ly by th e ir pr op e r n a m es .

We in ord er to com pr eh en d th e w orld of m a ny dimensions

, ,

m u s t r enou nce the idol of du a lity .

B u t th e a ppli c a ti on of monis m to pr a c ti c a l th ou ght m ee t s th e

in su rm ou nta bl e o b sta cl e of ou r l a ngu a ge O u r l a ngu a ge is inc a p .

a bl e of expr ess i n g th e u nity of opp os ites j u s t a s it c a nnot e xpr e ss ,

sp a tia lly th e r e l a ti on of c a u s e to e ffec t Th er efor e w e m u st r econ.

c il e ou r se lv e s to th e f a c t t h a t a ll a tt em pt s to e xpre ss su per logica l -

r e la ti ons in ou r l a ngu a ge will s e em a b su rditi es a nd r ea lly c a n only ,

give h ints a t t h a t whi c h w e Wi s h t o e xpr e s s .

Th u s th e fo r m u l a ,

A is both A a nd not A ,

E very thing is both A a nd not A ,

r epr esenting th e prin cip a l a xi om s of high e r l ogi c expr es se d in ou r ,

l a ngu a g e of c oncept s sou nd s a b su rd fro m th e s ta n dp oi nt of o u r

,

u su a l l og i c a nd is not essentia lly tru e

, .

Le t u s t h e re for e r econc il e o u r s e lv e s to th e f a c t th a t it is im
oss ibl t xpr p r l gi l r l ti n in u l a n gu a g e a s it is
p e o e ess su e o c a e a o s o r
-

a t pr esent c o n s tit u t e d .
2 76 T ER T I U M ORGANUM
’
i e B E SIMU LTANEOUSLY I NDI VID UAL AND A PA RT O F T H E W OR LD S
. .
, ,

CO NS C IOU SNE SS A ND T H E R E F LEC T ION O F T H E E NT IR E C ONS C IOU S

,

NE SS O F T H E W OR LD .

We m u s t u nd erst a nd tha t it c a nno t b e this or a nother b u t mu s t b e ,

both this a nd a noth er E v e ry in dividu a l consc iou sness is th e

.

’
refl ection of th e wh ol e w o rld s c onsc i ou sn e ss a nd it c anno t b e a ,

p a rt of anything .

W e m u st tra i n ou r thou ght to th e id ea that s ep a ra teness a nd

inc lu siveness a re not opp ose d in th e r e al w orld b u t e xi s t togeth e r ,

a nd s i m u ltan eou s ly with ou t contr a di c tin g o ne a no th e r Let u s .

u nd e rs t a n d th a t in th e r ea l w orld o ne a nd th e s a me thi ng c a n b e

b oth a p a rt a nd th e who l e i e that th e wh ol e with ou t c h a ngin g

, . .
, , ,

c a n b e its o w n p a rt ; u n d ers t a n d th a t th e r e a re n o o pp os it es in

gener a l th a t every thing is a c ert a in image of a ll

, .

An d th en b eginning to u nd ers t a nd a ll thi s w e sh a ll gra sp th e

, ,
“ ”
s e p a r a t e id e a s c onc e rni ng th e e s s enti a l s of th e nou m ena l w o rld
‘

o r th e world of m a ny dimens ions in whi c h w e r ea lly liv e .

I n su c h c a s e th e high er logic e v en with its i m p erf e c t f o r m u l ae

, ,

a s th e y a pp e a r in our r o u gh l a n gu a g e o f c onc e pt s r e pr es ent s in ,

s pit e of thi s a p o w e rf u l ins tr u m e n t of kno wl e dg e of th e w o rld ou r ,

only m e a n s o f pr es e rv a ti on fro m d e c e pti o ns .

T h e a ppli c a ti on of thi s ins tr u m ent of th ou ght giv es th e key to

th e m y s t eri e s of na t u r e to th e world as it is
, .

Le t d ea vor to e nu m er a t e t h ose pr op erti es of th e W OR LD O F

u s en

C AU S E S whi c h r esu lt from a ll th e forego ing .

I t is firs t of a ll nec e ss a ry to r eit era t e t h a t it is i m p oss ibl e to e x

press in word s th e pro p erties of th e world o f c a u se s E ve ry .

thou ght expressed a b ou t th em will b e f a lse T h a t is w e m a y sa y .

,
“ ”
in r el a ti on to th e id e a l world t h a t every spoken th ou gh t is a lie .

I t is p oss ibl e to sp ea k a b ou t it only c on diti ona lly by hint s by

“

, ,

sy m b ol s And if o ne interprets litera lly a ny thing sa id a bou t it

. ,

no thi ng b u t a b su rdity r e s ul t s G ener a lly sp ea king every thing

.
,

s a id in words r e g a rdin g th e w o rld of c a u s e s is lik e ly t o s e e m a b s u rd ,

a nd is in rea lity its mu tila tion T h e tru th it is i m p ossibl e to e x

.

press ; it is p oss ibl e only t o giv e a hint a t it to giv e a n i m p u l s e to ,

th ou ght B u t e ve ry o ne m u s t di sc o ve r th e tru th f or hi m self

. .

“ ”
’
Anoth e r s tru th is w or s e t h a n a lie b e c a u se it is two lies Thi s
, .
 T ER T I U M ORGANU M 2 77

e xpl a in s why tr u th v ery oft en c a n b e express e d only by m e ans of

p a ra do x .

Wh a t t h en a re w e a bl e t o sa y a b ou t th e world of m a ny dim e n
, ,

s i on s a b ou t th e w orld of n ou m e n a or w o rld of c au s e s ?
, ,
”
1 I n t h a t world T IM E m u st e xi s t s p a ti a lly i e temp ora l
m u s t e xis t a nd not h a pp e n—exi s t b efor e a nd a ft e r th e ir
.
.
, .
,

e v ent s

m a nif e st a ti o n a n d b e l oca t e d in one s ec ti on a s it w e r e E ff ec ts

, , .

m u st e xi s t si m u lt a ne ou sly with c a u se s Th a t whi c h w e n a m e th e .

la w of ca u sa lity c a nnot exi s t th e r e b e c a u se ti m e is a n e c es s a ry c o n ,

diti on f o r it Th er e c a nn ot b e a nythin g w h i c h is m ea su re d by
.

—
y ea rs d a ys h ou rs t h e r e c a nnot b e b ef or e n o w a ft e r M oments , .
, , ,

of diffe r ent e p oc h s divid e d by gr e a t in t e rv a l s o f ti m e e xi s t s im

, ,

ulta ne o u sly a n d m a y t ou c h on e a n oth e r

, Al ong wit h thi s a ll th e .
,

p o ss ibili ties o f a giv e n m o m e nt e v e n t h os e o pp os it e t o o n e a,n o th e r ,

a n d a ll th e ir r esu lt s u p to in fi nity m u s t b e ac tu a lized s i m u lt a ne ,

ou sly with a giv e n m om en t .

2
. Th er e is n othing m e a su ra bl e b y our m ea su r es no t h i ng ,

commensu ra ble with o u r o bj ec t s nothin g grea ter or less th a n o u r ,

o bj ec t s Th er e is no th ing s itu a t e d on th e right or l eft sid e a b o v e

.
,

or b e l o w o ne of ou r o bj ec t s Th er e is nothin g similar to our oh

.

jec ts lin es or figu res Difl erent points in o u r sp a“ce divid e d” f o r

’
, .
,

u s by e nor m ou s dis t a nce s m a y m ee t th er e Di st a nc e o r

, .

“ ” “ ” “
pr oximi ty a re th er e d efine d by inne r a ffinity or r e m ot e
”
ne ss , by sy m p a t h y or a ntip a thy i e by prop erti es whi c h s e e m , . .
,

to u s to b e s u bj ec tiv e .

3
. Th e re is neit h e r m a tte r nor m otion Th er e is nothing t h a t .

cou ld p o ss ibly b e w e igh e d o r ph o t o gr a p h e d o r e xpr e s se d in th e

, ,

f orm u las of phys ic a l e ne rgy Th er e is nothin g whi c h h a s f orm

.
,

color or odor— n o thing p os s ess in th e pr o p e rti e s of phy s i c a l b o di es

'

,
P
g .

4
. Th e re is nothing d ea d or u nc o nsc iou s E verything live s . ,

e v e rythin g b r e a t h es thi nks feel s ; e v erything is c ons c i ou s a n d

, , ,

e v e rythin g s p ea k s .

5
. I n t h a t w orld th e a xi o m s o f o u r m a th em a ti c s c a nn o t b e a p
plie d b e c a u se t h e r e is not h ing finite E v eryth ing th e re is i nfi nite
, .

a n d fro m o u r s t a ndp o i nt va ria ble

, , .

6
. Th e l a ws of o u r l ogi c c a n no t a c t th ere From th e st a n d .

p oin t of ou r l og ic t h a t worl d is illogical Thi s is th e r ea l m th e

, .

l a ws of w h ic h a re expr esse d in Tertiu m Orga nu m .

7
. Th e sepa rateness of ou r wo rld d o es no t e xi s t th e re E very .

thing is th e w h ole And e a c h p a rti c l e o f d u s t W it h ou t m e nti o n i ng

.
,
2 78 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

of c our se e v ery lif e a nd e v e ry h u m a n c onsc iou sne s s liv es a l if e

,

whi c h is one with the wh ole a n d i n c l u d es th e wh ole within it self .

8 . I n th a t w orld th e du a lity o f ou r w o rld c a nn o t e xi s t T h er e

.

being is not o pp ose d to non being -

. Lif e is no t o pp o s e d to dea th .

O n th e c ontr a ry th e o n e i nc l u d e s th e o th e r with in it se lf
, Th e .

u nity a nd m ul tipli c ity of th e I ; th e I a n d th e Not I m o ti on a n d

-

im m obility ; u ni on a n d s ep a r a ten es s ; goo d a nd e vil ; tr u t h a n d

—
fa l s eh oo d a ll th ese divi si ons a re i m p oss ibl e th er e E very thing
.

su bjective is objective a nd every th ing objective is su bjective

, Th a t .

w orld is th e world of th e u nity of opposites .

9 . T h e s en s a ti on of th e rea lity of t h a t world m u s t b e a c c o m

p a nie d by th e s ensa ti on of th e u nrea lity of thi s o ne . At th e sa m e
tim e th e diffe r ence b etween r e a l a nd u nr ea l c a nnot e xi s t t h er e ,

’
j u s t a s th e difl erenc e b etw een su bj ec tiv e a nd obj ec tive c a nnot

10 Th a t world a nd ou r w orld a re not tw o diff er ent w orld s Th e

. .

w orld is one Th a t whic h w e c a ll ou r w orld is m er ely ou r incor

.

rect percep tion of the w orld : th e w o rld see n by u s thr ou gh a n a rr o w

s lit
. Th a t w orld b egi ns t o b e se nse d by u s a s th e wondrou s i e a s , . .
,

s o m e thi n g o pp os it e t o th e r ea lity of this w or ld, a n d a t th e s a m e

ti m e this , ou r ea rthly w orld b egin s to s eem u nr ea l Th e sense of

, .

the wondrou s is th e ke y to t h a t w orld .

280 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

le d to th e sa me l
c o n c u s o ns a s i th ose at whic h I h a v e a rrive d in
thi s b ook .

I n th e b ook T h eosophy (or Ps y c hol ogic a l R e ligion th e

n o t e d s c h o l a r M a x M ii lle r giv e s a n int e r es ting a na ly s i s of m y s ti c a l
'

re ligi ons a nd m y stic a l phil osophic a l sy s t em s H e dwells m u c h on .

I n di a a nd h er t e ac hi ngs .

T h a t whic h w e c a n s tu dy no wh ere b u t in I ndi a is th e a ll a b

s o rbi ng infl u e nc e whic h r e ligi on a n d p hi l os ophy m a y e x e rc i s e on

th e hu m a n m i n d S o f a r a s w e c a n j u dge a l a rge c l a ss of p eopl e in

.

I n di a not only th e pri es tly c l a ss b u t th e nobility a lso not m e n

, , ,

on ly b u t w om en ne v e r l oo ked u p on th eir lif e on e a rth a s s o m e

,

thing r ea l Wh a t w a s r ea l to th em w a s th e invi s ibl e th e lif e to

.
,

c om e Wh a t f orm e d th e th em e of th eir conv ersa tion s wh a t

.
,

f orm e d th e su bj ec t of th eir m e dit a tions w a s th e r ea l th a t a l on e ,

l ent som e kin d of r ea lity t o this u nrea l ph enom ena l world Wh o .

e v e r w a s su pp ose d to h a v e c au ght a n e w ra y of tru th w a s V i s it e d

by y ou ng a nd old w a s h onor e d by princ es a nd by kin gs w a s

, ,

l ook e d u p on i n d ee d a s ho lding a p os iti on f a r a b ov e th a t of ki ngs

a n d princes Thi s is th e sid e of lif e of a nc i ent I n dia whic h d eserves
.

ou r s tu dy b ec au se th ere h a s b een nothing like it in th e wh ol e

,

w o rld not e v en in G re ec e or Pa l estine

, .

“
I kno w qu it e well s a y s M illler th a t th ere ne ve r c a n b e a wh ol e
, ,

n a ti on of phil osoph er s o r m e t a phy s i c a l dr ea m e r s a nd w e

m u s t ne v e r f orge t th a t a ll thr ou gh hi s to ry it is th e f e w n ot th e , ,

m a ny W h o i mpr ess th e ir c h a r a c t e r o n a na ti on a nd h a v e a right

, ,

t o r epr e s en t it a s a wh ol e Wh a t d o w e kno w of G r eece a t th e

.

ti m e of th e I onian a nd E l ea tic p hi l o soph e rs e xc ept th e u tt era nc e s ,

of S e v e n S a g e s ? Wh a t d o w e kn o w of th e Je ws a t th e ti m e of
Mo ses exc ept th e tr a ditions pres erv e d in th e La ws a nd th e
,

P r oph e t s ? I t is th e pr op h et s th e p oet s th e l a wgive rs a nd t e a c h , ,

ers h o we v e r s m a ll th e ir nu m b e r w h o s p e a k in th e n a m e of th e
, ,

p eopl e a nd w h o a l one st a nd ou t to repr esent th e non d esc ript

,

m u ltit u d e b ehi n d th e m to s p e a k th eir th ou ght s a nd to expre ss

,

th eir senti m ent s .

R ea l I n di a n phil os ophy e v en in th a t e m bry oni c for m in w h i c h ,

w e fin d it in th e Up a nish ads st a n d s c om pl et e ly by it s e lf And if

, .

w e a sk wh a t w a s th e high e s t p u rp os e of th e t ea chi ngs of th e

Up a nis h ads w e c a n s t a t e it in t h r ee w ord s a s it h a s b e e n s t a t e d ,

by th e gr e a t es t Ved anta t ea c h e rs th em se lves na m e l y Ta t tw a m

*
,

* Vd t i th
e an a s d f th V d th
e en b id g
o t d o mm t a i
e e as , th V d a
e a P O p ky
r in e n an c en r es o n e e s . . us e ns
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 281

as i . This m e a ns Th ou a rt Th a t Th a t s t a nd s f or That w h i ch is .

kno wn t o u s u n d er differ ent n a m es in different sy s t e ms of a nc i e nt

a n d m od ern philo so p h y I t is Zeu s or th e Eis Theos or to on
.

in G reec e ; it is W h a t Pl a t o m ea nt by th e E terna l I dea wh a t Agnos ,

tic s c a ll th e Unknow a ble wh a t I c a ll th e I nfinite in Na tu re Thi s

, .

is what in I ndi a is c a ll e d B ra hma n th e b ei ng b ehi n d a ll b eings , ,

th e p o w e r th a t e mit s th e u niv er s e su st a i ns it a n d dr a ws it b a c k ,

a g a i n t o it s e lf T h e Th ou is w h a t I c a ll e d th e I nfi nite in ma n th e
.
,

S ou l th e S e lf th e b ei ng b ehin d e v e ry h u m a n E g o fre e from a ll

, , ,

b odily f ett er s free from p a ss ions free from a ll att ac h m ent s

, ,

m h T h — m h
(A t a n ) T
. h e e xpr e ss i o n : T ou a rt a t e a n s : t y s ou l is ’

th e B ra hm a n; or in o th e r w o rd s th e s u b ject a nd th e obj e c t of a ll ,

b eing a nd of a ll knowi ng a re one a nd th e sa m e .

“
This is th e gist of wh a t I c a ll P sy chologica l Religion or
Th eos ophy th e high es t su m mi t of t h ou ght whi c h th e h u m a n mind
,

h a s r ea ch e d whic h h a s f ou n d diffe rent e xpr e s si ons in di ff e r ent

,

r e ligions a nd phil osophies b u t no w h er e su ch a c l ea r a nd p o w erf u l

,

rea lization a s in th e a nci ent Up a nish ads of I ndi a .

Ma x M iil le r c a ll s ou r a tt enti on t o th e fa c t th a t this recogniti on

o f th e id entity of th e Th a t a n d Th ou is n ot s a ti sfi e d with m e r e ,

p oe ti ca l m eta ph or su c h a s th a t th e h u m a n s ou l em a na te d from th e
divi ne sou l or w a s a p ortion of it ; no wh a t is a sserte d is th e su b ,

s ta ntia l id e ntity of wh a t h a d f or a ti m e b een wr ongly di s ti ng u i s h e d

a s th e s u bj ec t a n d o bj ec t of th e w orld .

“
F or a s l ong a s th e i ndivid u a l s ou l d oes not fr e e it self fr o m
Ne s cience or a b eli ef in d u a lity it t a k e s s om e thin g e l se f or it se lf
, , .

Tru e kn owl edge of th e S elf or tru e se lf knowl e dge express es itse lf ,

in th e word s Th ou art Th a t o r I a m B ra hma n th e n a tu re of

‘ ’ ‘ ’
, ,

Bra h m an b ein g un c h a ngea bl e et erna l c ogni ti on Until th a t s t a ge .

h a s b een r ea ch e d th e i ndivid u a l s ou l is f ett e r e d by th e b o dy by

, ,

th e orga ns of sen se n a y e v en by th e min d a nd its v a ri ou s f u nc

,

ti on s .

“
T h e S ou l (T h e S e lf ) s a y s th e Ve d ant a phil os oph er c a nn ot b e ,

diff er ent from th e B ra hma n b e c a u s e B ra hma n c om pre h e nd s a ll,

r ea lity a nd nothing th a t r e a lly is c a n th er efor e b e differ ent from

B ra hm a n S econ dly th e i n dividu a l s e lf c a nnot b e conc eiv e d a s a
.
,

m o difi ca ti on of B ra h ma n b ec a u se B ra hma n by it s e lf c a nno t b e

,

c h a ng e d w h e t h e r by it s elf b ec au s e it is o ne a nd p e rf e c t in it s e lf
, , ,
282 T ER T I UM ORGANUM

or by a nything o u tsid e of it (b ec a u se th e re exists not h ing ou ts id e

of it ). H e re w e s ee sa y s M iill er th e Ve d anti st m ovi ng on e x a c tly
, ,

th e sa m e s tr a t u m of th ou ght in whi c h th e E l ea ti c p hil osoph e rs

‘
I f th e r e is one I nfi nit e th e y sa id th e r e c a nno t
’ ‘
m o v e d in G r e ec e .
, ,

b e a no th er f or th e o th e r w ou ld limi t th e o ne a n d t h u s r e n d e r it
, ,

fin it e S o a s appli e d to G od th e E l ea tic s a rgu e d I f G od is to

.
, , ,
‘

b e th e mighti es t a nd th e b e s t h e m u s t b e one f or if th er e w e r e , ,

t w o or m or e h e wou ld no t b e th e m ighti es t a nd b e s t
’
, Th e .

E l ea ti c s c ontinu e d th eir m oni stic a rgu m ent by sh o wing t h a t thi s

O n e I nfi nit e B ei ng c a nnot b e divid e d s o th a t a nythi ng c ou ld b e ,

ca ll e d a p orti on of it b eca u s e th e r e is n o p o w e r that c ou ld sep a r a t e

,

a nything fr o m it Na y it c a nn o t e v en h a v e p a rt s f or a s it h a s
.
, , ,

no b egi nnin g a nd no e nd it c a n h a v e no p a rt s f or a p a rt h a s a , ,

b eginning a nd a n end .

“ —
Th ese E l ea ti c id ea s na m e ly th a t th e re is a n d th er e c a n b e
o nly O ne Ab s ol u t e B eing infi nite u nch a ngea bl e with ou t a , , ,

s e c on d
—
with ou t p a rts a nd p a ss i ons a re th e sa m e ide a s whi ch
,

u n d erli e th e Up a nish ads a nd h a v e b een f u lly w ork e d ou t in th e

Ved anta S u tra s

-
.

I n m os t of th e r eligi ons of
t wo rld s a ys Mu ll er th e th e a n c en i , ,

r e lati on b etw een th e soul a nd G od h a s b een r epr esent e d a s a

r e tu rn of th e sou l to G od A y ea rning f or G od a ki n d of divine
‘

.
,

h om e s i c kness fi nd s expr essi on in m os t r eligi ons b u t th e r o a d

-

, ,

th a t is to l e a d u s h om e a n d th e r ec eption whi c h th e s ou l m a y,
’
exp ec t in th e F a th e r s h ou s e h a v e b ee n r e prese nt e d in v e ry

differ ent w a ys in diffe rent r eligi ons .

“
Ac c ordi ng to som e r e ligi ou s t ea c h e rs a r e tu rn of th e s ou l to ,

G o d is p o ssibl e a ft e r d e a t h o nl y
“
Acc ordin g t o oth e r r e ligi ou s t eac h e rs th e fi na l b e a titu d e of th e ,

s ou l c a n b e a c hi e v e d in thi s lif e Th a t b ea titu d e r e qu ires .

kno wl e dge o nly kno wl e dge of th e nec es s a ry u nity of wh a t is divi ne

,

in m a n with wh a t is divi ne in G o d T h e Br a h m i ns c a ll it s elf .

knowl e dge th a t is to sa y th e knowl e dge th a t ou r tru e s elf if it

, , ,

is a nyt h ing c a n o nly b e th a t S e lf whi c h is All in All a nd b es id e

, ,

whi ch th er e is n othin g el se S om e tim es thi s c onc epti on of th e .

intim a t e r e l a tion b etwe en th e h u m a n a nd th e divi ne n a tu r es

c om es su dd e nly a s th e r e s u lt of a n u n e xpl a in e d int u iti on or s elf
,

r ecoll ec ti on S om eti m es h o wev er it s eem s a s if th e f orc e of

.
, ,

lo gi c h a d driv en th e h u m a n m i n d to th e s a m e r es u lt I f G od h a d .
284 T ER T I UM ORGANUM

In ou r o wn philo sophi c a l l a ngu a ge w e m a y pu t th e qu es tion

th u s : h ow did th e r e a l b ec om e ph enom e na l a nd h ow c a n th e ,

p h en om ena l b ec om e r ea l a ga i n ? O r in o th er w o rd s h ow w a s th e
, ,

infi nit e c h a ng e d in to th e fi nit e h ow w a s th e et erna l c h a nged int o

,

th e t e m p o r a l a n d h o w c a n th e t e m p o r a l r e ga i n its e t er n a l n a tUre ?
,

O r to p u t it in t o m or e f a m ili a r l a ngu a ge h o w w a s thi s w o rld

, ,

c r e a t e d a n d h o w c a n it b e u n c r e a t e d a ga i n ?
,

Ne sc ien ce or a vidy a is r e ga rd e d a s th e c a u se of th e ph enom e na l

se m bl a nc e .

“
I n th e Upa nish a ds th e m e a ni ng of B ra hma n c hanges S om e .

tim es it is a l m os t a n obj e c tiv e G od e xi sti ng sep a r a t e ly from th e

,

world B u t t h en w e s ee B ra hma n a s th e e ss enc e of a ll thi ngs

. .

a n d th e s ou l k no wi ng t h a t it is no l o ng e r s ep a r a t e d fr om th a t

es s en c e l e a rn s th e h ig h e s t l e ss on o f th e w h ol e Ved anta d o c tri ne :

,

Ta t twa m a s i; T h ou a rt Th a t th a t is to s a y Th ou w h o f or a
‘ ’ ‘

, , ,

ti m e did s t s eem to b e som e t h ing by t h y self a rt th a t art r ea lly , ,

no thi n g a p a rt fr om th e divi n e essen ce T o kno w B ra h m a n is to

’
.

b e Br a h m a n .

“
Al m o s t in th e sa m e w o rd s a s th e E l ea ti c phil osoph ers a nd th e
G erm a n m y sti cs of th e f ou rt eenth c entu ry th e Vendantists a rgu e ,

t h a t it w ou ld b e s elf — c o ntr a di c t o ry to a d m it th a t th e r e c ou ld b e

a nyth i n g b es id e s th e I n fi nit e or B ra h m a n whi c h is All in All a nd ,

th a t th e r efor e th e sou l a l s o c a nnot b e a nythin g differ ent from it ,

c a n n e v e r c l a i m a s e p a r a t e a n d i n d ep en d en t exi s t en c e .

“
B ra h m a n h a s to b e c o n c e iv e d a s p e rf e c t a nd t h e r efor e u n ,

c h a n g e a bl e th e so u l c a nn o t b e c onc e iv e d a s a r ea l m o difi c a ti on
,

or d e t e ri o r a ti o n o f Br a h m a n .

“
And a s B ra h ma n h a s ne ith e r b egi nn i ng nor e nd ne ith e r c a n ,

it h a v e a ny p a rt s ; th er e fo r e th e sou l c a nnot b e a p a rt of B ra h ma n ,

b u t th e wh ol e of B ra h ma n m u s t b e pr es ent in e v e ry individ u a l
s ou l . Thi s is th e sa m e a s th e t e a c h i ng of P l oti nu s w h o h e ld .

with e q u a l c ons i st enc y th a t th e Tru e B eing is tot a lly presen t in

,

e v e r y p a rt o f th e U n iv er s e .

T h eVe dé nta p h il o sop h y r est s on th e f u n d a m ent a l th es i s th a t th e

-

s ou l o r th e Ab s ol u t e B ei ng or B ra hma n a re o n e in t h e ir e ss ence
,

Th e f u nd a m e n t a l pri nc ipl e of th e Ve d ant a phil osop h y is t h a t in -

r ea lity th e r e exi st s a nd th er e ca n exi s t nothi ng b u t B ra h ma n th a t ,

B ra h ma n is e v e r y thi ng .

“
I n I n d i a a s a n y w h e r e e l s e m a n i m a gi nes a t firs t t h a t h e in
, , ,

h is i ndivi d u a l b o d il y a n d spirit u a l c h a r a c t e r is som e t h i ng t h a t

, , ,

e xi s t s a nd t h a t a ll th e o b j ec t s o f th e ou t e r w orld a l s o e xi s t a s
, ,
 T ER T I U M O R GAN UM 285

o bj ec t s I d ea li s ti c phil osop h y h a s s w ept a wa y thi s world old

.
-

pr ej u di c e m or e th or ou ghly in I n di a t h a n a nyw h er e el s e .

“
T h e ne s c i enc e ( w h i c h c r ea t e s th e s ep a r a ti o n b e tw een th e i ndi
vid u a l sou l a nd Br a h m a n) c a n b e r em ov e d by s ci ence or kno wl edge
o nly . An d thi s kno wl e dge o r vidy a is i m p a rt e d by th e Ved anta ,

whi ch sh o ws t h a t a ll ou r ordin a ry kno wl e dg e is si m ply th e r e su lt of

ign o ra nce or n esci en ce is u ncert a in d ec eitf u l a n d p eri sh a bl e or
, , , ,

a s w e s h ou ld s a y is p h e nom ena l r el a tiv e a nd c on diti on e d Th e

, , , .

tr u e kn o wl edge or c om pl et e i nsi g h t c a nnot b e ga i ne d by sen su ou s

p erc epti on nor by i nf er ence Ac c ording to th e ort h o d ox Ve d anti s t
.
,

S ru ti a l one or wh a t is c a ll e d r e v el a ti on c a n i m p a rt th a t k no wl
, ,

e dg e a n d r e m o v e t h a t n esc i enc e whi c h is i nna t e in h u m a n n a t u r e .

O f th e H ig h er B ra hma n n ot h i ng c a n b e pr e di c a t e d b u t t h a t it ,

is a nd t h a t throu gh our n e s c i ence it a pp e a r s t o b e thi s or th a t

, , .

“
Wh en a gr ea t I n di a n sa ge w a s a sk e d to d e scrib e B ra hma n h e ,

wa s s i m ply s il e n t— th a t w a s h is a ns w er .

“
Wh en it is s a id th a t B ra h m a n is th a t m ea ns a t th e sa m e ti m e
,

t h a t Br a hm a n is n ot ; t h a t is to sa y t h a t B ra h ma n is n ot h ing of
,

wh a t is su pp ose d to exi s t in ou r s en su ou s p erc epti ons .

Wh a t ev er w e m a y think of thi s phil os ophy w e c a nno t d eny ,

its m e t a phy s i c a l b o ld ne s s a nd its l ogi c a l c ons i st enc y I f B ra h ma n .

is a ll in a ll th e O n e with ou t a s ec on d n othi ng c a n b e s a id t o exi s t

, ,

th a t is not B ra hma n T h e r e is no r oom f or a nything ou t sid e th e

.

infi nit e a nd Univ er sa l nor is t h e r e r oom f or t w o infinites f or th e

, ,

infi nit e in na t ure a nd th e infi nit e in m a n Th er e is a nd t h er e c a n .

b e on e infi nit e on e B ra hm a n only T h i s is th e b eginni ng a nd th e

, .

en d o f th e Vedanta .

As th e sh ort est s u mm a ry of th e id e a s o f th e Vedanta t w o

v erses of S a nka ra , th e c om m e nt a t or a n d i nt erpr eter of Vedanta
a re o ft en q u ot e d :
B ra h ma is tru e th e world is f a ls e
‘
.
,

Th e sou l is B ra h ma a nd is noth ing else

’
.

T h i s is r ea ll y a v e r y p erf ec t su m m a r y Wh a t tr u l y a nd r ea lly .

e xi s t s is Br a h m a n th e O n e Ab so l u t e B ei ng ; th e w o rl d is f a l s e or
, ,

r a t h er is n ot w h a t it seem s to b e ; t h a t is e v eryt h i ng w h i c h is pre ,

s e n t e d t o u s by m ea n s o f se n ses is p h e n o m e na l a n d r e l a tiv e a n d c a n ,

b e no t h i ng e l se T h e so u l a g a i n or r a t h e r e v er y m a n s s ou l t h ou g h
’
.
,

it m a y s ee m to b e t h i s or t h a t is in r e a lity not h i ng b u t B ra h ma
, .

“
I n r e l a ti o n to th e q u esti on of th e o ri g i n of t h e w o rl d t w o
f a m ou s c om m ent a t or s of th e Vedanta S a nka ra a n d Ram anu ga ,
286 T ER T IUM ORGAN U M '

diff e r Ram anu ga h old s to

. t h ry th e e v o l u ti
eo of on , k —
S a n a ra t o
th e t h e o ry o f ill u s i on .

“
I t is v ery i m p ort a n t to o b se rv e t h a t th e Ve d anti s t d oes not
f a s c e rt a i n B u ddhi s t p h il o s oph e r s w h o l oo k u p on th e
g o so a r

p h enom ena l world a s s i m ply nothing N0 t h eir worl d is r e a l o nly.

, ,

it is n ot w h a t it s ee m s to b e S a nka ra c l a i m s f or th e p h e nom en a l
.

worl d a r e a lity su ffici en t f or a ll pra c ti c a l p u rp os es su ffi c i ent to ,

d e t erm ine ou r pr a c ti c a l lif e o u r m or a l o bli g a ti ons

, .

“
T h er e is a v eil B u t th e Ve d an t a phil os ophy t ea ch es u s t h a t
.
-

th e e t e rn a l lig h t b ehi nd it c a n a lwa y s b e p e r c e iv e d m o r e o r l es s

c l ea rly thr ou g h phil os op h i c a l k no wl e dge I t c a n b e p er ceiv e d
.
,

b ec a u s e in r ea lity it is a lwa y s th er e .

'

Th ou g h by d ifl ere n t w a y th e Ve d anti s t a rriv e d r e a lly in th e

a ,

e nd a t th e s a m e r esu lt a s K a n t a n d m o r e r e c e nt p h il os oph e r s w h o

h o ld with Ka nt th a t ou r exp eri enc e su ppli es u s only with m od e s

‘

o f t h e U nco n diti o n e d a s pr es e n t e d u n d e r t h e c o n diti o n s o f o u r

c o ns c i ou s ne s s
.
’
I t is t h es e c on diti ons or li m it a ti o n s of h u m a n
c o n sc i ou sn e ss whi c h w e r e c a ll e d in I n di a A vidy a; t h e ir r e su lt is
—
M a y a th e ill u sory w orld .

I t m a y s eem str a nge to find th e r esu lt s of th e phil osop h y o f Ka n t

a n d h is f o ll o w e r s t h u s a nti c ip a t e d u n d e r v a ryi ng e xpr e s s i o n s in
”
th e Up a nish a ds a n d in th e Ve d an t a p h il os ophy of a nc i e nt I n d i a
-
.

I n th e c h a pt e r s a b ou t th e Logos a n d a b ou t C h ris tia n Th eos oph y

M a x l\I iiller s a y s th a t r eligi on is th e bridge b etw ee n th e Visible
a n d th e I nvis ible, b e tw e e n F inite a n d I nfi nite .

I t m a y b e tru l y s a id t h a t th e fou n d er s of th e r eli g i ons of th e

w orld h a v e a ll b een bridge b u ild e rs As soon a s th e e xis t en ce o f a
-
.

B ey on d , of a H ea v en a b o v e th e e a rt h of P o w er s a b ov e u s a nd ,

b e nea t h u s h a s b e en r ec ogniz e d a gr ea t gu lf s eem e d to b e fix e d

,

b e tw een w h a t w a s c a ll e d by v a ri ou s na m es th e e a rt h ly a nd th e ,

h ea v enly th e m a t e ri a l w orld a n d th e s piritu a l th e ph enom ena l

, ,

a n d nou m en a l o r b e s t o f a ll th e Vi s ibl e a nd th e i nvi sibl e w o rld

, ,

a n d it w a s th e c hi e f o bj ec t of r e ligi o n to u nit e th ese t w o w o rld s ,

w h et h e r by th e a r ch es of h o p e a nd f ea r o r by th e iron c h a i ns of
l og i c a l s y ll o gi s m s .

“
T h e i d ea o f th e Logos r epr es e nt e d su ch a bridg e I t t oo k m a ny .

diff e r ent f or m s expr essi ng th e fi rs t Divine Th ou gh t a nd th en d e

,

ve lo p e d i nt o th e id ea of th e S on of God i nca rn a t e d o n th e e a rt h .

Ar ou nd t h i s id ea th e m y t h o l og i ca l e l e m e nt o f a n c i e n t r e li gi o ns
”
a cc u m u l a t e d
.
288 T ER T I UM ORGANUM

Na m e it th e m y s ti c a l r egi on p er na t u r a l re gi on
, or th e su -

We b e l ong to it in a m or e inti m a t e s ense t h a n th a t in whi ch w e

,

b e l ong to th e vi si b l e world f or w e b el ong in th e m ost i nti m a t e,

s e ns e wh er e v e r o u r id ea l s b e l on g T h e c om m u ni on with .

t h i s i nvi s i b l e wo rld is a r ea l pro c e ss with r ea l r esu lts .

“
Thi s COMMUNIO N w e s ee in m y sti c i sm .

P e rs ona l r e ligi ou s e xp e ri en c e h a s its r o ot s a nd

”—
c ent e r in m y s ti ca l s t a t e s o f c o ns c i o u sne ss s a y s Pr of Ja m es . .

But wh a t a ft er a ll is m y s ti c i s m ?
, ,

R e t u rning to th e t er m inol ogy e st a bli sh e d in th e for egoi ng

c h a pt e r s w e m a y s a y th a t M YS T ICIS M I S KN O W LE D G E B Y ME AN S
,

O F T H E E XPAND E D CO N SCIOU S N E SS .

U ntil q u it e r ec ently s c i entifi c p sy c h ol ogy did n ot r ecogniz e th e

r ea lity of th e m y sti c a l exp eri ence a nd r ega rd e d a ll m y s tic a l st a t es
a s pa th ologica l ones — u n h e a lt h y c on diti ons o f th e nor m a l c on
,

sc iou s nes s E v e n no w m a ny p os itivi s t p s y c h ol ogi st s h old to thi s

.
,
-

o pi n i o n e m br a c i ng in o ne c o mm on c l a s s ifi c a ti o n r e a l m y s ti ca l
,

st a t e s p seu d o m y s ti c a l p erve rsi ons of th e u su a l c onsc i ou sne ss

,
-

a n d p u r e l y p sy c h op a thi c s t a t e s .

T h i s o f c ou r s e c a n b e of no a ss i st a nc e to a c orr ec t u n d erst a n ding

of th e q u e s ti on B ef or e goi ng f u rt h e r let u s th er ef or e es t a bli s h
.

c e rt a i n c rit e ri a f or th e id e ntifi c a ti on of r e a l m y s ti c a l s t a t es :

Pr of Ja m es enu m e r a t es th e f oll o wi ng : in e fl a b ility n oeti c qu a l

.
,

ity tr a nsi enc y p a ss ivit y B u t som e of th es e c h a r a c t e ri stic s b e

, , .
.

l ong a l s o to s imple emotiona l s ta tes a n d h e f a il s to e xa c tly d efi ne ,

h o w m y sti c a l st a t e s c a n b e di s ti ngu i s h e d from e m o ti ona l on es o f

a n a l o g ou s c h a r a c t e r .

C onsid erin g m y sti c a l st a t e s a s kno wl e dge by e xp a n d e d c on

”
s c io u s n e ss it is p oss ibl e t o giv e q uit e d efi nit e c rit eri a f or th eir
,

di sc ernm en t a n d t h eir diffe r enti a ti on from th e gen e ra lity of

p sy chi c e xp eri e nces .

1 . My s ti ca l st a t e s g iv e knowledge W HICH NO T HI NG E LS E C AN
G IV E .

2 . My sti ca l st a t es giv e knowl e dge of th e nou mena l w orld with

a ll its s i g ns a nd c h a r a c t e ri s ti c s .

3 . Th e m y s ti c a l s t a t e s o f m e n of d ifl e re nt a ges a nd di ff erent
p eopl e s e xhi b it a n a s toni shi n g s i mi l a rity som eti m es a m ou n ti ng ,

t o c o m pl e t e id e ntity .

4 . Th e r esu lt s o f th e m y s ti c a l exp eri ence a re entirely illogica l

from ou r o rdi na ry p oint of vi e w Th e y a re s u perlogica l i e .
, . .
,
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 289

Tertiu m Orga nu m, W HICH I s T H E K E Y T O M YS T ICA L E XPE R I E N C E ,

is a ppli ca bl e to th em in a ll its e ntir e ty .

T h e l a s t n am e d c rit eri on —
is e sp ec i a lly i m p ort a nt th e illogica l
ity of th e d a t a of m y s ti c a l e xp eri e nc e f or c e d s c i enc e to r ep u di a t e
t h em No w w e h a v e est a bli s h e d th a t ill ogi c a lity (from ou r st a n d
.

p oint ) is th e n ec es sa ry c onditi on oi th e w orld b ey on d or nou m ena l ,

world Thi s d oes n ot m ea n t h a t e v erything t h a t is ill ogi c a l b e

.

l ongs to th a t w orld b u t it m e a ns a b sol u t e ly , t h a t ev erythi ng

,

whic h b el ongs to t h a t w orld is illogica l from o ur s ta n dp oint .

W e ha v e est a bli s h e d th e fa c t t h a t it is i m p ossibl e to p en etr a t e

t h e r e wit h ou r l ogi c a nd w e h a v e a l so e st a bli s h e d th e p os sibility
,

o f p en e tr a ti ng int o th e s e h e r e t of o r e in a c c ess ibl e r e gi ons by m ea ns

o f th e new org a n of th ou gh t .
1

Th e consc i ou sne s s o f th e nec es sity f or s u c h a n instru m ent o f

t h ou ght u nd ou bt edly exi s t e d from f a r b a ck For wh a t , in su b .

s t a n c e d oes th e f or m u l a Ta t tu a m a si r e pr esen t if n ot T H E F UNDA

,

M E N T A L AX IOM O F T R AN SC E ND E N T A L LO G IC ?
Th a t a rt Th ou m ea ns : th ou a rt both th ou a nd not th ou , a nd cor
r es p ond s to th e su p er l og i c a l f orm u l a , A is both A a nd not A
-
.

I f w e ex a m i ne a n c i ent writings fr om thi s st a n dp oi nt , th e n w e sh a ll

u n d er s t a n d t h a t t h e ir a u t h or s w e r e s e a r c h i ng f or a n ew logic a n d ,

w er e not s a ti sfi ed wit h th e l og i c of th e thi ngs of th e p h enom ena l

world T h e s ee m i ng illogica lity of a nc i ent p h il o sop h i c a l sy st em s
.
,

whi c h p o rtra y e d a n idea l world a s it w er e i ns t ea d of a n e xi sti ng

, ,

o n e will th en b ecom e c o m pr eh ens ibl e f or in th ese p ortr a y a l s o f

, ,

a n id ea l w orld , s y s t em s of high er logic oft e n lie c onc ea l e d .

O ne h misu nders tood a tt em pts to c onstr u e a s y s t em of

of su c

high er l ogi c to giv e a pr ec i se i nstr u m ent of th ou ght p ene tra ti ng

, ,

b ey on d th e li m it s of th e Vi sibl e world is th e tr ea ti s e by Pl ot in u s
,
”
O n I n t elligibl e B ea u ty .

D es c ri b i ng H E AV E N a nd T H E G O D S Pl oti nu s sa y s : ,

All th e god s venera b le a nd b ea u tiful a nd th eir b e au ty is i mm ense

a re , .

Wh a t else h owe ver is it b u t intellect th ro u gh whic h th ey a re su ch ? And

b ec a u se i ntell ect e ne rgizes in th em in s o g re at a d eg ree a s to rend e r th e m
visib le (by its light) ? Fo r it is not b ec a u se th eir b odies a re b e a u tif ul .

For th ese g od s th a t h ave b o dies d o no t th rou g h th i s d erive th eir s u b s is t

e nce a s god s ; b u t th es e a lso a re go d s th rou gh i nte llect For th ey a re no t .

a t one ti m e wise a nd a t a no th er d e stit u te of wis d o m ; b u t t h ey a re

,

a lwa y s w is e in a n i m p a ssive st a b l e a n d p u re i nte ll e c t

, , Th e y li kewise .

know a ll t hings not h u m a n c once rns (prece d a ne ou sly ) b u t th ei r ow n

, ,
which a re divi ne a nd su ch a s intellec t see s , For a ll thing s th ere .

a re h ea ve n a n d th e re th e ea rth is h ea ve n a s a l so a re th e s ea a nim a l s
, , , ,

pl a nts a nd men T h e g o d s li kewi se th a t it c onta in s do not th ink m en

, .

un d es e rving of th e ir re g a r d n or a nyt hing e l se t h a t is th ere (b e c au se ,

e ve ry thin g th ere is di vin e ) An d th e y o cc u py a nd p erva d e with ou t .

c e a sin g th e wh ol e of th a t (b li ssful ) re gi o n For th e lif e whi c h is th ere is .

“ ”
u na tt end e d wi th l a b our a n d tru th ( a s P l a to sa y s in th e Phaedru s ) is
,

th ei r generator a nd nu tri m ent th eir e ssenc e a nd n u rse Th ey likewi se

, , .

see a ll t hing s no t th o s e with whi c h gen e ra ti on b u t th o s e with whic h

, ,

essenc e is p re se nt An d th ey p erc eive th em selve s in oth ers

. For a ll .

thin g s th ere a re di a ph a nou s ; a nd nothin g is d a rk a nd resi sting b u t ,

e ve ry thi ng is a pp a rent to e very one intern a ll y a nd throu ghou t For .

ligh t eve rywh ere m ee ts with lig h t ; since everything conta ins a ll things
in its elf a nd aga in s ees a ll th ings in a n oth er S o th a t a ll things a re .

everywh ere a nd a ll is a ll , E a ch thing likewis e is everything And th e

. .

s p l en d ou r t h ere is in finite Fo r every thing th ere is gre a t, s in ce even

.

th a t whi ch is s m a ll is grea t Th e su n too wh ich is th ere is a ll the s tars; .

a nd a ga in ea ch s ta r is th e s u n a nd a ll th e s ta rs I n each h ow ever a .
,

difieren t property pr edomina tes , bu t a t th e s a me time a ll things a re vis ible

'

in ea ch M otion likewi se th ere is p u re ; f or th e m otion is not c on

.

foun de d by a m over diff eren t from it Pe rm a nenc y a l so su ff ers no .

c h a nge of its na tur e b ec a u se it is no t m in gle d with th e un st a b le

, And .

th e b e a u tif u l th e re is b e a u tiful , b ec a u se it d oes not su b sist in b e a u ty (a s

in a s u bj ec t ) E a c h thing too is th ere e sta bli sh e d not a s in a forei gn
.
,

l a n d , bu t th e se a t of e a c h thing is th a t which e a c h thing is No r .

is th e th ing itself diffe re nt from th e p la c e in whi c h it s u b sists For th e .

su bj e c t of it is intell e ct , a n d it is it se lf intell e c t Th ere ea ch p a rt

a lw a y s proceed s f rom th e whole a nd is a t the s a me time ea ch pa rt a nd th e ,

whole For it a ppears indeed as a p a rt; bu t by him wh ose s igh t is acu te it

.
,

will be s een a s a wh ole Th ere is li ke wi se no we a rin ess of th e vi sion

.

whic h is th ere , nor a ny p lenitu de of p erc eption which c a n bring intu i

tion to a n end For neith er w a s th ere a ny va c uity , whic h wh en fille d
.

migh t c a u se th e vi s ive e nergy to cea se ; nor is thi s o ne thin g b u t th a t ,

a n o th e r , so a s to oc c a si on a p a rt of one thin g is no t to b e a m ic a b le w ith

th a t of a noth er .

An d th e knowl e d ge wh ic h is p ossib le th ere is in sa ti a b l e For by .

se ein g itse lf m o re a b un d a ntly it p e rc e ive s b oth it self a n d th e o bj ec ts

of its p erc ep ti on to b e infini te , it follows its o w n na tu re (in un c ea sing

c onte m p la ti o n) T h e l ife th ere i s wi s do m , a wi s d o m not ob tai ne d by a
.

reas oni ng p roce ss , b ec a u se th e wh ole of it a lwa y s w a s a nd i s not in a ny ,

resp ec t d eficient , s o a s to b e i n wa nt of i nves tiga tion B u t it i s th e fi rst .

wi s d o m a n d is no t d e rive d fro m a noth e r

,
*
.

C l os ely a kin to P l otinu s is Ja c ob B oeh m e w h o w a s a c omm on ,

s h o e m a k er in th e G er m a n t o wn of G oe rlitz ( en d of th e XVI

a n d t h e b eg i nning o f th e X VII c e nt u r y ) a n d h a s l e ft a wh o l e ,

s e ri es of r e m a rk a bl e b ook s .

“ ”
H is fir s t ill u m i na ti on occ u rr e d in 1 600 A D wh en h e w a s . .
,

tw enty five y ea r s o ld T
-

*
A b id g d q o t at io
r e f o m S l t W o k o f P l o ti
u n t a l by T h o m a Tay l o B h n
r e ec r s nus , r ns s r. o
’
s
Lib a y pp l xxiii d l ii
.

r r , . an xx v .

TAll t h i g q ot at io
e e nsu n f om th b ook o f P o f W illiam J am
u ns ar e d of D R M B k
r e s r . es , an r . . . uc e.
292 T ER T I UM ORGAN UM
T h e g at e w a s o p ene d to m e th a t in one q u a rter of a n h ou r I s a w a nd
knew m ore th an if I h a d b een m a ny y ea rs a t a university a t whic h I ex ,

c ee dingl y a d mi re d a n d th ere u p on tu rn e d m y p ra is e to G o d f or it F or .

I s a w a n d knew th e b eing of a ll b eings , th e byss a nd a byss a nd th e eterna l

n ti o n o f t h e H oly Trinit y , th e d e sc e nt an d o ri gi na l o f th e world a nd
g e e ra

of a ll c re a tu re s t hrou gh divi ne wi s d o m I knew a nd s a w in m ys elf a ll .

th e thr e e worl d s , n a mel y , ( 1 ) th e divine (a ng el ic a l a nd p a ra disic a l )

( 2 ) a nd th e da rk (th e origina l of th e natu re t o th e fire) a nd (3 ) th en th e
e xte rn a l a nd vi si b le worl d (b e ing a p ro c re a ti on or e xte rna l b i rth fro m
b oth th e inte rn a l a nd s piritu a l world s) An d I s a w a nd knew th e wh ole .

working essence in th e e vil a n d th e go od a n d th e ori gin a l a n d th e exist

e nc e of eac h of th e m ; a nd li k ewi s e h ow th e f ru itf ul
—b e a ring—wom b of
e ternity b rou gh t f ort h S o th a t I did no t onl y gre a tl y wonde r a t it b u t
.

did a lso excee dingly rej oic e .

D es c ribin g ill u min a ti on s B oeh m e writ es in on e of his b ooks ,

S u dd enl y m y s p irit did b rea k th rou g h e ve n i nto th e

innerm ost b irth of G enitu re of th e D eity a n d there I w a s e m b ra ce d with ,

love a s a b ridegroom e mb ra c es hi s de a rly b elove d b ri de B u t th e gre a t

, .

ness of th e triu m phing t h a t w a s in th e s p irit I c a nn ot exp ress eith e r in

s p ea king or wr itin g ; ne ith er c a n it b e c om p a re d t o a nything b u t th a t ,

wh erein th e lif e is genera te d in th e mi d st of d eath a nd it is like th e ,

resur rec tion fro m th e de a d I n this li gh t my spirit su ddenly s a w th rou gh

.

a ll a n d in a n d by a ll c rea tu re s e ve n in h erb s a n d g ra ss it kne w G o d w h o

, , , ,

h e is a n d h ow h e is a n d wh a t hi s work is ; a n d su ddenl y in th a t ligh t my

, ,

will w a s set on by a mighty i m p u l se to d esc ri b e th e b ein g of G od B u t

, , .

b ec a u se I c ou l d not pres ently a pp rehend th e d eep est birth s of G od in

th eir b eing a nd c o mpreh end th em in my rea son there p a sse d a l m ost ,

twelve yea rs b efore th e exa ct u ndersta nding th ereof w a s given m e And .

it w a s with m e a s with a y oun g tree which is p la nte d on th e grou nd a nd ,

a t fi rs t is y ou n g a n d te n d e r a n d fl ou ri shing to th e e y e e sp e ci a ll y if it
, ,

c o m es o n lu stil y in it s g rowing B u t it d oe s not b e a r fruit p re sently ;

.

a nd th ou gh it b losso m s t h e y f a ll o ff ; a l s o m a ny a c old win d f rost a n d

, , ,

s n ow p u ff u p o n it b efore it c o m es t o a ny growt h a nd b e a rin g o f fruit

, , .

B oeh m e s b ook s a re f u ll of w ond erm ent b ef or e t h ese m ys teri es

’

with whi c h h e w a s c onf ront e d .

I w a s a s si m ple c onc erning th e hi dden my steries a s th e m e a nest of a ll

bu t my virgin of th e w onders of God t au gh t m e so th a t I m u st write of ,

his wond e rs ; th ou gh in d ee d my p u rp ose is to write thi s f or a m e m ora n

d u m f or m y self .

Not I , m know th es e things : bu t God knows them in me

th e I th a t I a , .

If y ou will b ehol d you r o wn s elf a n d th e ou ter worl d a nd wh a t is ,

ta king pla c e th ere on y ou w i ll fin d tha t y ou with re ga rd to y ou r exte rna l

, ,

b e ing a re th at e xterna l worl d

, .

Th e Di a l og u es b e tw e en Dis ciple a nd M a s ter a re r em a rka bl e

(Di s c i p l e a n d M a s t e r s h ou ld b e u n d ers t oo d to r efe r to th e l ower
a n d th e h i g h e r c o n sc i ou s n e ss o f m a n ) .
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 293

Th e Disciple i d to h is M a ster
sa

H ow m a y I com e to th e s u p ersen su a l lif e th a t I m ay , se e G od a nd h ea r

him s p ea k ?
H is M a ster sa id
Wh en th ou c a nst th row thy self bu t f or a m o ment i nto th a t wh ere no
c rea tu re dwe lle th th e n th ou h ea rest wh a t G o d s p ea keth
—
.
,

Disciple I s th a t nea r a t h a n d o r f a r o ff ?
Mas ter— I t is in th e e An d if th ou ca ns t f or a wh ile b u t c ea s e fro m a ll
.

thy thinking a nd willing th en th ou sh a l t h ea r th e u nsp ea ka b le word s of

,

G od
Dis ciple— H ow c a n I h ea r h im sp ea k , wh en I sta nd still from th in ki ng
.

a nd willing ?
—
M as ter Wh en th ou sta ndest still from th e thinking of self , a n d th e
willi ng of se lf ; Wh e n b oth thy i nte lle c t a nd will a re q u i et a nd p a ssive
“
,

t o th e i m p ressi ons of th e E te rna l Wo rd a nd S p irit ; An d wh e n th y s ou l

is Wing e d u p a nd a b ove th a t whic h is te m p ora l, th e ou twa rd s e n ses a nd
, ,
”
th e i m a gin a tio n b e ing l oc k e d u p by h ol y a b stra c tion , th e n th e E te rna l
h e a ring , seeing , a nd spe a ki ng will b e revea le d in th ee ; a nd so G od
,

h e a reth a nd seeth throu gh th ee , b ei ng now th e orga n of h is spirit ;

a nd so G o d s p e a ke th in th ee , a n d w h ispe re th to thy s p irit , a n d th y s p irit

hea re th h is voi ce B le sse d a rt th ou th e refore if th a t th ou c a nst sta nd s till

.

from self thinking a nd self willing a nd c a nst stop th e wheel of i m a g ina

- -

tion a nd se n ses ; fo ra s m u c h a s h e re by th ou m a ye st a rrive a t l e ng th to s ee

th e gre a t sa lvati on of G od b e ing m a de c a p a b le of a ll m a nne r of Divi ne
,

sen sa tions a nd h ea venl y c o m m u n ic a ti ons S i nc e it is na u g h t i nd ee d bu t

.

thine o wn h ea ring a nd willing th a t d o won der th e e , so th a t th ou d o s t

not see a nd h ea r G od .

Disciple— Lo vi ng Ma ster, I c a n no m o re end u re a nythi ng sh ou l d divert

m e h ow sh a ll I find th e nea rest w a y to him ?
—
,

Ill as ter Wh e re th e w ay is h a rd es t th e re wa lk th ou , a nd ta ke u p W h a t
th e worl d rej ec te th ; a nd wh a t th e wo rld d oth th a t d o no t th ou Wa lk, .

co n tra ry to th e world in a ll th in g s And then th ou c o m est th e nea res t

.

w ay to hi m .

Disciple 0 h ow m a y I a rrive a t th e u nity of w ill , an d h ow

c o m e i nto th e u ni ty of V isio n ?
.

M a ster M a rk
h a t I sa y : Th e Ri gh t Ey e l ook eth in
now W
thee into E te rnity T h e Lef t Ey e l ooke th b a c kwa rd in th ee i nto ti me If
. .

no w th ou su ff e re st thy se lf to b e a lwa y s loo king in to na tu re a nd th e ,

thing s of ti m e it will b e i m possible f or th ee e ve r to a rrive a t th e u nity

, ,

which th ou w ish e st f or R e m e m ber th is ; a nd b e u pon thy wa tc h G ive

. .

no t thy mind l e a ve t o e nte r in nor to fill i tse lf with th a t whic h is with ou t

, ,

the e ; neith e r l ook th ou b a c kwa rd u p on thyself Le t not th y

Left Ey e d ec eive th ee by m a king c on ti nu a lly one re p resen ta tion a f ter
,

a n oth e r a nd s tirri ng u p th ere by a n e a rnes t lo ng ing in th e se lf p ro p rie ty ;

,
-

b u t le t thy R ight Ey e c o mma nd b a c k th is Le f t And o nly b ring

ing th e Ey e of Ti m e i nto th e E y e o f E te rni ty a nd d es c e n d ing
th rou gh th e Light of G od into th e Light of N a ture s h a lt t h ou
a rrive a t th e U nity of Vi si o n o r U niform ity of Wi ll .
294 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

In a noth er dia l ogu e th e Di sc ipl e a nd th e M a st er conver s e a b ou t

h ea v en a n d h ell .

T h e D i sci p le a ske d his M a ste r :

Whith er go th e soul s when th ey lea ve th ese m orta l b o di es ?
His M a s te r a nswe re d :
T h e soul nee d eth no going forth a n ywh ere
Dis ciple—D o es it no t e nter into h ea ven or h ell ?
.

M a s ter—No th ere is no su c h kin d of entering Th e s oul h ath

a n d wh eth e r of th e tw o st a t es—
, .

h ea ven a nd h ell in itself e ith e r

—
h ea ven or h ell sh all b e m anifeste d in th e soul in th a t it sta n d et h , .

Th e q u o t a ti ons giv en h er e a re su ffici ent to indic at e th e c h a r

a c t e r of th e writings of a n u nl ea r n e d sh oem a ker fr o m a littl e

n in m n f h —
pr ovi c i a l t own G er a y o t e XVI XVII c entu ri es B oeh m e .

is r em a rk a bl e f or th e bright int ell ec tu a lity of hi s c om pr eh ens i on s ,

a lt h ou gh th e r e is in th e m a s tr on g m o r a l e l e m e n t a l so .

“
I n th e b ook a b ov e m enti on e d ( Th e Va ri e ti es of R eligi ou s
”
E xp eri enc e ) Pr of Ja m es dwell s with gr ea t a tt en ti on on C hri sti a n
.

M y sti ci sm whi c h a fford e d hi m m u c h m a t eri a l f or es t a bli sh in g th e

,

fa c t of th e c ognitiv e a sp ec t of m y s ti c i sm .

I b orr ow from hi m th e f oll o wing d es cription of th e m y sti c a l

exp eri en c e s of c e rt a in Ch ri s ti a n s a i nt s .

S t I gna tiu s conf esse d on e d a y t o F a th er Lay nez th a t a sin gl e h ou r

.

of m edi ta ti on a t M a nf e sa h a d t a u gh t hi m m ore tru th s a b ou t h ea ve nl y

thin gs th a n a ll th e te a ching s of all th e doctors pu t togeth er c oul d h a ve
ta u ght hi m . On e da y in o ri son o n th e step s of th e c h oir o f th e
,

D o minica n C h ur c h h e s a w in a di stinct m a nn er th e p lan of divine

,

wi s d om in th e cre a tion of th e worl d On a nother oc ca si on du ring a

.
,

p roce ssion his spirit w a s r a vi sh e d on G od a nd it w a s given him to c on

, ,

te m p l a te in a form a nd i m a ges fitte d t o th e we a k u n d erst a ndin g o f a

,

dweller on ea rth th e de ep my stery of th e h ol y Tri nity This l a st Vision

, .

fl oo de d his h ea rt with su ch sweetness th a t m ere m em ory of it in after

,

ti mes m a de him sh e d a b un d a nt tea rs .

O ne d a y , b eing in o ri son, S a int Te re sa write s it w a s gra nt e d m e to ,

p erc eive in one in sta nt h ow all thi ngs a re seen a nd c onta ine d in G od .

I did not p erc eive th e m in their prop er form , a nd neve rth eless th e View
I h a d of th e m w a s of a sovereign cl ea rness a n d h a s re m ain e d vi vi dl y im
p resse d u p on m y s oul I t is one of th e m ost si gn al of a ll th e gra c es
.

which th e Lor d h a s gra nte d m e T h e Vi ew w as so su btl e a nd deli

.

”
c a te th a t th e un d e rst a n di ng c a nn o t gra sp it .

S h e goes on to tell, Prof J a m es write s h ow it w a s a s if th e D ei ty w a s

.
,

a n enorm ou s a n d s ove re ig nl y lim p e d dia m on d , in whic h a ll o u r a ctions

were c onta in e d in su c h a w a y th a t th eir full sinf ulness a pp ea re d evident

a s n eve r b ef ore .

O ur L o rd m a d e m e c o m preh e nd sh e writes ,
, in wh a t w ay it is th at
o ne G o d c a n b e in th ree P e rs on s H e m a de m e s ee it s o c l ea rl y th a t I
.
29 6 T E R T I U M ORGAN U M

H ea r now sa y s S t I sa a c of S yri a (VI centu ry ) h owm a n b ecome s

, .
,

refine d a cq u ires spiritu a lity a nd b ec o mes like th e invi sib le forc e s

, , .

Wh en th e vi si on soa rs a b ove things ea rthly a nd a b ove a ll trou b le s o ve r ,

ea rth ly d o ing s a nd b e gin s to e xp e ri e n ce revel a ti on s conce rni ng th a t

,

wh ic h is with in hi dde n fro m si ght a nd wh en it w ill tu rn its ga ze u pwa rd

, , ,

a n d e xp e rie nc e f a ith in th e gu i d a n c e of fu tu re a ges a n d th e a rd ent d esi re ,

for p ro mi se d thi ngs wh e n it wi ll s ea rc h f o r hi dd en m y ste ries th en fa ith

, ,

itse lf c on su m e s this knowled ge a n d s o tra nsform s a nd re gene ra te s it th at

it b eco m es enti rely spiritu a l The n m a y th e vi sion soa r on pi nions i nto
.

regi on s inc orp orea l m a y tou c h th e depth s of a n ina cc essib le s ea pa r

, ,

tic ipa ting in th e mind Di vi n e a nd th e mira c u lou s a c ts of guid a nc e in th e

,

h ea rts of th in ki ng a nd feeling b ein gs di sc ove ring spiritu a l m y steries

,

w hi c h b ec o m e th e n c om p reh e ns ib l e by th e refine d a nd si m p l e min d .

Th en th e i nner sense s a re awa kene d t o spiritu a lity a fter th e m a nn e r th at

th e y will b e in th e l ife i mm orta l a nd inco rru p ti b l e f or e ve n h ere thi s ,

re d e mption of th e mind is a true sy m b ol of th e genera l re d em pti on .

( S u perconsciou sness p , .

Wh en th e gra ce of th e H oly Sp irit s a ys M a xim Ka psokalivit de scend s

, ,

on a n yone th ere is sh own to h im nothing of th e s ensu ou s worl d bu t

, ,

th a t whic h h e never sa w or neve r i m a gine d Th en th e un de rst anding of .

su c h a m a n rec eive s fro m th e H o l y S p i rit th e h i gh e st a n d h idd e n m y s

t erie s whi c h a cc ord ing to th e divi ne P a u l neith e r th e h u m a n ey e c a n

,

u n d e rsta n d no r th e h u m a n rea son c o m p re h e n d u n a i d e d (I C orinthi a ns .

ii, An d th a t th ou m a ye st u n de rsta n d h ow ou r re a son sees th e m ,

try to a pp re h e n d th a t whi c h I sh a ll s a y to th ee W a x whe n it is p l a ce d .

,

f a r f ro m fire is solid a n d it is p ossib le to t a k e it a nd h ol d it b u t a s soon

, , ,

a s it is th ro wn in fire it i mm e di a te l y m e lts t a k es fire b u rns b la z e s a n d

, , ,

e n d s th u s in th e mi d st o f fl a m es S o a l s o is h u m a n rea son wh en it is
.

a l o n e by itse lf u nu n ite d with G o d ; t h e n it c o m p re h en d s in th e u su a l w a y

,

a n d a c c o rd in g to its p owe r a ll th i ng s s u rrou n din g it ; b u t a s it a pp roa c h e s

th e fire o f D ivi nity a n d o f th e H oly G h ost th e n is it e nti rel y e nvelop e d

,

by th a t D ivi ne fire a nd i m m e rse d in Divine m e dita ti on a n d th e n in th a t

, ,

fire of D ivinity it is imp o s sib le f o r it to th ink a b ou t its o w n a ff airs a nd

a b ou t th a t whi c h it d e si re s .

( S u perconsciou s ness , p .

St B a sil th e G rea t sa y s a b ou t th e revel a tion of G od : Ab solu tely u n

.

u tte ra b le a nd i nd e s c ri b a b l e a re th e l igh tni ng li ke sp l e n d ors o f D ivi ne-

b ea u ty ; neith er c a n speec h exp ress nor he a ring a pp re h end S h a ll w e .

na m e th e b rillia nc e o f th e m orning sta r th e b ri gh tness o f th e m oon th e

, ,

ra d ia n ce o f th e su n— th e glo ry of a ll th e s e is u nworthy o f b e in g c o m p a re d

w ith th e t ru e ligh t s ta nding fa rth e r from it th a n d oes th e g loo mi es t n ight

,

a n d th e m os t t e rrib le d a rkne ss f ro m midd a y b ri h tn ess Thi s b e a u ty

g .
,

i nvisib le to b odily e ye s c om p reh ens ib le t o sou l a n d mind only if it

, ,

illu m ines s o m e of th e sa ints lea ves in th e m a n u nb ea ra b le wou n d throu gh

th e ir d e s ire th a t th is vision o f D ivin e b ea u t y sh o u ld e xte nd o ve r a n
e te rn ity o f lif e ; d is t u rb e d by th is e a rth ly lif e th e y l oa th e it a s th o u g h it
,

we re a p ri son .

( S u perconsciou s ness , p .
 T ER T I UM ORGANUM 297

S t T h eognis s a y s : A stra ng e word will I sa y to th ee Th ere is s o me

. .

hi dde n m y ste ry wh ic h p rocee d s b e tween G od a nd th e so u l This is e x .

p e rie n ce d by t h o s e w h o a c h ie ve th e h ig h e s t h e igh t s o f p e rf e c t p u rity

of l ove a n d fa ith wh e n m a n c h a ngi ng c o m pl e tely u nite s w i th G od a s

, , ,

His o wn th rou gh c e a sele ss p ra ye r a nd c o nte m pl a tion

, .

(S u p ercons cious ness , p .

C ert a in p a rt s of th e writings of C l em ent of Al e x a n dri a (s ec on d

c ent u r y ) a re r e m a rk a bly i n t e r estin g .

It a pp ea rs to u s th a t p a intin g a pp ea rs to ta ke in th e wh ole fi el d of
View in th e sc enes repre sente d B u t it give s a fa lse de sc rip tion of th e .

View a c c ording t o th e ru le s of th e a rt e m ploying th e signs th a t re s u lt

, ,

from th e inci dents of th e lines of vision — By this mea n s th e h igh e r a nd .

,

th e l owe r p oints in th e Vie w a n d th ose b e twee n a re p rese rve d ; a n d so m e

, ,

o bj e c t s see m to a pp e a r in th e fo re grou nd a n d oth e rs in th e b a c k g ro un d , ,

a nd oth e rs to a pp ea r in so m e o th e r w a y on th e s m o o th a n d le ve l s u rf a c e , .

S o a l so philo s oph ers c opy th e tru th a fte r th e m a nn er of p a i nting *

, .

C l em ent Al e x a n dri a h e r e r e v ea l s o n e v e ry i m p ort a nt a sp e c t

of

of tru th , n a m e ly its inexpress ibility in w ords a n d th e e n tir e c o n

,

ditio n a lity of a ll philosophic a l sy st e m s a n d f orm u l a ti ons D ia .

lec tica lly tru th is r epr e sent e d o nly in p e rsp e c tic —i e in a n

— ,
. .

inevita bly d eform e d s h a p e su c h is h is i d ea .

Wh a t ti m e a n d l a b or wou ld b e s a v e d a n d from w h a t enorm ou s ,

a n d u nn e c essa ry s u ff e ri n g w ou l d h u m a nity s a v e it s elf c ou ld it ,

b u t un d er st a n d t his o n e si m pl e t h ing t h a t tru th ca nnot be express ed .

in ou r la ngu a ge T h en wou ld m e n c ea s e to t h ink t h a t t h e y

.

p oss ess e d tr u t h wou ld c ea s e to f orc e ot h er s to a c c ept th eir tru th a t

,

a ny c o s t , w ou ld s ee t h a t o t h e r s m a
y a ppr oa c h tr u t h fr o m a n oth er

direction e x a c tly a s th ey t h em se lv es a ppr oa c h it by a w a y of

, ,

t h eir ow n H o w m a ny a rgu m ent s , h ow m a ny r eligi ou s s tr u ggl es

.
,

h o w m uc h o f vi ol en c e t o w a rd th e th ou ght s of ot h er s w ou ld b e
r en d er e d u nn ec e s sa r y a n d i m p ossibl e if m en w ou ld o nly u n d er
s t a n d th a t nobod
y p os s ess e s tr u th , b u t a ll a re seeking f or it e a c h ,

in h is o wn w a y .

Th e id ea s o f C l em ent of Al e x a n d ri a a b ou t G o d a re hig h ly i nt er
es ti ng a n d c l os e ly a ppr oxi m a t e t o t h ose o f th e Vedanta a n d
, pa r ,

tic u la rly to th e id e a s of th e Ch i n es e p h iloso ph e r s .

Th e disc o u rse resp e c ti ng G o d is th e m ost diffi c ult to h a n dl e Fo r .

sinc e th e fi rs t p ri nc ip le of e ve ry thin
g is di fficu lt to find ou t , th e a b so
lu tely fi rst a nd th e o ldest p rinc ip le whi c h is th e c a u s e of a ll o th e r thi ng s ,

b ein g a nd h a ving b ee n i s d iffi c ult to exh ibit For h ow c a n th a t b e

, .

exp resse d whic h i s neith e r g e n u s , nor d iff ere nc e no r sp ec i e s no r i n di , ,

vid u a l , nor nu mb er ; n a y m ore , is nei th er a n e vent , nor th at to which

Fath Ch i tia Lit at
.

Nic ene
gl f i
‘
* h i nt e
'
-
ers . B u fi a lo , The r s n er ure P ub . Co .
, 1 885 . V ol . II,
n d fl
298 T E R T IUM O RGANU M
an e ve nt h a pp en s ? No one c a n ri ghtly express this wh olly For on a c .

c ou nt of his g re a tness h e is r a n ke d a s th e All a n d is t h e F a th er o f th e

un ivers e No r a re a ny p a rts t o b e p re di cte d of the m F or th e o ne is

. .

in di visib l e wh eref ore a lso it is infinite not c on side re d with ref e re n c e t o

, ,

its b e ing with ou t dim ension s a n d no t h a vin g a lim it An d th eref ore it , .

is w ith ou t fo rm a n d na m e An d if w e n a m e it w e d o n o t do s o p rop e rl y
.
, ,

te rming it eith e r th e one o r th e goo d o r min d or Ab solu te B eing o r

, , , ,

Fa th er or G od o r C rea tor o r Lord We sp ea k not a s su pplying H is

, , , .

na m e ; b u t f o r wa nt w e u se g o o d n a m e s in o r d er th a t th e min d m a y
, ,

h a ve the se a s p oints of su pp ort so a s not to err in other re spe c ts *

, .

Am on g Ch in ese m y s ti c a l phil osop h er s ou r a tt e nti on is a r

r es t e d b y La o Tzu (VI c ent B a n d C h u a ng Tzu (I V c ent
-

. .
-
.

B C ) by th e c l ea nl iness of th ou ght a nd th e u nu su a l s i m pli c ity

. .
,

w ith whi c h t h ey e xpr ess th e m os t pr of ou n d d o c tri nes of id ea lis m .

Th e S a y ings o f La o Tzu -

Th e T a o wh ic h c a n b e e xp res s e d in word s is not th e e te rn a l T a o ; th e

n a m e wh ic h c a n b e u tte re d is not its e te rna l na m e T
T a o e lu de s th e sen se of s igh t a n d is th eref ore c a l le d c ol ou rl ess It
, .

e l u d es th e se n se of h ea ri ng a n d is th e re f o re c a ll e d s ou n dless
, I t e l u de s .

th e se n se of tou c h a nd is th e ref o re c a ll e d incorp orea l Th ese t h ree q u a l

, .

ities c a nnot b e a pp reh en de d , a nd h e nc e th ey m a y b e bl e nd e d into u nity .

C ea seless in a c tion it c a nnot b e n a m e d b u t retur ns a ga in to nothi ng

, ,

ne s s We m a y c a ll it th e form of th e f ormle ss , th e i m a ge of th e i m a g e
.

less th e fl e eti ng a n d th e i n d ete rmi n a b le

, .

Th ere is some thi ng c h a otic , y e t c om pl ete whi c h existe d b efore h e a ven ,

a n d E a rth O h h ow s till it is , a nd f o rml ess , sta n din g a l one with ou t

,

c h a n gi n g rea c hing e verywh e re with ou t su ff e ring h a rm "

, ,

I ts na me I know n o t T o de si gna te it I c a ll it T a o . E ndea vori ng to .

d esc rib e it , I c all it G re a t .

B e ing G re a t, it p a sses on ; p a ssing on it b ec om es re m ote ; h a ving b e ,

c o m e re m ote it re tu rns .

T h e la w of T a o is its own s p onta neity .

T a o in its un c h a ng in g a s p e ct h a s no na m e .

T h e mightiest m a nif e sta ti ons o f a c tive fo rc e fl ow from T a o .

T a o a s it exists in th e wo rld is like grea t rive rs a nd sea s whic h re c eive

th e stre a m s from th e va ll e y s .

All pre va ding is th e G re a t T a o

-
I t c a n b e a t onc e on th e right h a nd .

a nd o n th e l e ft .

T a o is a gre a t s q u a re wi th no a n gles a g rea t so un d whic h c a nn o t b e ,

h e a rd , a grea t i m a ge wi th n o form .

T a o p ro d u c e d U nity ; Unity p ro d u ce d D u a lity ; D u a l ity p ro d u c e d

Trini ty ; a nd Trinity prod uc e d a ll e xi s ti ng obj ects .

He w h o a cts in a cc ord a nc e with T a o , b ec o m es o ne with T a o .

All th e worl d sa ys th a t m y T a o is g rea t, b u t u nlike o th e r te a chi n gs .

It is j u st b ec a u se it is gre a t th a t it a pp e a rs u nlike other tea chings If .

it h a d this like ne ss , l o ng a go woul d its s m a llne s s h a ve b ee n known .

* bd
I i . p . 4 93 .
300 T E R T IUM O R G AN UM

T ao c a nn o t If it were existent it coul d not b e non

be e xi stent .
,

e xi stent Th e very n a m e of T a o is o nly a d a pte d f or conveni e nce s a k e

’

Pre de stin a ti on a nd ch a nc e a re li mite d to m ateria l exi stences —H ow ca n

. .

th ey b ea r u p on th e infinite ?
T a o is so m ething b ey ond m a te ri a l e xiste nce s I t ca nnot b e conveye d .

e ith e r by wor d s or by sil ence In th a t sta te whic h is neithe r sp e ec h nor

.

silenc e its tra nsc end a l na t ure m a y b e a pp reh end e d

*
.
,

In con em t
p ora ry Th eosophi c a l lit era tur e tw o littl e b ook s s t a n d ,
“ ” “
ou t : Th e Vo i c e of th e S il ence by H P Bl a v a tsky a nd Light . .
,
”
on th e P a th by M a b e l C ollin s I n b ot h of th em t h e r e is m u c h o f
.

rea l m y sti c a l sentim ent .

Th e Voice
f the S ilence o

He w h o woul d h e a r th e voic e of th e sil ence th e so un dless soun d and , ,

comp re h end it h e h a s to l ea rn th e na tu re of th e p erfe c t i nwa rd conc e n

,

tra tion of th e min d ac c om p a nie d by c o m p lete a b strac ti on from eve ry

,

thing p erta inin g to th e externa l Univers e or th e worl d of s enses , .

H a ving b ecom e indi fferent to obj ects of p erception th e pu pil m u st ,

e k ou t th e R a j a h of th e senses th e Th ou gh t P ro du c e r h e w h o a wa kes
ffi m
-

, ,
'

us ns .

T h e mind is th e grea t sl a y e r of th e real .

Le t th e D i sci p le sla y th e S la yer .

For
Wh en to him self his form a pp ears u nre al as do on wa king a ll th e ,

form s h e s ee s in dre a m s ;
Wh en h e c ea se d to h ea r th e m any h e m ay di sc ern th e ONE —th e ,

inn er s oun d whi c h kill s th e ou te r .

Th en onl y not till th en, sh a ll h e forsa ke th e region of A S AT, th e

,

fa l se to c om e into th e real m of SAT th e true

, , .

B efore th e soul c a n see th e h a rmony within m u st b e a ttai ne d a nd

, ,

fl e sh ly e yes b e rendere d b lin d to illu sion .

B efore th e s oul c a n h ea r th e i m a ge ( m an) h a s to b ec om e a s d e af to

,

warnings a s to whi spers to c ri es of b ellowing ele ph a nts a s to th e silvery

,

bu zzing of th e gol den fir efly

And th e n to th e inne r wi ll sp ea k
ea r

THE VOIC E O F T H E SILE N C E

And sa y :
—If thy S ou l s mile s while b athing in th e sunli gh t of thy life ; if thy
soul sing s withi n h er C hry sa li s of fl e s h a nd m a tte r ; if thy soul wee p s
insi de h er c a stl e of ill u si on ; if thy sou l stru ggles to b re a k th e s ilver
thre a d th a t bind s h er to th e MASTER (i e , th e higher self of ma n) . .

kn ow, 0 Di sciple , thy soul is of th e earth .

G ive up thy life , if th ou wou ld st live .

” M us in g o f a C hi
s nes e M y ti
s W i d om o f t h E a t S
c. s e s eries .
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 30 1

L e a rn to di scern th e rea l fro m th e fa l se th e eve r fl eeting from th e eve r

,
-

l a sting Le arn a bove a ll to sep a ra te h ea d le a rning from sou l wi sdom th e

.
- -

,
”
Ey e fro m th e H e a rt d octrine .

Light on th e Pa th lik e Th e Vo ic e of th e S il ence is f u ll of

,

sy m b o l s hi nt s a n d hidd en m e a ni ng s
, This is a littl e b ook whi c h
.

m a kes d e m a nd s u p on th e r e a d e r I ts m ea ni ng is e l u sive a nd it re
.
,
”
qu ir es to b e r ea d in a fittin g s t a t e of spirit Light on th e Pa th .

“ “
pr ep a r es th e di scipl e to m eet th e M a st er i e th e ordi na ry , . .
,

cons c i ou sne s s f or c om m u ni o n with th e high er c onsc i ou sn ess .

“ ” “
Acc ordi ng to th e a u th o r o f Light on th e P a t h th e t erm T HE ,
”
MAS TERS is a sy m b oli c a l expres si on f or th e Divine
Light on the P a th
B efore th e eyes c a n see th ey m u st b e inc a p a b le of te a rs B efore th e ea r .

c a n h ea r it m u st h a ve l ost its se n sitive ne ss B efore th e voice c a n sp ea k

.

in th e p re sence of th e M a sters it m u st h a ve lo st th e p owe r to wou nd .

B efore th e soul c an sta n d in th e prese nce of th e M asters its feet m u st be

wa sh e d in th e b loo d of th e hea rt .

Kil l ou t a ll s e n se of se pa ra tene s s .

D e si re onl y th a t wh ic h is withi n y ou .

D e sire onl y th a t whi c h is b eyo nd y ou .

D e sire onl y th a t wh ich is u na tta i na b le .

Fo r within y ou is th e light of th e wo rl d If y ou a re u nab le to

.

perceive it within y ou it is u seless to loo k for it e l sewh ere

, it is .

un a tta i na b l e b ec a u se it forever re c e d e s
, Y ou will e nte r th e ligh t b u t y ou
.
,

will never tou c h th e Fl a m e

S ee k ou t th e w a y .

Lo o k f or th e fl owe r to b l oo m in th e sile nc e th a t follows th e storm

not t ill t h en .

And on th e de e p sil enc e th e m y ste riou s eve nt will oc cur whic h wil l
prove th a t th e w a y h a s b een fou n d C a ll it by wh a t na m e y ou will it
sp ea k s in a vo ic e th a t sp e a k s wh e re th er e is none to s p e a k— it is a
.
,

m essen ger th a t c o m e s a m esse nge r with ou t fo rm or su b sta nc e ; or it is

,

th e fl owe r of th e sou l th a t h a s o p e n e d It c a nnot b e de sc rib e d by a ny

.

meta pho r .

T o h ea r th e voic e of th e sil ence is to u nd e rsta n d th a t fro m with in

com es th e o nly tru e gu i d a nce .For wh en th e di sci ple is rea dy ,

th e M a ste r is re a dy a ls o .

H old fa st to th a t wh ic h is neith er su b sta nce or exi stence .

Li ste n o nly to th e voic e whi c h is sou n dle ss .

Lo ok only o n th a t wh ic h is invisib le .

P rof Ja m e s c a ll s a tt enti on in h is b ook to th e u nu su a lly vivid

.

em oti o na lity of m y s ti c e xp e ri e nce s a nd to th e qu it e u nu su a l s en

,

s a tion s f e lt by m y sti c s .
302 TE R T IUM OR G ANUM

The d e li c i ou sness of s o m e of t h ese s t a t es s eem s to b e b eyon d

a nythi ng kn o w n in o rdin a ry c o n s c i ou s n e s s I t e vid ently inv olves .

o rg a ni c se ns ibiliti es f or it is s p o k e n o f a s so m e thi ng to o e xtr e m e

,

t o b e b or ne a n d a s v e rgi ng on b o dily p a i n
, B u t it is too su btl e a nd .

pi e r c i ng a d elight f or ordi na ry word s to d enot e G o d s t ou c h es .

’

th e wou nd s o f h is sp e a r r ef er enc e s to ebri e ty a nd to m y s ti c a l u ni o n

,

h a v e to figu r e in th e phr a seol ogy by w h i ch it is sh a d o we d f orth .

T h e joy of c o mm u ni on with G od d esc rib e d by S t S imeon th e , .

New Th eologia n ( X c entu ry ) m a y s erv e a s a n e xa m pl e o f su ch a n

*

e xp e ri enc e .

I a m wou n de d by th e a rrow of His l ove (w rite s S t Sim eon) He is . .

Hi m self in side of m e in my h e a rt ; h e e m b ra c es m e ki sse s m e fi ll s me

, , ,

with ligh t . A n ew fl ower g rows in m e new b eca u se it is j oyou s , .

Thi s fl ower i s of a n un utte ra b le form i s seen wh en it grows m erel y , ,

th en su dd enly disa pp e a rs it is of inde sc rib a b le a pp e a ra nce a ttra cts ,

my min d to itse lf c a u ses forg etfu lne ss of e verything to do with fea r a nd

, ,

then flies su ddenl y a wa y Th en d oes th e tree of fea r re m ain a gain

.

l a c king fru it ; I m oa n in s orrow a nd pra y to th ee m y C h ri st ; a gain I s e e ,

th e fl owe r a mid th e b ra nc h es I c h a in m y a tte ntion to it a l one a nd see , ,

no t th e tree a l one b u t th e b rilli a nt fl owe r a ttra cting m e to it self irre sisti

,

b ly ; th is fl ower grows in th e end into th e fruit of love In com .

p re h ensib le is it h ow fro m fea r grows l ove .

M y stic i s m p enetr a t e s i nt o a ll r eligi on s .

“ “
I n I ndi a Pr of Ja m es s a y s tra ini ng in m y stic a l ins ight h a s
, .
,

b e en know n from ti m e i mm em ori a l u n d er th e n a m e of y oga .

Yo ga m ea ns th e e xp eri m ent a l u ni on of th e i n divid u a l with th e

divi ne I t is b a se d on pre se vering e x e r c i se ; a nd th e di et p os tu r e
.
, ,

br ea th ing i nt ell ec tu a l concentra ti on a nd m ora l di sc ipline v a ry

, ,

s li g htly in th e d i ff e r e n t s y s t em s whi c h t e a c h it Th e y o gi o r dis .

,

c iple w h o h a s by t h ese m ea n s o v er c o m e th e o b s cu r a ti ons o f h is

,

l o we r n a tu r e su ffi c i ently ent ers i nt o th e c on dition t er m e d ,

s a madhi a n d h e c o m es f a c e t o f a c e wit h f a c t s w h i c h n o i ns ti n c t
‘
,
’
o r r ea son c a n e v e r kno w .

“
Wh en a m a n c om es ou t of s a madhi Ve danti st s
a ssu r e u s th a t h e r e m a in s
‘
e nlight e ne d a sa g e a pr oph e t a s a in t , , , ,

h is w h ol e c h a r a c t e r c h a ng e d h is l ife c h a ng e d ill u m in e d
’
.
, ,
“
Th e B u d dis ts u se th e word s a mad hi a s w e ll a s th e H i n d u s ; b u t
‘ ’

dhy a na is th e ir sp ec i a l w o rd f o r high er s t a t e s of c ont em pl a ti on

‘ ’
.

“
H igh r t a ges s till of c ont em pl a ti on a re m e ti o e d a r e gi on
e s n n —
wh er e th e r e e xi st s not h ing a nd wh er e th e m edit a t or sa y s : Th er e,

e xi s t s a b s ol u t e ly n ot h ing a n d s t op s T h en h e r e ac h es a no th er
,
’
.

’
r e g i on h e s a ys :
, T h e re a re neit h er id e a s n or a b senc e of id ea s
‘
,

* P a l A iki fi M y t i i m o f St Sim o th N w Th ol ogia

u n e .
“
s c s S t P t b g 1 9 06
. e n e e e n . e ers ur , .
3 04 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

Th e Pe rsi a n m y sti c a l p oeti c a l S u fis wrot e a b ou t th e l o v e of

”
G o d in expr es si ons a pplic a bl e to th eir b ea u tifu l wo m en , s a y s th e
tra ns l a tor of J a mi a nd o th er p oet s , D a vi s — “
b ec a u s e a s th ey ex ,

pl a i ne d thi s nob ody c a n writ e in h ea v enly l a ngu a ge a nd b e u n d e r

,

s t oo d (P ers ia n M ystics )
. .

T h e id ea of S ufi sm , M a x M u ll e r sa y s is a loving u nion of ,
” “
th e s ou l with God . Th e S u fi h o ld s th a t th e r e is nothi ng in h u m a n
lang u a ge th a t c a n expr e ss th e l ov e b e tw e en th e s ou l a nd G od so
w ell a s th e l ov e b etw een m a n a nd wom a n a nd th a t if h e is to
s p e a k of th e u ni on b e tw een th e t w o a t a ll h e c a n only d o so in th e ,
” “
s y m b o li c l a ng u a g e o f ea rthly l ov e Wh en w e r e a d s om e of th e
.

S u fi enr a pt u r e d p oetry , w e m u s t r em e m b er t h a t th e S u fi p oet s

u s e a n u m b e r of e xpr e ss i o ns whi c h h a v e a r eco gniz e d m ea ni ng in

th eir l a ngu a g e T h eir s leep m ea ns m e dita ti on ; perf u me— h o p e

—
.

o f divi n e f a v o r ; k is s es a nd em bra ces th e r a pt u r e s of pi ety ; wine

m ea ns s piritu a l kn o wl e dge , e tc .

T h e fl owe rs whi c h a l over of G o d h a d gath e re d in h is ro se g a rde n v

,

a nd whi c h h e wi s h e d to give to his fri e n d s so o ve rp owe re d his mi n d by,

their fra g ra nce th at th ey fell ou t of h is la p a nd w ith ere d S a di s ay s , .

A p oet d esire s to e xpress by thi s th at th e gl ory of e c sta ti c vi si ons p a le s

—
,

a nd f a d es a wa y wh e n it h a s to b e pu t i nto h u m a n l a ng u a ge (Ma x
M iiller Theosophy .

G ener a lly sp ea king n ev er a nd n owh e r e h a s p oetry b e en so

,

bl en d ed wit h m y sti c ism a s in S u fi sm T h e S ufi p oets fr e qu ently .

liv e d th e s tr a ng e liv es of h er m it s a na c h orites a nd w a n d er ers a t

, ,

th e sa m e ti m e si ngi ng of l o v e th e b ea u ty of w om en th e a r o m a
, ,

o f r o s es a n d wi n e .

J ella l eddin d e s c rib es a s f oll o w s th e c omm u ni on of th e sou l with

G od :
A l ove d d to h er l over t o try h im ea rly one m orning : 0 su c h
one sa i

a o n e s on o f s uc h a o ne I m a rve l wh e th e r y ou h ol d m e m ore d ea r or
, , ,
” “
y ou rself ; tell m e tru ly O a rd ent l ove r " He a nswere d : I a m so e n
, ,

tirely a b so rb e d in y ou th a t I a m f u l l o f y ou fro m h ea d to foot

, O f my .

ow n exi stence noth i ng b u t th e m a n re m a i ns in m y b eing is n oth ing ,

b es ide y ou 0 obj ec t of m y d esi re Th erefore I a m th u s lost in y ou As

, . .

a st one wh i c h h a s b een c h a nge d i nto a p u re ru by is fill e d with th e

”—
,

b ri ght light of th e s u n (Ma x M il lle r )

. .

I n t w o w ell kn own p oem s of J a mi (XV c ent u ry ) S a la ma n a nd ,

” ” “ ”
A bs a l a nd Yu suf a nd Z u la ikh a th e a s ce n di ng of th e sou l ,

its p u rifi c a ti o n a nd its u ni on with G o d is r epr ese n t e d in th e m os t

p a ssi ona t e f or m s .
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 3 05

P r of Ja m e s p a ys gr ea t a tt enti on in hi s b ook to my s tic a l s ta te s

.

u nder na rcosis .

Th i s is a r ea l m t h a t p u blic opini on a nd ethi ca l ph il osop h y h a v e

l ong si nce br a n d e d a s p a th ol ogic a l , t h ou g h priva t e pra c ti c e a nd
c e rt a i n lyri c s tr a i ns of p oe try s eem s till t o b e a r wit n ess of its

id ea lit y .

“
Nitr ou s o xid e a nd e th e r e sp e c ia ll y nitro u s o xid e w h en su ffi
, ,

c iently dil u t e d with a ir s ti m u l a t es t h e m y s ti c a l c o n s c i ou s ne ss in

,

a n e xtr a ordi na ry d e gr e e D epth b ey ond d epth of tru t h se em s rs

.

v ea l e d to th e inh a l er Th i s tr u t h fa d e s o u t h o w ev e r or es ca p es
.
, , ,

a t th e m om e nt o f c o mi ng to a n d if a ny w o r d s r e m a in o v e r in w h i c h

it s e em e d to c l oth e itse lf t h e y prov e to b e th e v eri es t n onsen se

, .

Nev ert h el ess th e s ens e of a pr ofou n d m ea ni ng h a vi ng b een th er e

,

p ers i st s ; a nd I kn o w m or e t h a n one p erson w h o is p ersu a d e d t h a t

in th e nitrou s o xid e tr a nc e w e h a v e a ge nu in e m e t a p h y si c a l r ev e
l a ti on .

“
S om e y ea rs a g o I m y s elf m a d e s om e o b s erv a ti ons on thi s
a sp e c t of nitro u s o xid e in t oxi c a ti o n a n d r e p o rt e d t h e m in pri nt
, .

O ne conc l u si on w a s f o r c e d u p on m y min d a t th a t ti m e a nd m y ,

i m pr essi on o f its tr u th h a s e ve r sinc e r e m a ine d u ns h a k en I t is .

th a t o u r norm a l w a ki ng c ons ci ou sness r a ti ona l c onsc i ou s ne ss a s

,

w e c a ll it is b u t on e s p ec i a l typ e o f con s c i ou snes s whi l st a ll a b ou t

, ,

it p a rt e d from it by th e film iest of s c r eens th er e a re p otenti a l

, ,

form s of c onsc i ou sness entir el y difl ere nt We m a y g o t h rou gh .

lif e wit h ou t su sp ec ting t h eir exi st ence ; b u t a pply th e r e q u i s it e

s ti m u l u s a n d a t a t ou c h th ey a re t h e r e in a ll t h eir com pl et e nes s ,

d efi nite typ es of m ent a lit y w h i ch pr ob a bly som e wh er e h a v e t h eir

fi eld o f a ppli ca ti on a nd a d a pt a tion No a c c ou nt of th e u niver se
.

in its t ot a lity c a n b e fi na l w h i c h l ea v es th e s e o th e r f o rm s o f c on
s c io u sn ess q u it e di s r e g a rd e d At a ny r a t e t h e y f o rbid a pre
.
,

m a t u re c l osi ng of ou r a ccou nt s wit h r ea lity .

“
T h e w h o l e drift of m y e du c a ti o n go e s t o p ersu a d e m e th a t th e
world of ou r pres ent c o n sc i ou sness is only one ou t of m a ny world s
o f con s c i ou sn ess t h a t e xi s t a n d th a t t h o s e o t h e r w orld s m u s t c o n
,

t a i n ex p e ri enc e s whi c h h a v e a m ea ni ng f or ou r lif e a l s o .

Looki ng b a c k on m y e xp eri enc es t h ey a ll conv e rge t o wa rds

,

a ki nd o f i nsi g h t to whic h I c a nno t h e lp a sc ribi ng s o m e m e t a

physi c a l signific a nce Th e k e y not e of it is i nv a ri a bly a r e c on

.

c ili a ti on I t is a s if th e op posite s of th e w orld wh ose c ontra dic

.
,

tions a nd c onfli c t m a ke a ll ou r diffi c u lti es a nd tr ou bl e s we r e ,

m elt e d i nto u nity Not only d o th ey a s c ontr a ste d s p e ci es b e

.
, ,
3 06 T ER T IUM ORGAN UM

l on g to o ne a nd th e sa m e
genu s bu t one of the sp ecies th e n obl er ,

a n d th e b e tt e r on e
—i s itself th e genu s so soa ks u a nd a bsorbs its
p ,

opp osite into its elf T h i s is a d a rk s a yin g I know wh en t h u s e x

.
, ,

pr esse d in t er m s of c omm on l ogi c b u t I ca nno t w h olly esc a p e ,

fr om its a u t h ority I fe el a s if it m u s t m e a n s om e thing som ethi ng

.
,

lik e w h a t th e H egeli a n p h il osophy m ea ns if one cou ld only la y ,

h old of it m or e c l ea rly T h ose w h o h a v e ea rs to h ea r let t h e m .

h e a r ; to m e th e l ovin g s en s e of its r ea lity on ly com es in th e a rti

fic ia l m y s ti c s t a t e of m i n d .

“
Wh a t r e a d e r of H ege l c a n d ou bt th a t s ens e of a p e rf e c t e d
b e i ng with a ll its oth e rn ess soa k e d u p in it s elf whi c h d om i na t e s ,

his wh ol e phil o s ophy m u s t h a v e c om e fr om th e promin enc e in h is,

co n s c i ou sn e ss of m y s ti ca l m oo d s lik e t h i s in m o s t p e rso ns k e pt ,

su bli mina l ? T h e n oti on is th or ou ghl y c h a ra c t e ri sti c of th e m y s

ti c a l l ev el a nd th e A uf ga be (th e pro bl em ) of m a ki ng it a rticu l a te
,

w a s su r e ly s e t to H e g e l s i nt e ll e c t by m y s ti c a l f ee ling
’
.

“
I h a v e fri en d s wh o b eli e v e in th e a n a es th eti c r ev el a ti on For .

th em too it is a m oni sti c i nsigh t in whi ch th e oth er in its v a ri ou s ,

fo rm s a pp ea r s a b s orb e d int o th e On e *
.

I nto thi s p erva ding genu s writes one of th e m w e p a ss forgetting , , ,

a nd fo rgott e n a nd th en c efo rth ea c h is a ll in G o d

, Th ere is no high er , .
,

no d ee p e r no oth er th a n th e life in wh i c h w e a re f o u nd e d
, , Th e one .

rem a ins th e m a ny ch a nge a n d p a ss ; a n d e a ch a nd every one of u s is th e

,

O ne th a t re m a in s This is th e u lti m a tu m As sure as

—
. .

b eing wh enc e is a ll ou r c a re s o su re is c ontent b ey ond d u p lexity h

, ,

a nti th e si s or trou b l e wh e re I h a ve tri u m ph e d in a s olitu d e th a t G od

, ,
”
is not a b ove .

( B” P B lo od : Th e Ana esth etic Re vela ti on a nd th e G ist of Ph iloso

. .

phy A m sterd a m N Y
, , . .
,

Xenos C la rk a ph il osoph e r w h o di e d youn g (a t A m h erst in th e 8 o s )

’ ’

w a s a l s o i m p re sse d by th e re vel a ti on .

I n th e fir s t p la c e h e onc e wrote to m e M r B l oo d a nd I a gree th a t

, , .

th e reve l a ti on is if a ny th in g non em oti ona l

, It is a s Mr B loo d sa ys ,
-
.
, .
,

th e o ne s ol e a n d s u ffi c i e nt in si gh t why or no t why b u t h ow th e p resent , ,

is p u sh e d o n by th e p a st a nd s u c ke d forwa rd by th e va cu ity of th e ,

fu tu re I t is a n initia tion of the pa st Th e re a l sec ret would be th e form

. .

”
u lae by wh i c h th e n o w k eep s e xf o l ia ti ng ou t of it se lf y e t neve r esc a p e s , .

We sim p ly fill th e h ole with th e dirt w e du g ou t O rd ina ry ph ilosophy .

is l ik e a h oun d h u ntin g its o wn t a il Th e m o re h e h unts th e fa rth e r h e .

h a s to g o a n d h is no s e n ever c a tc h e s u p wi th h is h eels b e c a u se it is f or
, ,

e ve r a h ea d of th e m S o th e p resent is a lrea dy a fo re gon e c on cl u si on

.
,

a n d I a m eve r too l a te to u n d e rs ta nd it B u t a t th e moment of r ecovery .

from a n a es th es is th en bef or e s ta r ting on

, lif e I c a tch so,to s p ea k a glim p s e , , ,

of my h eels a glimp s e of th e etern a l process ju st in th e a ct of s ta rting

, The .

tru th is th a t w e tra ve l on a j o u rney th a t w a s a c com p lish e d b ef ore w e

* P r of . la
W il i m J m es a , The Va i ti o f
r e es lgo
Re i i us x
E p erie n ce . Le c ture s XVI a nd V
X II .
3 08 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

I su bj oin Pr of Ja m es s a y s a noth er i nt er es ting a na esth eti c

, .
,

r ev el a ti on Thi s is w h a t th e su bj ec t a gift e d wom a n writ es

.
, ,

a b ou t h er exp eri enc e wh en sh e w a s t aking eth er f or a su rgic a l

,

o p e r a ti on .

I won dere d if I w a s in a p ri son b eing tortu re d a nd why I re mem ,

b ere d h a ving h ea rd it sa i d th a t p eople le a rn th rou gh s u ff ering a nd

,
‘

,
’

in Vi e w of wh a t I w a s seeing th e ina de q u a c y of thi s s a yi ng s truc k m e so

,

m u c h th a t I s a i d a l ou d to s u ff e r is t o lea rn With th a t I b ec a m e u n
‘ ’
, , .

c ons ci ou s a g a i n a nd m y l a st d re a m i mm e d i a te l y p re ce d e d m y re al
,

c o ming t o I t only l a ste d a f e w s ec ond s a nd w a s m ost vi vi d a n d rea l

.

t o m e th ou g h it m ay n ot b e c le a r in word s
, .

“
A gre at B eing or Power w a s tra velin g throu gh th e sky hi s foot w as ,

o n a k ind of ligh tnin g a s a wh e e l is on a r a il it w a s his p a th wa y The , .

lightning w a s m a d e of inn u mera ble spirits cl ose to one a noth er a nd I ,

w a s one of th e m He m ove d in a stra i gh t line a nd e a c h p a rt of th e

.
,

stre a k or fl a sh c a m e into its s h o rt consc i ou s e xi ste nce o nl y th a t h e

migh t tra vel I seem ed to b e directly u nder th e foot of G od a nd I
.
,

thou gh t h e w a s g rinding h is own life u p ou t of my p ain Th en I sa w .

th at wh a t h e h a d b een try ing with a ll h is might to d o w a s to ch a nge his

cou rs e to bend th e li ne of ligh tnin g t o whi c h h e w a s ti e d in th e dire ct ion
, ,

in wh i c h h e wa nte d to g o I felt my fl exibi lity a nd h elp les sness a n d I

.
,

knew th at h e wou l d su cc e ed H e b end e d me tu rning his c orner by .

,

m e a ns of m y h ur t h u rting m e m ore th a n I h a d ever b een h u rt in m y

,

lif e a nd a t th e a cu test p oint of th i s a s h e p a ss e d I S A W

, , , .

“
I un derstood f or a m o ment things th at I h a ve now forgotten things ,

th at no one c oul d rem emb er while reta ining sa nity T h e a ngle w a s a n .

ob t u se a ng le a nd I re m e m b e r thinkin g a s I wo k e t h a t h a d h e m a d e it
,

a ri gh t or a c u te a ngl e I s h ou l d h a ve b oth su ff ere d a nd se en still m ore

‘ ’
, ,

a nd sh ou l d p rob a b l y h a ve d i e d .

H e went on a nd I c a m e to I n th a t mo m ent th e wh ole of m y life .

p as se d b efore m e incl u d ing ea ch little m ea ningless pi ec e of distre ss a nd

, ,

I un d erstood th e m Thi s is wh a t it h a d a ll m ea nt this w a s th e p iec e of

.
,

work it h a d a ll b een c ontrib u ting to d o .

“
I did not s ee G od s p u rp os e I only s a w h is intentness a nd hi s enti re
’
.

re l entl e ssn ess towa rd s hi s m ea ns H e th ou gh t no m ore of m e th a n a m a n .

thinks of hurtin g a c a rtrid ge wh en h e is fi ring An d y et on wa king my .

, ,

first fe eling w a s a nd it c a m e wi th tea rs D omine non su m dogna f or

, ,
‘
,
’

I h a d b een lifte d in to a p ositi on f or which I w a s too s m a ll I re alize d .

th a t in th a t h a lf h ou r u nd er eth er I h a d serve d G od m ore di stinctly a nd

pu rely th a n I h a d ever d one in my life b efore or th a n I a m c a p a ble of ,

d e siring to d o I w a s th e m ea ns of hi s a chie ving a nd revea ling so meth ing

. ,

I know not wh a t or to wh om a nd th a t to th e exa c t extent of my c a p a c ,

ity f or ing ’
s u fl er .

While reg a ining consciou sness I wondere d why , since I h a d gone so

d ee p I h a d s een n othi ng of wh a t s a ints ca ll th e love of G od noth ing b u t
, ,

hi s re le ntl essness An d th en I h ea rd a n a n swer whi c h I c ou ld o nly j u st

.
,

c a tc h sa yin g Knowled g e a nd Love a re One a nd th e m e a s ur e is s u ff e r

‘

ing — I give word s a s th ey c a m e to m e

, , ,
’
With th a t I c a me fina lly to .
 T ERT IUM ORGANUM 3 09

into wh at see med a d rea m worl d comp a re d with th e reality of wh a t I

w a s l ea vi ng .

I S Sy m on d s wh om P rof Ja m es m enti ons tell s of a n i nt er e s t

. .
, .

in g m y sti c a l exp eri ence with c hl orof orm :

After th e ch oki ng a nd stifling h a d p a sse d awa y I se e me d a t fi rs t ,

in a sta te of u tter bl a n kne s s th en c a me fl a sh es of intens e li gh t a lte r

, ,

n a ti ng with b l a c k ne ss a n d with a k een vi si on of wh a t w a s goi ng on in

,

th e ro o m a ro und m e b u t no s ensa tio n o f t ou c h

, I t h o u gh t t h a t I w a s .

ne a r d ea th ; wh e n s u dd e nl y m y so ul b e c a m e a wa re of G od w h o w a s
, ,

m a nife stly d e a ling with m e h a nd ling m e s o to sp e a k in a n inte nse

, , ,

p ersona l pres ent rea lity I felt h im stre a min g in like ligh t u p on m e
. .

I c a nnot describ e th e e c sta sy I felt Th en a s I gra d u a lly a woke from .

th e infl u enc e of th e a n a esth e tic th e old se nse of my re la ti on to th e wo rld

,

b e ga n to retu rn a nd th e new sense of my rela tion to G od b eg a n to fa de

, .

I s u dd enly lea pt to my fe et on th e c h a ir wh ere I w a s sitting a nd ,

s h ri ek e d o u t I t is too h orrib l e it is too h orri ble it is too h orrib le

‘ ’
, , , ,

m ea nin g th at I c o u l d n ot b ea r th i s di si ll u si onm ent At l a st I a woke .

c a lli ng to th e tw o s u rg eon s (w h o we re fri g h tene d ) why d id ‘

y ou not kil l m e ? Why wou l d y ou not le t m e d ie ?

’

Ana es t h eti c s t a t es a re v e r y s i m il a r to t h ose s tr a ng e m om e nt s

e xp e ri e nc e d by e pil epti c s d u ri ng th eir fit s o f ill ness An a rti s ti c .

“
d esc ripti on of epil e ptic st a tes w e find in D ostoy e vs ky s Th e
’
,

I di ot .

H e rememb ere d a m ong oth er things th a t h e a lwa ys h a d one mi nu te

j u st b efore th e epilep tic fit (if it c a m e on while h e w a s a wa ke ) wh en su d
d enly in th e mi d st of sa d ness spiritu a l d a rknes s a nd opp re ssion th ere
, ,

s ee m e d a t m o m ents a fl a s h of li g h t on h is b ra i n a nd w ith e xtra ord ina ry

i m p etu s a ll h is vita l f orc es su ddenly b eg a n working a t the ir high est

tensi on T h e se nse of life th e c onsci ou sness of self we re m u lti plie d te n
.
, ,

ti m es a t th es e m oments which pa sse d like a fl a sh of lightnin g H is mind .

a nd h is h ea rt we re fl oo d e d with e xtra o rd ina ry li gh t ; a ll hi s u n e a si n ess ,

a ll h is d ou b ts a ll h is a nxieti e s we re re lie ve d a t once ; th e y were a ll m e rg e d

,

in a l ofty c a l m f u ll o f se re ne h a rm oniou s joy a nd h op e

, , .

Thinking of th a t m oment la ter wh en h e w a s a ll right a g ain h e often , ,

s a i d to h i m se lf th a t a ll th e s e g l ea m s a nd fl a sh es of th e h igh est s e ns a tio n

of li f e a nd se lf c onsc iou s ness a nd th ere fo re a l so o f th e h igh es t fo rm of
-

e xi ste nce were noth i ng b u t d isea se th e i nte rru p tion o f th e norm a l con
, ,

dition . And y e t h e c a me a t l a st to a n extre mely p a ra d oxic a l c on

e l u si on Wh a t if it is di se a se ? h e de ci de d if th e resu lt if th e minu te
.
, ,

of s ens a tion re m e mb e re d a nd a n a ly z e d a f te rw a rd s in h e a lth t u rns ou t

, ,

to b e th e a c me o f h a rm ony a nd b e a u ty a nd give s a fee li ng u n kn own , ,

a nd u nd ivin e d t ill th e n of c o m p le te ne ss o f p ro p orti o n o f reco nc il ia tion

, , , ,

a n d o f e c st a ti c d evo ti o na l m e rgi n g in th e h i g h es t sy nth esi s of l if e ?

Th ese va gu e expressions see me d to h im very c o m p rehe nsible th ou gh ,

“ ”
too we a k Th a t it w a s b ea u ty a nd worship th a t it re a lly w a s th e
.
,
“
high e st synthesi s of life h e cou l d not d ou bt a nd c ou l d not a d mit th e ,

possibility of dou bt He w a s q u ite c a p a b le of j u dging of th a t

.
3l 0 T ER T IUM ORGANUM
wh en th e a tta c k w a s over The se m om ents were only a n extra ord ina ry
.

u i c k e ning of se lf c o nsci ou s ne ss — if th e c on dition w a s to b e ex resse d

q p
-

—
in on e word a nd a t th e sa m e ti m e of th e direc t s en sa tion of exi stenc e
in th e m ost in te n se d eg ree Sinc e a t th a t second th a t i s a t th e ve ry
.
,

l a st c onsc i ou s m om ent b ef ore th e fit h e h a d ti m e to s a y to h i m self ,

“
c l ea rl y a n d c on sc i ou sl y Y e t f or th is m o m ent o ne mig h t g ive on e s
’
,
”
wh ole life " Th en wi th ou t d ou b t th a t m om ent w a s rea ll y worth th e
wh ole of life . For th e ve ry th ing h a d h a pp en e d ; h e a ctu a lly h a d
sa i d to h i m se lf a t th a t s e c o n d t h a t f or th e i nfin ite h a pp in ess h e h a d fe lt
, ,

in it th a t s ec on d rea lly m igh t we ll b e worth th e wh ol e of life

, .

“
At th at m om ent a s h e tol d Rogo zh in one d ay in M oscow
”
, at

th at m o ment I see me d so meh ow to u nd ersta nd th e extra ordina ry sa y

”
in g th a t th ere s h a ll be time no longer Prob a b ly h e a dde d s m iling .
, , ,
“
thi s is th e ve ry second wh ic h w a s not long e n ou gh f or th e water to b e
s p ilt ou t of M o h a m m e d s p itc h e r th ou g h th e e p il e p ti c p ro ph e t h a d tim e
’

to g a ze a t a ll th e h a b ita ti on s of A lla h *
.

Na r c o s i s or epil ep sy a re no t a t a ll n ec essa ry c o n dition s to in d u c e

m y s ti c a l s t a t e s in o r d i n a ry m en .

“
C ert a i n a sp ec t s of n a tu r e a pp ea r to h a v e th e p ecu li a r p owe r
”
o f a w a k e ni ng s u c h m y s ti c a l m oo d s s a y s Ja m es , .

I t wou ld b e m o r e c orr ec t t o s a y t h a t in a ll conditions of encom

p a ss ing na tu r e thi s p o w er li es conc ea l e d T h e c h a nge of th e .

s ea s on s — th e firs t sno w th e a w a k en ing o f s pri n g th e su mm er

, ,

n n m h
d a y s r a i y a d w a r t e a r o a o a u tu m f m n— a w a k e in u s s tr a nge
,
”
m oo d s whi c h w e ou rs e lv e s d o n ot u n d erst a n d S om eti m e s .

th es e m oo d s int ens ify a nd b ecom e th e s ensa ti on of a com pl et e

,

o n e ne s s with n a t u r e I n th e life of e v e ry m a n th ere a re m om ents

.

whi c h a ct u p on h im m o r e p o w erfu lly t h a n o th ers Up on o ne a

.
.

th u nders torm a c t s m y s ti ca lly u p on a noth er su nris e a third is a s it

, , ,

w er e h y p notiz e d a nd a ttra c t e d by th e sea a fou rth is a b so rb e d , ,

fill e d a n d su bj u ga t ed by th e f orest a fifth is dr a wn a nd instru c t e d ,

by rocks a s ixt h by fire T h e v oi ce of s ex th e infl u e nc e on m a n

, , .
,

o f w o m a n a nd o n w o m a n of m a n e m br a c es m u c h of th a t s a m e
,

m y sti ca l sense of na tu re a r ou se d by f or e st pr a iri e s ea , , .

“
T h e v oi ce of s ex th e i nfl u e nce of th e
, et e rna l f e m i ni n e on
”
m a n a nd th e e t er na l m a s c u li n e o n w om a n i nc l u d es withi n

it s e lf th e m os t p o w erf u l a nd th e m os t p er sona l s ens a tion of n a

t u r e ; in th e sex i m p u l s e m a n p u ts hi m s elf in th e m ost p ers ona l
r e l a ti on wit h n a tu r e Th e c om p a ri s on of th e sensa ti on of wom a n
.

by m a n or vice vers a wit h th e f ee ling f or na t u r e is m e t with v ery

, ,

oft en . And it is rea lly th e sa me s ens a tion whi c h is giv en by fo r e st ,

pr a iri e s ea m ou nta in s onl y in t h i s c a s e it is ev en m or e i nt ense

, , , ,

a w a k e n s m o r e i n n e r v o i c es forc es th e sou n ding of m or e in ne r

,

s tri ng s .
312 T ER T IUM ORGANUM
into th e wa ve s and with th e m ru sh e d w ith a h owl a t th e s hi p And in
—
.

th a t insta nt I beca m e a ll T .h e w a ve s th ey were m y self : th e f a r vi olet

m oun ta in s th e win d th e c lou d s h ur ryin g from th e north th e gre a t
, , ,

t
s ea m h ip h lin n d r h i n ir i ti b l y f rw d — a ll we re my
s e e g a u s g r e s s o a r

I sense d th e enorm ou s h ea vy b ody—my body— a ll its m otion s

,

se lf.
,

sh u dd e rings wa verin gs a nd Vib rations fire p ressure of ste a m a nd

, , ,

weight of en gines were inside of me th e un m ercif ul a nd un yiel ding pro

,

p ellin g sc rew whi c h p u sh e d a nd p u sh e d m e forwa rd never f or a m om ent ,

rel ea sing m e th e ru dd e r whi c h d e te rmine d a ll m y m oti on

,
— a ll thi s w a s

m y self : a l so tw o s ailors . an d th e b l a c k sn a k e of s m ok e co ming

in c lou d s ou t of th e funn e l a ll .

I t w a s a n insta nt of unu su a l free do m joy a n d exp a nsion A second, .

a n d th e sp ell of c h a rm disa pp ea re d It p a sse d like a d rea m wh en one

.

tries to remem b er it B u t th e sens a ti on w a s s o p owerful so b right a nd

.
, ,

so un u su a l th a t I w a s a fra i d to m ove a n d wa ite d f or it to recur B u t it .

di d not retu rn a nd a m om ent l a te r I c oul d not sa y th a t it h a d b een

,

c oul d n ot sa y wh eth e r it w a s a re a lity or m e re l y th e th ou gh t th a t l ooking ,

a t th e wa ves it m i gh t b e s o
, .

T w o y e a rs a fterwa r d th e y e ll owi sh wa ve s of th e Finn i sh gu lf a nd a

g r ee n s ky g a v e m e a t a s t e o f th e s a m e s ensa ti on b u t th i s ti m e it w a s
,

dissip a te d a lm ost b efore it a pp ea re d .

S i m il a r e xp eri ences a nd th e d e s c ripti on of exp eri m ent s of th e

a rtifi c i a l in d u c ti on of th em by th e a id of n a r c oti c s or with ou t th a t
”
a id , will ent er into th e b ook Th e Wi s d om of th e G o d s in a
,

c h a pt e r o n exp e ri m ent a l m y s ti c i s m .

Th e e x a m pl e s giv en in thi s c h a pt er d o no t by a ny m ea ns exh au s t

th e m y s ti c a l exp e ri e n c e of h u m a ni ty .

B u t wh a t do w e inf e r fr om th em ?
Fir s t of a ll u nity of exp erience I n m y sti c a l sensa ti ons a ll m en
, .

exp eri enc e s om e thin g in c o m m o n h a vi ng a s i mi l a r m ea nin g a nd

,

c o nn ec ti on o n e with a no th e r . T h e m y s ti c s of m a ny a g es a nd
m a ny p eopl es sp ea k th e s a m e l a ngu a g e a nd u s e th e sa m e w or d s .

Thi s is th e fir s t a nd m os t i m p ort a n t thing t h a t sp ea k s f or th e re

a lity o f th e m y s ti ca l e xp e ri en c e .Ne xt is th e com pl e t e h a r m ony
o f d a t a r e ga rdi ng s u c h exp e ri e nc e with th e th eo r e ti c a lly d e d u c e d

conditions of th e w or ld of ca u s es ; th e s en sa ti o n o f th e u nity of a ll ,

s o c h a r a c t e ri s ti c of m y s ti c i s m ; a n e w s en s a ti o n o f ti m e ; th e s en s e

of infi ni t y ; jo y or h orr o r ; kn o wl e dg e o f th e wh o l e in th e p a rt ;

infi nit e lif e a nd infinit e c onsc i ou sness All t h es e a re r ea l sensed .

f a c t s in th e m y s ti c a l exp eri ence And t h e s e fa c t s a re th eoretica lly

.

correct . Th ey a re su c h a s t h ey sh ou ld b e a c cordin g to th e con

e l u s i o ns of T H E M A T H E MA T ICS O F T H E I NF I N I T E AND O F T H E
HI G H E R LO G IC T h i s is a ll t h a t it is p ossibl e to s a y a b ou t t h em
. .
 CHAP TER XXI II .

C o m i C o n io n
s c of D B ck Th th fo m of on ious
sc us es s r . u e . e ree r s c sc

n a o ding to D B k Simpl on io n
e ss cc r th
r. n uc e . e c sc us ess, or e co
i
sc ous n of anim al S lf on io n
es s th o n io n
s . e -
c sc us ess, or e c sc us ess
of m n C o m i on io n I n w h a t i it xp d? S n
sc us ess s e resse e
atio n p ption on pt high MO RA L on pt— ativ
e . s c c .

s , erc e , c ce , er c ce c re e
int itio n M n of o mi o n io n Ad am fall into in ’
u . e c s c c sc us es s . s s .

T h knowl d g of goo d nd vil

e e C h i t nd th
e alvation of a e . r s a e s

m n C omm nt a y n D B k b ook Bi th of th n w ’
a . e r o r. uc e s . r e e
h m anity T w a
u S U P ER MA N
. Tabl of th fo fo m
o r ces . . e e ur r s

of th m anif t ation of on io n
e es c sc us ess .

ER Y m a ny m en b eli ev e t h a t th e f u n d a m ent a l pro b

l em s of life a re a b sol u tely u ns olva bl e t h a t h u m a nity ,

will ne v er kno w why it is s triving or for wh a t it is striv ,

ing f or wh a t it su fl ers or whith er it is b ou nd

,
’
I t is , .

r ega rd e d a s a l m ost i n d ec ent e v en to r a i se th ese qu es

“ ” “ ”
ti ons I t is d ecr e ed th a t w e liv e so
. th a t w e si m ply liv e -

M e n h a v e d es p a ir e d of fi nding a nswers to th ese qu esti ons a nd so

h a ve l eft th em a l one .

Y e t a t th e s a m e ti m e m en a re not in th e l ea s t a w a r e of wh a t
rea lly c r e a t e d in th em su c h a s ense of ins ol u bility a n d d es p a ir .

Wh en c e c om es t h is fe e ling tha t it is better not to think a bou t these

th ings ?
In r ea lity w e f eel thi s d esp a ir only wh en w e b eg in to r e ga rd m a n
“ ”
a s s om e thi ng fi nit e fi ni sh e d ; wh en w e s ee nothin g b ey on d m a n
, ,

a n d t h i n k th a t w e k n o w a lr ea dy e v e ryt h i ng a b o u t h im I n su c h .

fo r m th e probl e m is tru ly a d esp era t e on e A cold wi n d bl o ws o n .

u s fr om a ll t h os e s o c i a l t h eo ri es pro m i s i ng i n c a l cu l a bl e w e lf a r e

on e a rth l ea vi ng a sen s e o f di ssa ti s f a c ti on a n d c h ill

, .

Wh y ? Wh a t is a ll thi s f or ? We ll e v e ryb o d y will b e w ell f e d ,

a nd w e ll t a k en c a r e o f S pl en did " B u t af ter th a t wh a t?

.
-

O f c o u rs e u ntil h u m a nity s h a ll fr e e it s e lf fro m h u nge r a nd n ee d ;

,

s o l on g a s l u xu ri ou s p a l a ce s a nd comf o rt a bl e h ou s es e xi s t a l ong

s id e o f f o u l a n d sor d i d s l u m s s o l on g a s a m on g u s m en dr o wn a nd ,

h a n g t h em selv es from h u ng er a nd d e sp a ir so long a s wa r s , ,

314 T ER T IUM ORGA NUM

pri sons vi ol enc e exis t w e h a v e n o right to sp ea k eith er of c u ltu r e

,

or of c iviliz a ti on .

B u t le t u s su pp os e th a t nothi ng of thi s kin d e xi st s Alth ou gh .

it is di ffic u lt a l m os t i m p ossibl e to i m a gine th a t m a t eri a li s ti c cu l

,

tu r e o f it s e lf c ou ld l e a d m en to a f ortu na t e s t a t e of exi s t enc e let

, , ,

u s n e v erth e l ess a ssu m e th a t s u c h is th e c a se O n e a rth t h en

.
, ,

t h er e e xists a n u na d u lter a t e d c ivili z a ti on a nd c u ltu r e Nob o dy .

thr ottl es a nyb o dy el se Al l a re p er mitt e d to dra w th eir br ea th

.

in p ea ce B u t af ter th a t wh a t?
.
,

Aft e r th a t m a ny r e s ou n ding phr a se s of inc r e dibl e h oriz ons

o p enin g b ef or e science C omm u ni c a ti on with th e pl a net M a rs ,
“ ” “
T h e c h e mica l synth esi s of pr ot opl a sm Th e u tiliz a ti on of th e
,
” “ ”
r ot a ti on of th e ea rth a rou n d th e su n Va ccin e f o r a ll di s ea ses
, ,
“ ”—
Lif e to th e length of a h u ndred y ea rs or e v en to o n e h un dr e d a nd
“ ”—
fif ty " Aft er th a t p erh a p s Th e a rtifi c i a l c r ea ti on of m en
, bu t
b ey on d thi s i m a gin a ti on fa il s .

I t is p ossibl e to dig thr ou gh th e ea rth b u t th a t wou ld b e e n

,

tir ely u s e l ess .

H er e ind ee d ent er s th a t f eeling of th e in sol u bility of th e m a in

q u e sti on s c onc erni ng th e a i m s of exi st enc e a nd th a t f eeli ng of,

d esp a ir on a ccou nt of our l a c k of un d er st a n din g .

Tr u ly su pp os e th a t w e h a v e d u g c om pl et ely thr ou gh th e
,

ea rth
— wh a t th en ? S h a ll w e dig in a no th er dir ec ti on ? B u t it is
a ll v e ry w e a ri s om ea ft e r a ll Ne v erth e l es s th e v a ri ou s p os itivi stic
.

“ ”
s o c i a l t h eo ri e s hi stori ca l m a t eri a li sm a nd so fort h pr omise
, ,

n o thi ng b e tt e r a n d c a n pr o mi s e n ot h in g
, T o g et a ny a n s w e r a t
.

a ll t o su c h t o r m enti ng q u e s ti o ns w e m u s t t urn in q u it e a no th e r

dir ec ti on : to th e p sy c h ol og i c a l m et h o d of s tu dy of m a n a nd of
h u m a nity An d h er e w e se e wit h a m a z e m ent th a t th e p sy ch olog
.
,

i c a l m eth o d giv es a n entir ely sa ti sf a c t o ry a ns w er to th os e f u n d a

m ent a l q u esti o ns whi ch se e m to u s qu it e insol u bl e a nd a r oun d ,

a b ou t whi c h w e fr uitl es s ly w a n d e r e qui pp e d with th e d ef ec tiv e

ins tr u m e nt of th e p ositivi sti c m eth o d .

T h e p sy c h o l ogi ca l m e th o d giv e s a dir e c t a ns w er a t l e a s t t o th e

q u esti on of th e i mm e di a t e p u rp os e of ou r exist enc e For som e .

s tr a ng e r e a s on m en d o n o t c a r e t o a cc ept t hi s a n s w e r ; a n d th e y

d esir e a t a ll c osts to r ec eiv e a n a ns w e r in som e for m th a t th ey

lik e r ef u sin g to r ec ogniz e a n yt h i ng th a t is di ff e r ent fr om th a t
,

f or m T h ey r e q ui r e th e sol u ti on of th e d estin y of m a n a s th ey
.

f a nc y h im a nd t h e y d o n ot wa n t to r ec o gniz e t h a t m a n is s om e
,
316 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

And if it s eem s to u s th a t w e d o not y et kno w ou r d estiny if ,

“
w e s till d ou bt a n d d o not dar e to p a rt with th e h o p el e ss
, posi
”
t ivistic vi e w of life thi s is b eca u se firs tly two hu m an typ e s
, , , ,

h a ving qu it e diff er ent fu tu r es a re com mingl e d int o one in o u r ,

p erc e ption ; a nd secon dly th e nec ess a ry idea s by m e a ns of whi c h

,

w e m ight u n d e r s t a n d th e tru e r el a ti on of f or c e s h a v e n ot w on ,

f or t h em s elv e s th e ir rightf u l pl a ce in offic i a l s c i enc e d o no t re pre ,

s en t a ny recognized divi s i on or br a nc h o f sc i e nc e ; it is r a r e ly p oss i

b le t o find th em a ll in one b ook a nd it is e v en ra re ly p ossibl e to

find b ook s expr ess ing th es e id e a s a ss em bl e d t o ge th er .

We do not un de rst a nd m a ny things b ec a u se w e too ea s ily a nd

t oo a rbitr a rily sp ec i a liz e Philosophy r eligion p s yc h ology
.
, , ,

m a th em a ti c s th e na t u ra l sc i enc e s so c i ol ogy th e hist ory of c u l

, , ,

,
—
t u r e a rt e a ch h a s its own s ep a ra te liter a ture Th ere is no c om .

plete wh o l e at a ll E ven th e littl e bridges b etween th ese separ a te

.

lit e ra tu r es a re b u ilt very b a dly a nd u nsu c c essfu lly whil e th ey ,

a re o ft en a lt o ge th er a b sent And thi s f orm a ti on o f s p ec i a l lit era

.

t u r es is th e chief evil a nd th e c hi ef ob sta c l e to a c o rr ec t u nd er

“ ”
s t a n din g of thin g s E a ch litera tu r e e l a b or a tes its o wn t ermi
.

n o log y its o wn l a ng u a g e whi c h is inco m pr e h ens ibl e to th e s tu d ent s

, ,

o f o th e r lit e ratu r es a n d does not coincid e with o th e r l a n gu a ges ; by

,

thi s it d efi nes its own li mits th e m or e sh a rply divid es it se lf from ,

o th e r s a nd m a k e s th e s e li m it s i m p a ss a bl e
, .

Wh a t we h a ve needed f or a long time is sy nthesis .

Th e w ord sy nth es is w a s em bl a z one d on th e b a nne r of th e co n

t e m p ora ry th eoso phica l m ovem ent s t a rte d by H P Bla va tsky . . .

B u t thi s w ord r em a ine d a wo rd only b ec a u s e in r ea lity a ne w ,

sp ec i a liz a ti on w a s c r e a t e d a n d a th eos oph ica l lit e ra t u r e of it s o wn

, ,

s e p a r a ti ng, a nd s triving e v e n m o r e t o se p a r a t e a nd f enc e it s e lf

ofl fro m th e g ener a l m o v e m ent of t h ou g h t

’
.

B u t th e r e a re m o v e m ent s of th o u ght whi c h s triv e n o t in w ord s ,

b u t in a c ti o n to fight thi s s p ec i a liz a ti o n

, .

B ook s a re a pp ea ring whic h it is i m p ossibl e to r ef er to a ny

“
a c c e pt e d libr a ry c l a ss ifi c a ti o n whi c h it is i m p ossibl e t o
, e nro ll

in a ny f a cu lty Th es e b o oks a re th e for e ru nners of a ne w liter

.

t u r e whic h wi ll br ea k d o wn a ll f enc es b uilt in th e r e gi on of

t h ou ght a nd will c l e a rly S h o w to h u m a nity wh er e it is going
,
.

Th e na m es of th e au tho rs of th ese b ook s yi e ld th e m os t u ne

p ec t e d co m bin a ti o n s I s h a ll n o
. t n o w m e n ti o n t h e n a m e s of

th e se a u th ors or th e titles of t h ese b ook s b u t sh a ll dwell only

, ,
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 317

u p on th e writing s of E dw a rd C a rp ent er a nd u p on th a t Am e ri can

m ov em ent of t h ou g ht littl e kno wn in R u ssi a of whi c h th e
, ,

C a na di a n psy c h a trist Dr R M B u c ke is a repr esentativ e

, . . . .

E dwa rd C a rp ent e r dir ec tl y a nd with ou t a ny a llego ri es a nd sy m

,

b o l s form u l a t e d th e t h ou gh t th a t th e exi s ti ng c onsc iou sness by

,

whi ch c ont em p o ra ry m a n liv es is m e r ely th e tra nsitory form of ,

a no th e r h ig h e r con sc i ou s ne s s w h ic h even now is m a nif esting in

,

c e rt a i n m en a ft e r a ppr opri a t e pr e p a r a ti o n a n d tr a i ni n g
, .

Thi s h igh e r consc i ou sne ss E dwa rd C a rp ent e r n a m es cosmic

i
c ons c ou s nes s .

C a rp enter tr a v elle d in th e O ri ent vi site d I n di a a nd C eylon a nd , ,

th er e h e fou n d m en y og i s a nd a sc etic s s triving to a chiev e cosmic

, ,

con s ciou snes s a n d h e h o ld s th e o pin i on th a t th e p a t h t o c os m i c

,

c o n sc i o u sne ss is a lr ea dy f ou n d in th e O ri e n t .

“
I n th e b ook From Ad a m s P ea k to E l ep h a nta h e s a y s :
,
’

Th e West see ks th e indivi d u a l c on sciou sness—th e enriche d mind ,

re a dy p e rc e p ti ons a n d m e m ori e s in di vi d u a l h o p e s and fe a rs a m b iti o n s

— —
, , ,

loves con que sts th e self th e loc a l self in a ll its ph a se s a d form s a n d

, ,
n ,

s ore l y do u b t s wh e th e r su c h a thing a s a n u n ive rsa l c on sci ou sne ss e xi st s .

T h e E a st see ks th e universa l c ons c iou sne ss a nd in th e se c a ses wh e re its ,

qu est s u ccee d s indivi du a l self a nd lif e thin a wa y to a m ere film a nd a re ,

o nl y th e sh a d ows c a st by th e g l ory re ve a l e d b e y o n d .

T h e individu a l c onsciou sness ta kes th e form of Thou ght whic h is fl ui d ,

a nd m ob il e li ke q u i c k silve r p erp etu a lly in a sta te of c h a nge a nd u nrest

, ,

frau gh t with p a in a nd effort ; th e oth er c on sciou sne ss is not in th e form of

th ou ght I t tou ches sees he a rs a nd is those things whic h it p erceive s
.
, , , ,

withou t m otion withou t c h a nge with ou t e fl ort with ou t disti nc ti on of

, , ,

su bj ec t a nd obj ec t b u t with a va st a nd i nc re di b l e joy

, .

T h e indivi d u a l c on sc iou sne ss is sp ec i a ll y re l a te d to th e b ody Th e .

orga ns of th e b o dy a re in s om e d e gree its o rg a n s B u t th e whole b ody is .

o nly a s one o rg a n of th e c osmic c o nsc i ou sne s s T o a tta in this la tter one

m u st h a ve th e p owe r of knowi ng one s self s ep a ra te fro m th e b ody— of
.

p a ssing into a sta te of ecs tas y in fa c t With ou t thi s th e c osmic c onsci ou s

, .

n ess c a nnot b e e xp e rie nce d .

All th e s u b s e qu e nt writi ng s of C a rp ent e r a nd esp ec i a lly hi s ,

“ ”
b ook of fr e e v e rse To wa rd s D em oc ra cy d ea l wit h th e p syc h ol
, ,

ogy o f ec s t a ti c e xp e ri e n c es a n d p o rtr a y th e p at h wh e r eby m a n

g oe s to w a rd thi s p rincip a l a im of his exis tence .

O nly th e a tt a i nm ent of t h i s princ ip a l a im will ill u mine f or

m a n th e p a st a nd th e f u t u r e ; it will b e a s e e rsh ip a n a w a kenin g ,
“ ”
with ou t t h i s wit h o nly ea rth ly i n divid u a l c onsc i ou sness m a n
, , ,
3l 8 T ER T I U M ORGAN UM

is blin d a nd ca nn ot h op e to kno w a nythin g t h a t h e c a nno t f ee l

,

with his s tic k .

Dr B u c ke in h is b ook C o smic C onsc i ou sness giv es the

.
, ,

p syc h ol ogi ca l Vi e w of this a w a kening of th e new c onsc i ou sness .

I sh a ll giv e in a bbr evi a te d for m s e v e ra l qu ot a tions fr om h is

, ,

b o ok .

Wh a t is C osm ic C on sciou sne ss ?

C osmic C on sciou sne ss is a higher form of c onsciou sness th a n th a t
p o ssesse d by th e ordin a ry m an Thi s l a st is c a ll e d S elf C onsc iou sness
.

a nd is th a t fa c ul ty u p on whic h re st s a ll of our lif e (b oth su bj ec tive a nd

o bj e c tive ) whi c h is n o t c o mm on to u s a n d th e high e r a ni m a l s e xce p t ,

t h a t s m a ll p a rt of it whic h is derive d from th e f ew individu a ls w h o h a ve

h a d th e hig h er c onsc i ou sne ss a b ove na m e d T o m a ke th e m a tte r cle a r .

it mu st b e un derstood th a t there a re three form s or gra de s of c onsciou s

ne ss ( 1 ) S imple Cons ciou s ness which is p osses se d by say th e u pp er
.
,

h a lf of th e a ni m al kin gdom (2) S elf Cons ciou snes s p ossesse d by m a n

.

in a dditi on to th e si m p l e consciou sne ss whi ch i s si mil a r i n m a n a nd i n ,

a ni m a l s (3) Cosmic C ons ciou s nes s By mea ns of sim p le c onsci ou sne ss

. .

a d og o r a h orse is j u st a s c onsc i ou s of th e things a b ou t hi m a s a m a n is ;

h e is a l so c on sci ou s of hi s own lim b s a nd b ody a nd knows th a t th ese a re

a p a rt of him se lf By Virtue of s elf consciou sness m a n is not onl y con
.
-

sc i ou s of trees roc k s wa te r hi s ow n lim b s a nd b o dy b u t h e b ecom e s

, , , ,

consci ou s of hi m self a s a di stin c t entity a p a rt from a ll th e re st of th e

universe .

It is a s goo d a s certa in th a t no ani m a l c a n re alize him self in th a t

w ay F ur th e r by mea ns of s elf c onsciou sness ma n b ec ome s c a p a b le of
.
,
-

tre atin g hi s own m enta l state s a s obj ects of c onsciou sne ss Th e a nim a l .

is a s it we re i mm erse d in his c onsci ou sness a s a fish in th e se a ; h e c a n

, ,

no t e ve n in i m a gina ti on ge t ou tsi d e o f it f o r o ne m o m e nt s o a s to re a lize

, ,

it B u t m a n by virtu e of s elf c onscious ness c a n ste p a si de a s it were

.
-

, ,

from hi m self a nd think : Ye s th at th ou ght th a t I h a d a b ou t th a t m a t

,

ter is tru e ; I kn ow it is tru e a n d I know th a t I know it is tru e Th ere .

is n o e vi dence th a t a ny a ni m a l c a n think b u t if th e y c oul d w e sh oul d ,

s oon know it B etween tw o c re a tures living togethe r a s dogs or h orse s

.
,

a nd m en a nd eac h se lf c ons ci o u s it woul d b e th e si m p lest m a tte r in

,
-

th e wo rl d to op e n u p c om m u nic a tion We do by wa tc hing th e dog s .

,
’

a c ts e nte r into his min d p retty free ly

, If h e w a s self c onsciou s w e m u st .
-

h a ve l ea rne d it long a go We h a ve not le a rne d it a nd it is a s goo d a s

.

c e rta in th a t n o d og horse eleph a nt or ape e ve r w a s self consciou s

, ,
-
.

Anothe r thing : on m a n s self c ons ciou sness is b uilt e ve ry thing in a nd

’
-

a b ou t u s di stinc tl y h u m a n L a ngu a ge is th e obj ective of which se lf

.

c o n sci ou sn ess is th e s u bj ec tive S elf consciou sne ss a n d l a ng ua ge (tw o

.
-

in o ne f o r th ey a re tw o h a lve s of th e sa m e thing) a re th e s ine q u a no n

,

o f h um a n s oc i a l lif e of m a nn e rs o f institu ti on s
, o f ind u stri e s of a ll
, ,

kind s of a ll a rts u seful a nd fine If a ny a ni m a l p oss ess ed self consciou s

, .
-

ne ss it wou l d b u ild a su p erstru c tu re of l a ngu a ge B u t no a ni m a l .

3 20 T ER T IUM ORGANUM
ity th an b oth of th e form er were their i m port ance m u ltip lie d by h un
,

dred s or e ven thou s ands .

T h e th ree op era ting ( a s th e y will) toge th e r will litera lly c re a te a new

h e a ven and a new ea rth Old thin gs will b e d one a wa y a nd a ll will b e
.

c o m e new .

B efore i l na vigation national b oun d aries ta riff s a nd p erh a p s des

a er a ,

s tinc tions of l a ng u a ge will fa de ou t Grea t c itie s will no longer h a ve

.

re a son f or b eing a nd wil l melt a wa y Th e m en w h o now dwell in citi es .

will inh a b it in su mm er th e m oun tain s a nd th e s ea sh ores b u ilding often '

in a iry a nd b eau tifu l sp ots now a l m ost or q u ite ina c cessi b le c omm a nd
, ,

ing th e m ost e xt ensive a nd m a gnifi cent vie ws In th e winte r th e y w i ll .

p rob a b ly dwell in c omm unities of modera te size As h er ding togeth er .

,

a s n ow in g rea t c iti e s s o th e i sol a ti on of th e worke r of th e s oi l wil l b e

, ,

c o m e a thing of th e p a st S p a ce will b e p ra c tic a lly a nnihila te d t he re will

.
,

be n o c rowding togeth er a nd no enforc e d solitu d e .

B efore soc ia li sm c ru shing toil c ru e l a nxi ety insul ting a nd d emora l

, ,

izin g ric h es p ove rty a nd its i lls will b ecome su bj ects f or historic a l novels
, .
*

I n c onta c t with th e fl ux of c os mi c c on sc i ou sne ss a ll re li gi ons known

a nd n a m e d t o d a y w il l b e m e lte d d ow n T h e h u m a n s ou l will b e revo .

lu tionize d R eligi on will a b sol u te l y d ominate th e ra c e

. It will not de .

p end on tra ditions It will not b e b elie ve d a nd disb elie ve d It will b e

. .

p a rt of life , not b elonging to certa in h ou rs , tim e s , occ a sions It will not .

b e in s ac re d b oo k s nor in th e m ou th s of p ri e sts
, I t will not dwell in .

c h u rc h e s a nd m ee tin g s a nd form s and d a y s I ts lif e will not b e in p ra y .

ers , hy mn s nor di scou rse s It will not dep end on sp eci a l revela tions, on
.

th e word s of g o ds wh o c a m e d own t o te ac h , n or on a ny b i b le or b ib les It .

will h a ve no mi ssi on to s a ve m en from t h eir sins or to s ecu re th e ir e n

tra nc e to he a ven It w ill not te a c h a fu tu re i mmortality nor fu tu re
.

glori e s , f or i mm orta lity a nd a ll glo ry w ill e xi st in th e h ere a nd now Th e .

e vi d ence of i mm ort a lity will live in e very h ea rt a s sig h t in e ve ry ey e .

D o u b t of G o d and of e tern a l life w ill b e a s i m p ossi b le a s is n ow d o u b t of

e xi s tenc e ; th e e vi d e nc e of e a c h will b e th e s a m e R eli gi on will govern .

e ve ry minu te of eve ry d a y of a ll lif e C h urc h es , p riests , form s, c ree d s

.
,

pra yers, a ll a gents, a ll interm edia ri es b etween th e indi vi d u a l m an a nd

G o d will b e p erm a nently re p la c e d by direc t un mist a k a b le intercourse .

Sin will no l onger e xi st nor will sa lva ti on b e d esire d Men will not worry .

a b ou t d ea t h or a fu tur e , a b ou t th e king d om of h ea ve n , a b ou t wh a t m a y

c ome wit h a nd a fte r th e c e ssa ti on of th e lif e of t h e p re sent b ody .

E a c h soul will feel a nd know its elf to b e i m m ortal , will feel a nd kno w
th a t th e e ntire u niverse with a ll its g ood a nd with a ll its b ea u ty is f or
it a nd b el ongs to it forever T h e worl d p eop le d by m en p oss essing cosmic
.

c onsci ou s ne ss will b e a s f a r r e m ove d from th e worl d of t o d a y a s th is is

from th e world a s it w a s b efore th e a dve nt of self consciou sness .

III
The re is a tra dition p rob a bly very old to th e e ff ect th at th e fi rst m a n
, ,

w a s innocen t and h a ppy u ntil h e a te of th e f ruit of th e t re e of th e kno wle dge

‘S th
ee omm t 2 p 32 8
e c en , . .
 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 32 l

of goo d Th a t h a ving ea te n th ereof h e b ec a me a wa re th a t h e

a nd e vil .

w a s naked a nd w a s a sh a me d F u rther th a t there sin w a s b orn into th e

.
,

worl d th e misera ble sense wh ereof repla ce d ma n s form er feeling of inno

,
’

ce ncy .Th a t then an d not till then man b ega n to la b or a nd to c over his
b ody Stra nge r th a n a ll th e story ru n s th a t a long with this c h a nge o r
.
, ,

im m e d ia te ly following u pon it the re c a m e into m a n s mi nd th e re ’

m a rka ble c onvi ction whic h h a s neve r since l eft it b u t wh ic h h a s b ee n ,

ke pt a live by its own inh e rent vita lity a nd by th e tea c hing of a ll tru e
se ers p ro ph e ts a nd p oe t s th a t m a n wi ll b e s a ve d by th e ris ing u p w it h in
—
,

him of a S a vior th e C h ri st .

Man s p rogenitor w a s a crea tu re with simple c onsciou sne ss

’

m e rel y He w a s (a s a re tod a y th e a nim a l s ) inc a p a b le of sin a nd e q u a lly

.

inc a p a ble of sh a me (a t lea st in th e hu m a n sen se ) He h a d no feelin g o r .

knowle dge of good a nd evil He a s y et knew nothing of wh at w e c a ll

.

work a nd h a d n ever la b ore d From this sta te h e fell (or rose) into self
.

c on sc iou sness h is e y es were o p ene d h e kn ew h e w a s n a ke d h e fe lt

, , ,

s h a m e a c q u i re d th e se nse of sin (b e ca m e in fa c t wh a t is c a l le d a si nn e r)
,

a n d lea rne d to d o c erta in th ings in o rde r t o e ncom p a ss c e rta in e n d s

th a t is h e lea rne d to lab or

, .

n n —
For wea ry eo s this co ditio n h a s l a ste d th e sense of sin s till h aunts
—
his p a thwa y by t h e s w to
e a f hi s br w
o h e s il e s r —
t l at b ea d h e is s till
a sh a m e d Wh ere is th e deliverer th e S a vior ? Wh o or wh a t ?
in Pa u l s la ngu a ge—th e
.
,

T h e S a vio r o f m an is C o c C o sc i
s m i n ou s nes s— ’

C hrist T h e c os mic sense (in wh a tever min d it a pp ea rs) c ru shes th e

—
.

se r p e nt s h e a d ’
de stroys sin sh a me th e sense of goo d a nd e vil a s con
, , ,

tra s te d o ne with th e oth er a nd will a nnih il a te l a b or th ou gh no t h u m an

, ,

a c tivity .

IV .

A p ersona l exposition of th e writer s own e xp e rie nc e of c osmic c on ’

sc io u sne ss m ay h el p th e rea d er to u nd ersta n d th e m ea ning of th e foll ow

ing fa c ts :
I n chil dh o od h e w a s su bj e ct a t tim e s to a sort of ec sta sy of c u riosity
a nd h op e As on one sp ec ial occ a sion wh e n a b ou t te n y e a rs old h e e a rn
.

e s tly l onge d to die th a t th e s ec ret s of th e b ey on d if th e re w a s a ny b e ,

yon d might be reveale d to him

,
.

At th e a ge of thirty h e fell in with Le a ves of Gra s s a nd a t onc e ,

s a w th a t it conta ine d in g rea te r m ea su re th a n a ny b o o k s o f a r f o un d

, ,
“ ”
wh a t h e h a d so long b een looking f or He re a d th e Lea ve s ea gerly . .
,

e ve n p a ssi on a te l y b u t f or se vera l y ea rs d erive d littl e fro m th e m

, At .

l a st light b roke a nd there w a s revea le d to h im (a s f a r p erh a p s a s su c h

things c a n b e reve a led) a t lea st s om e of th e m ea nin gs Then oc cu rre d .

th a t to whic h th e foregoing is th e p refa c e .

It w a s in th e ea rly spring a t th e b eginning of his thirty sixth yea r

,
-
.

H e a nd tw o fri ends h a d sp ent th e evening rea di ng Word sworth S h ell e y , ,

Kea ts B rowning a nd esp ec i a ll y Wh itm a n Th ey p a rte d a t m idn i ght

, , .

a nd h e h a d a l ong drive in a h a n so m (it w a s in a n E nglish c ity ) H is .

mind dee ply u nde r th e infl u ence of th e i de a s i ma ges a nd e m otions

, ,
322 T ER T IUM ORGANUM
c alle d u p by th e rea ding and ta lk of th e evening w a s ca lm a nd p e a ceful , .

He w a s in a sta te of quie t a l m o st p a ssive e nj o yment All a t onc e with

, .
,

ou t wa rnin g of a ny kin d h e fou n d hi m self wra pp e d a rou n d a s it we re by a

,

fl a m e colore d c lou d
-
.For a n insta nt h e th ou gh t of fire s om e su dd en ,

confl a gra tion in th e gre a t c ity ; th e next h e kn e w th e li g h t w a s within

him self Dire ctly afterwa rd s c a m e u pon him a sense of e xu lta tion o f
.
,

imm ense j oyou sne ss ac comp a nie d o r imm edia tely followe d by an
intelle c tu a l ill u mina ti on quite i m p ossib le to d escri b e Into his bra in .

stre a m e d one m om enta ry lig h tnin g fl a sh of th e B ra h mic s plend or whi c h

-

h a s e ver sin ce li ghtene d his lif e ; u p on his he a rt fell one drop of B ra h mic
Bliss le a ving th enceforw a rd f or a lwa ys a n a fter ta ste of he aven Am ong
, .

o th er t hing s h e did not c om e to b eli e ve h e s a w a nd kn e w th a t th e cosm os

,

is not d ea d m a tter b u t a livin g Pre senc e th a t th e soul of m a n is imm orta l

, ,

th a t th e universe is so b uilt a nd ordere d tha t withou t p era dventu re a ll

things work togeth er f or th e goo d of ea ch a nd a ll th a t th e foun da tion ,

p rinc iple of th e worl d is wh a t We call love a nd tha t th e h a ppiness of

e ve ry one in th e long run is a b sol u te l y ce rta in He c la i m s h e learne d .

more within th e f ew se c onds during whic h th e ill u mina tion laste d th a n in

previou s m onths or even years of stu dy a nd tha t h e lea rned mu ch th a t
no s tu dy c o ul d e ve r h a ve ta u g h t .

T h e i ll u min a tion itse lf continue d not m ore th a n a f ew m ome nts b u t ,

its e ffe cts p rove d ine ff a ce a b le ; it w a s i m p os sib le f or him e ver to forge t

wh a t h e a t th a t time sa w a nd knew ; neith er did h e or c oul d h e e ver , ,

dou b t th e tru th of wh a t w as then p resente d to his mind There w a s no .

re tu rn th a t nig h t or a t a ny o th e r ti m e of th e e xp e ri ence .

T h e su p re m e o ccu rre nce of th a t nigh t w a s his rea l a nd sole initi a ti on

to th e ne w a nd high e r ord er of i de a s Bu t it w a s only a n initia ti on He
. .

sa w th e lig h t b u t h a d no m ore i dea wh e nce it c a m e a nd wh a t it m e ant

th an h a d th e first c reatu re th a t sa w th e ligh t of th e sun Ye a rs afte r .

wa rd s h e m et a m a n w h o h a d h a d a la rge exp erience in th e high er life .

H is c onve rsa tions with thi s m a n threw a fl oo d of li gh t u p on th e m e a n

in g of wh a t h e h a d hims elf e xp e ri ence d .

Loo kin g round th en u p on th e worl d of m an h e s a w th e signific a nce ,

of th e su bj ec tive li gh t in th e c a se of P a ul a nd in th a t of M oh a mm e d .

T h e sec re t o f Whitm an s tra nscend ent gre a tne ss w a s re vea le d to him

’
.

Persona l intercou rse a nd conve rs a tions with men wh o h a d si mil a r

*
,

e xp e ri ence s a ssi ste d grea tl y in th e b ro a d eni ng and c l e a ri ng u p of h is

sp ec ul a ti ons .

After sp ending mu ch ti m e a nd l a b or in thin king h e c a m e to th e

c onc l u si on th a t th e re e xi sts a f a mil y sp run g fro m livi ng a m ong b u t , ,

sc a rc e l y formin g a p a rt of o rdina ry h u m anity wh ose m e m b ers a re sp re a d ,

a b roa d throu gh ou t th e a d va nce d ra c es of m a n kind a nd th rou g h ou t th e

la st forty centu ries of th e worl d s hi story ’
.

Th e tra it th a t distinguish es th e se p eop le from oth er m en is this :

Th eir spiritu a l ey es h a ve b een op ene d a nd they h a ve s een T h e b etter .

known m em b ers of th is grou p w h o if the y were c ollecte d together coul d

, ,

b e acc o m m o d a te d a ll a t one ti me in a m o de rn dra w ing room h a ve -

c re a te d a ll th e g re a t m o d ern religi ons b eginning with Ta oi sm a nd

,

* Am o g w h om w E d wa d C a p t
n as r r e n er .
324 T ER T IUM ORGANUM
so m e wh a t simila r to th e re la tion of a lge b ra to a rith me tic A re c e p t is a .

co m p osite i m a g e of h un d re d s p erh a p s th ou sa nds of pe rc e p ts ; it is

,

itse lf a n im a ge a b stra cte d from m a ny i m a ges ; b u t a c oncep t is th a t sa m e

c om p o it e i
s m a g e— th t
a s a m e ec e —
r pt na m e d tic kete d a nd a s it were , , , ,

dismisse d A c oncep t is in fa c t n eithe r m ore or less th a n a na med

recept— th e n a m e th a t is th e S ign ( a s in a l ge b ra )
.

, st a ndin g h e nc efo rth ,

f or th e thin g itself th a t is f or th e re c e p t
, , .

Now it is c lea r a s day to a ny o ne w h o wi ll give th e lea st thou ght to

th e su bj e c t th a t th e re vo l u tion by whic h c o nce p ts a re su b stitu te d f or
,

rece p t s inc re a se s th e e ffi c i e nc y of th e b ra i n f or th ou gh t a s m u c h a s th e

intro du c tion of m a c hinery inc rea se d th e c a p a city of th e ra ce f or work

a s m u c h a s th e u se of a l g e b ra in c rea se s th e p owe r of th e min d in m a t h e

m a tic a l c a lc u l a tion s T o re p l a c e a g rea t cu m b ersom e re c e p t by a si m p le

si gn w a s a l m ost li k e re p l a c in g a c tu a l g o o d s— a s wh ea t fa b ri c s a nd h a rd
.

wa re —by e ntri es in th e le d ge r
,

B u t a s h inte d a b ove in orde r th at a rece p t m ay b e re p l a c e d by a c on

, ,

c e p t it m u st b e n a m e d or in o th er word s m a rk e d wit h a si gn whi c h

— j u st a s a c hec k s ta n d s f or a p iec e of g ood s ; in oth er word s
, , ,

sta n d s f or it ,

th e ra ce th a t is in p osse ssion of c onc e p ts is a ls o a nd ne ce ssa rily in , ,

p ossession of la ngu a ge F u rthe r it s h ou l d b e note d a s th e posse ssion

.
, ,

of c onc e p t s i m p li es th e p os s essi on of l a ngu a ge so th e p os se s si on of c on ,

cep ts a nd l a ng u a ge (whi c h a re in re a lity tw o a sp ec ts of th e sa m e th in g )

i m plie s th e p ossession of s elf c onscio u sness All thi s m e a n s th at th ere is .

a m o m e n t in th e e vo l u ti on o f min d wh e n th e re c e p tu a l intell ec t , c a p a b le

of si m p l e c onsc i ou sn ess o n l y b ec o m e s a l m o st or q uite inst a nt a ne ou sl y a

,

c onc e p tu a l i ntell ec t in p osses si on of l a ng u a g e a nd s e lf c o n sc i ou sne ss .

O ur inte ll e ct th e n tod a y is m a de u p of a ve ry c om p lex m ixtu re of

, ,

p erce pts re c epts a nd c onc ep ts

, .

T h e ne xt c h a p ter in th e sto ry is th e a c cu m ul a ti on of c o nc e p ts This .

is a d o u b l e p rocess eac h i ndivi d u a l a ccu m ul a te s a l a rge r a nd la rge r

,

nu m b e r whil e th e in divi d u a l c onc e p ts a re b ec o mi ng c onsta ntly m o re a nd

m or e c o m p l e x .

I s th e re to b e a ny limit to this g ro wt h of c onc ep ts in n u m b er a nd c o m

p le x it y ? W h oe v e r will se ri ou sly c o n s i d e r t h a t q ue sti o n w ill see t h a t t h e re

m u st b e a li mit N 0 su c h p roce ss c ou l d g o o n to i nfinity

. .

We h a ve seen th a t th e exp a n sion of th e p erce ptu a l mi nd h a d a n ec e s

sa ry li mit ; th a t its c ontin u e d lif e le d i ne vit a b l y u p to a n d i nto th e re

c e p tu a l mi n d Th a t th e re ceptu a l min d by its ow n growt h w a s ine vit

.

a b l y le d u p t o a nd int o th e c onc e p tu a l m ind A p riori c onsi dera tion s .

m a ke it c erta in th a t a c orre s p ondin g ou tle t will b e fou n d f o r th e c on

c e p tu a l mi n d .

B u t w e d o not n ee d to d ep en d u p on a b stra ct rea soning t o d e m onstra te

th e ne c e ssa ry e xi ste nc e of th e su p ra c on c ep tu a l mind since it exists a nd ,

c a n b e stu die d w ith no m o re diffi c u lty th a n oth e r n a tu ra l ph e no m e n a .

T h e s u p ra c onc e ptu a l i nte ll ect th e e le m ents of whic h in ste a d of b eing

c o n c e pt s a re int u iti ons is a l re a dy ( in s m a ll nu m b e rs it is tru e ) a n e st a b
,

lish e d fa c t a n d th e form of c ons ci ou sne ss th a t b e long s to th a t inte lle c t

m ay b e c a lle d a nd h a s b een c a lle d— C o smi c C onsc iou sne ss
,

.
 T ER T I UM ORGANUM 32 5

T h e b a sic fa c t in c osmic c ons cio u sne ss is i mp lie d in its na m e th a t

—
—
fa ct is c o sciou s ess o th e cos m o thi s is wh a t is c a ll e d in th e E a st th e
n n f s
”
B ra h mic Splen d or, wh ic h is in D a nte s ph ra se c a p a b le of tra nsh u m a n
’

izin g a m a n into a go d Whitm a n w h o h a s a n i m m ense de a l to sa y a b ou t

.
,

it, sp ea ks of it in o ne p la c e a s ineff a b le ligh t— light ra re , untell a b l e ,

“

li ghtin g th e ve ry ligh t— b ey o n d a ll si gn s d esc rip tion , l a ngu a ge s

”
, This .

c on sc i ou s ne ss s h ows th e c osm o s to c onsi s t not of d e a d m a tte r go ve rne d

by u nc onsc iou s , rigi d a n d u ninten ding la w ; it sh ows it on th e contra ry

,

a s e nti re l y i m m a te ri a l , e ntirely spi ritu a l a nd e ntire l y a live ; it s h ows th a t

dea th is a n a b su rdity , th a t e very one a nd eve ry thing h a s ete rna l lif e ; it

sh ows th a t th e u nive rs e is G o d a n d th a t G o d is th e u nive r se A
gre a t d ea l of this is , of c ou rse fro m th e p oin t of Vi e w of se lf c onsc i ou s
-

nes s , a b su rd ; it is n everth e l ess un d ou b te dl y tru e N ow a ll thi s d oes not

.

m e a n th a t wh en a m an h a s c osmi c c onsciou sness h e kn ows eve ry thing

a b ou t th e u nive rse We a ll know th a t whe n a t three ye a rs of a ge w e
.

a c q uire d se lf c o nsc iou sn e ss ,

-
w e did not a t once know a ll a b ou t our
se lve s . S o neith er d oes a m a n know a ll a b ou t th e c os m os m ere ly
b e ca u se h e b ec om es c onsc i ou s of it
n
.

If it h a s ta ken th e ra c e severa l th ou sa d ye a rs to lea rn a s m a ttering

of th e sc i ence o f h u m a nity si nce its a c q uisiti on of se lf c onsc i ou sness so ,

it m ay ta ke it millions of ye a rs to a c q u i re c osmic c onsciou sne ss .

As on self c onsci ou sne ss i s b a se d th e h u m a n worl d a s w e see it with a ll

-

its works a nd wa y s , s o on cos mic c on sciou sness is b a se d th e high er re

ligions a nd th e high e r ph ilos ophi es a nd wh a t com es from th e m , a n d on
it will be b ase d , when it b e comes m ore genera l a new worl d of whic h it ,

wou l d be i dle to try to sp ea k tod a y .

Th e p hilosophy o f th e b i rth of c os mic c o nsc i ou sn ess in th e individ u a l

is ve ry simil a r to th a t of th e b irt h of self c onsci ou sne ss -
T h e mind .

b e com es overcrowde d (a s it were ) with conce pts a nd th ese a re c on

s ta ntly b ec o ming l a rge r, m ore n u m e rou s a nd m ore a nd m ore c o m p l e x ;

s o m e d a y (th e c onditi ons b eing a ll fa vora b le ) th e f u si on , or wh a t mig h t

b e c a lle d th e c h e mica l uni on , of severa l o f th e m a nd of c e rta in m ora l e le

m ents t a ke s p l a c e ; th e result is a n i ntuiti on a nd th e e sta b li sh ment of th e
intu itiona l mind , or, in oth e r word s , c osmic c onsc i ou sne ss *
.

T h e sc h e m e by whic h th e mind is b uilt u p is u niform from b egin nin g

to e n d : a re c e p t is m a de of m a ny p ercep t s ; a conc e p t of m a ny or se ve ra l
re c e p ts a nd p e rcep ts , a nd a n intuiti on is m a d e o f m a ny c oncep ts , rec e p ts

a n d p e rc e p t s t ogeth e r with oth er e l e m ents b el on ging t o a nd d ra wn f rom

th e m ora l na tu re T h e cos m i c Visi on or th e c o smic intuiti on , from whic h

.

wh a t m a y b e c alle d th e new mind ta kes its na m e , is th u s seen to b e

s im p l y th e c om p l e x a n d u ni on of a ll p ri or th ou gh t a nd e xp e ri en ce — j u st
a s se lf c onsci ou sness is th e co m p l e x a nd uni on of a ll th ou g h t a nd e xp e ri
-

e n ce p rior to it .

C o s mi c consciou sness like othe r form s of c onsciou sness is c a p a b le of

, ,

g ro wth it m ay h a ve diff erent form s di ff erent d egre es

, , .

I t mu st not be su pp ose d th a t b e c a u se a m a n h as cos mic c onsciou snes s

h e is th eref ore omniscient or i nf a llib le M en of c osmic cons c iou snes s
.

*S th
ee omm t 3 p 32 9
e c en , . .
326 T ER T I UM ORGANUM
h ave reac h e d a high er level ; b u t on th a t le vel there c a n b e di ff e re nt de
g ree s o f c on sc i o u s n e s s A n d.it m u s t s till b e m o r e evid e nt th a t h owe ve r ,

g o dlik e th e f a c u l ty m a y b e th ose w h o first a c q uire it livi ng in dive rse

, ,

a ge s a n d c o un tri e s p a ssin g t h e i r lif e in diff e re nt su rrou n din g s b rou gh t ,

u p to Vi ew lif e a nd th e inte rests o f lif e fro m t ota ll y di ff e re nt p oin t s of

Vi ew m u st nec essa rily i nte rpret som ewh a t difl erently th ose thin gs
,
’

whic h they see in th e ne w world whic h th ey ente r .

La ngu a ge p ond s to th e intelle ct a nd is therefore ca p a b le of ex

c o rre s

pres sing it p erfectly a nd direc tly ; on th e oth er h a nd th e fun ctions of th e ,

m ora l n a tu re a re not c onnec te d with l a ngu a ge a nd a re onl y c a p a b l e o f

indirec t a nd i m p e rfec t exp ression by its a genc y Perha p s m u sic whic h
.
,

c e rt a inly h a s its root s in th e m ora l n a t u re is a s a t p re sent e xistin g

, , ,

th e b e ginning of a l a n g u a ge whic h will ta ll y a nd exp re ss e m otions a s

word s ta lly a nd exp re ss i de a s .

L a ngu a ge i s th e exac t t a ll y o f th einte lle c t ; f or e ve ry concep t th ere i s

a wor d o r word s a nd f or e ve ry wor d t h e re i s a c onc e p t N 0 word .

c an c om e into b e ing e xc ep t a s th e e xp re ssi on of a c oncep t ne ith e r c a n a ,

ne w con c e p t b e fo rm e d with ou t th e fo rm a ti on ( a t th e sa m e ti m e ) of th e
ne w wor d whic h is its exp ressi on B u t a s a m a tte r of fac t ninety—
. nin e
ou t of e ve ry h un dre d of our se n se i m p res si ons a nd e m otions h a ve ne ve r
b ee n rep resente d in th e intellec t by c onc epts a nd th erefore re main un
e xp resse d a nd inexp res si b l e e xce p t by roun d a b ou t d es c ri p ti on a nd s u g

g estion .

As th e c orre sp onde nc e of wo rd s a nd c once p ts is not c a su al o r te m

p o ra r y b u t res i d es in th e n a t ur e of t h e s e a n d c o nti nu e s d u ri ng a ll ti m e
a nd un d er a ll c irc u m sta nc es a b solu te l y c o nst a nt s o c h a nges in o ne of,

th e fa c tors mu st c orre sp on d with c h a nges in th e oth e r S o e vol u tion of .

inte llect mu st b e ac com p a nie d by evol u tion of l a ngu a ge An e volu tion .

of l a ngu a ge will b e e vi d e nc e of e vol u ti o n of inte lle c t .

It th a t in e very or ne a rly e very m a n w h o enters into c osmic

s ee ms ,

c onsc i ou sness a pp re h e nsi on i s a t fi rs t m ore o r l ess excite d th e p e rson

.

d ou b ting whethe r th e new sense m a y n ot b e a sym ptom or form of m sa n

i ty. M oh a m m e d w a s grea tly a la rm e d Th e Ap ostle Pa ul w a s al a rme d
.

in th e sa me m anner .

Th e first thin g e ac h p erso n a sk s hi m self u p on e xp eri e ncin g th e ne w

s en se is : D o es wh a t I se e a nd fe el rep resent rea lity or a m I suff ering
f rom a d elu si on ? T h e fa c t th a t th e ne w exp e ri enc e see m s e ven m o re re a l
th a n th e o ld tea ching s o f c o nsciou sn ess d oe s not a t first fully rea ss ur e
h im b eca u se h e knows th e forc e of d e l u si ons
,
.

Si m ul ta neou sly or insta ntly following th e a b ove sense a nd e m otion a l

e xp e rie nces th e re c o m e s t o th e p e rson a n intell ec tu a l i ll u mination quite
im p ossib l e to d e s c rib e Li ke a fl a sh th e re 1 5 p rese nte d to his c onsc i o u s
.

ness a c le a r co nc e p ti on ( a vi sio n ) i n o u tli ne of th e m ea ning a nd d rift of

328 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

on ly p ossible ground f or fa vo r a bl e c h a nges in th e ou t e r lif e (pro

vid e d s u c h c h a ng e s a re ge ne r a ll y p o ss ibl e ) m u s t b e c h a ng es in th e
i nn er lif e—i e th ose c h a nges whic h Dr B u c ke ca ll s th e ph y chic a l
. .
, .

r evol u ti on This is th e on ly t h in g t h a t c a n c rea te a b e tt er f u tu re

.

f or m e n All c ul t u r a l con q u e s t s in th e r ea l m of th e m a t eri a l a re

.

d ou bl e e dge d m a y e qu a lly s e rve f or goo d or f or e vil A c h a nge of

-

, .

c o ns c i ou sn e s s c a n a l o n e b e a g u a r a n t ee of th e su r c e a s e of wil lf u l

misu se s o f th e p o w e rs giv e n b y c u ltu r e a nd only th u s will c u ltu re ,

”
c e a se to b e a g r o wth of b a rb a rity D em o c ra ti c orga niz a tion .

a n d th e r u l e of th e m a j o rity ( b ec a u s e of th e pr esent lo w l e v e l of

h u m a n d e vel op m ent ) gu a r a nt ee nothing : on th e c ontr a ry e v en ,

n ow ,wh er e th ey a re r ea liz e d th ey c r ea te with o u t d e l a y a nd , ,

prom i se in fu tu r e to c r ea t e on a l a rge r sca l e vi ol ence t owa rd th e ,

mino rity th e li m ita ti o n o f th e i ndivid u a l a nd th e c u rt a il m ent of

, ,

free d om .

2 . Dr B u c ke sa y s th a t onc e h u m an c onsc i ou sness is a tta in e d

.
,

t h en f u rth er e vol u tion is in e vit a bl e I n thi s a ffirm a tion Dr . .

B u c k e m a kes a mi st a k e c omm on to a ll m en wh o d ogm a tiz e a b ou t

e v o l u ti on H a vin g p a in t e d a v ery tr u e pic tu re of th e c onse c u tive
.

gr a d a tio n s o f t e f orm
h s o f co n sc i ou s e ob erve d by u
n ss s s— of

a ni m a l v e ge t a bl e
-
o f a ni m a l a nd o f m a n
— Dr B u c ke cons id ers
, , .

t h i s gr a d a ti on e x c l u s ively in th e light of th e evol u ti on of o ne

for m fr om a noth er not a t a ll a dmittin g th e p ossibility of ot h er ,

p oi n t s of V i e w : f or e x a m pl e th e fa c t th a t ea c h of th e exi stin g form s

,

is a l ink o f s ep a ra te e v o l u ti ona ry c h a in s i e th a t th e e v o l u ti ons of , . .

,

a ni m a l v e g e t a bl es
-
of a ni m a l s a nd of m en a re diff e r ent
, g o by ,

differ en t ro u t es a nd d o n ot i m pin ge u p on o ne a no th er An d thi s

, .

s t a n dp o i nt is e ntir e ly j u s tifi a bl e wh en w e t a k e int o c on sid e r a ti on

t h e f a c t th a t w e never kn ow tr a n s iti o n a l f o r m s M o r eov er Dr . .

B u c ke m a kes a n entir e ly a rbitra ry c onc l u s ion concernin g th e

inevita bility of th e f ur th e r e v o l u ti on of m a n b ec a u s e u n c onsc i o u s ,

e v o l u ti on ( i e u n c ons c i ou s f or th e in divid u a l dir e c t e d by t h e

. .
,

c ons c i ou s n e ss o f th e s p ec i e s ) in th e v e ge t a bl e a n d a ni m a l ki n gd om

m u s t c h a nge gr ea tly with th e a pp e a ra nc e of s elf consc i ou sne ss in -

man I t is n ec e ssa ry to r e co gniz e th a t th e s elf c onsc i ou s m i n d

.
-

o f m a n d e p en d s u p o n it se lf t o a c on s id e r a bly gr e a t e r d e gr ee t h a n

th e m i n d whic h is n ot s e lf c o n s c i ou s i e th e mi nd of a n a nim a l -

, . .
, ,

a n d d e p en d s c on s id e r a bly l e s s u p on th e l a w s of e v o l u ti o n (e v e n

if w e s h a ll a cc e pt th e m ) T h e se lf c onsc i ou s m i n d h a s f a r m o r e
.
-

p o w e r o v e r it s e lf ; it c a n a ss i s t in its own e v o l u ti on gr ea tly a n d ,

 T ER T IUM ORGAN UM 32 9

l
c a n a so ea s ily impede it We a re confront e d wit h th e ge ne ra l .

q u esti on : c a n u ncon sc iou s e vol u tio n proc e ed with th e a pp ea ra n c e

o f s e lf con s c i ou sn e ss ?
-
I t is f a r m or e c o rrec t to su pp os e th a t th e
a pp ea ra nc e of s e lf cons c i o u snes s ann ihil a t e s th e p o ss ibility o f
-

u nc o ns c i ou s e v o l u ti on Po wer o v er e vol u ti on p a ss es from th e.

grou p s ou l (or from na t u r e) to th e individ u a l its elf F u rth er evo

-
.

lu tion if it t ak e pl a c e c a nno t b e a n e l em enta l a nd u ncons c i o u s

, ,

a ff a ir b u t will r e su lt so l e ly fr o m consc i ou s efi orts tow a rd grow th

* '

.
,

This is th e m ost in te resti ng p oin t in th e wh ol e process b u t Dr , .

B u cke fa il s to bring it ou t M a n not s triving to wa rd e v ol u ti on .

, ,

n o t c ons c i ou s o f its p o ss ibility n ot h elpin g it will not e v o lv e , , .

An d th e i n divid u a l wh o is n ot e vo lving d oe s not r e m a in in a s t a ti c

c on diti on b u t go e s d o wn degenera tes (i e
, s o m e of h is e l e m e nt s
,
.
. .
,

b egin th eir o wn e vol u ti on i ni m ic a l to th e wh o l e) Th i s is th e , .

g e ne r a l la w An d if w e t a ke int o c ons id era ti o n w h a t a n infinite s i

.

m a l p erc ent a ge of m en think a nd a re c a p a bl e of thinki n g o f t h e ir

e v ol u ti on (o r t h e ir e m o ti ona l s trivi n g t o wa rd hi g h e r thi ng s ) th e n

w e s h a ll s ee th a t to t a lk a b ou t th e i ne vit a bility o f t h i s evolu tion is

at lea s t na ive .

3 . S p e aki ng for m a tion of i ntu iti on Dr B u c ke fa il s to

of th e , .

t a k e i nto c onsid era ti on one very i m p ort a nt c ircu m st a nce H e .

him se lf pr e vi ou sly r em a rk s th a t th e bl en din g of c onc ept s with

m or a l e l em ent s pr oc ee d s in th e min d a nd a s a resu lt of this i ntui ,

tion a pp ea rs a nd th en c osm i c consc iou sness Th u s it fo ll o w s fro m

, .

hi s o wn wo rd s th a t i nt u iti o n or co smi c consc i ou sne ss is not si m ply

a bl e n di ng of c onc e pt s wit h m o ra l e l em ent s or id ea s with f ee li ng s , ,

b u t is th e resu lt of thi s bl endi n g Dr B u c k h o w ever does not . .

dwe ll on thi s With s u ffic i ent a ttention Mo reover h e f u rth e r re .

ga rd s intu iti on (i e th e fu nd a m ent a l el em ent of c osmic con

. .
,

s c iou sness ) a s th e bl ending o f s e n s a ti on p ercepti on a nd c on , ,

c epts with e l e m en t s pr op e rl y b e l ong i ng to th e m o r a l n a t u r e Thi s .

is a m i st a ke b ec a u se i nt u iti on is no t s i m ply th e blending of

,

t h ou ght a nd f e e ling bu t th e res u lt of t h i s bl en din g or in o th e r

, ,

word s : t h ou ght a nd f ee ling p lu s s omething else pl u s s om ething ,

e l s e t h a t is a b se n t e it h e r in th e i nt e ll ec t or in th e e m o ti on a l n a t u r e .

Thi s is e xp r esse d obj ec tiv el y in th e fa c t th a t in tu iti on a c ts not

t h rou g h th e br a in a nd th e nervou s c ent ers b u t a b ov e th em a s it ,
”
w ere Thi s wou ld b e prov en c ou ld c l a irvoy a nc e d esc rib e d so
.
‘ ‘

oft en b e pro v en , S u bj ec tiv e ly it is e xpress e d i n th e s ens e of th e w ond

.

rou s i ,e a n u nu su a l e l e v a ti on a nd e xp a ns i on of c o n s c io u s ne s s
. .
, ,

*S p 2 98 q ot atio f om M ab l Collin b ook

ee . u n r e s
’
.
3 30 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

a nd in the process of th e rea l know ing of th a t whi c h m a n did not kno w

b efo r e , in th e findin g of new p a th s to knowl e dge , a s in r egi ons en
tirely in a cc e ss ibl e b e for e (in th e f u tu r e f or e x a m pl e ) , a nd e v en
,

in things whi c h s e em e d quite we ll a nd f a mili a rly kno wn , y e t

whic h in th e light of intu iti on u nfo ld m u c h whic h is infi nit ely n ew
an d u n exp ec t e d .

B u t Dr B u c ke r ega rd s i nt u iti on a s a pro d u c t of bra in evolu tion,

.

a n d thi s viti a t es a ll h is d e d u c ti on s gr ea tly Le t u s i m a gin e th a t

.

s o m e s c i enti s t fro m a no th e r pl a n e t no t s u s p ec ti ng th e exi s t en c e

,
“ ”
of ma n s t u di e s th e h o r se a nd its
, , e v o l u ti on from colt to s a ddl e
h or s e a nd r ega rd s a s its high es t e vo l u ti on th e h or se with th e
,

h o r s em a n in th e sa ddl e Fr om ou r s ta n dp o int it is c l ea rly im

.

p ossibl e to r ega rd a m a n s itting in th e h orse s s a ddl e a s a fa c t of

’

h ors e e v ol u ti on b u t from th e p oin t of V i e w of th e sc i e nti s t w h o

”

kn o ws no thing a b ou t m a n t h i s will b e on l y l ogic a l Dr B u cke

, . .

fi n d s hi m se lf in e xa c tly this p os ition w h en h e r e ga rd s tha t whi c h

tr a nsc en d s th e r egion of h u m a nity a ltog e t h er a s a fa c t of h u m a n
e v o l u ti on M a n p os sessing c osmic consc i ou sness or a pproa c hing
.
,

c os m i c con sc i ou sne ss is no t m e r ely m a n b u t m a n with s om e thi ng

,

high e r a dd e d Dr B u c ke like E dwa rd C a rp ent er in m a ny c a s es

. .
,

a l so is h a n di c a pp e d by th e d e s ir e no t t o g o t o o s tr ongly c ou nt e r
,

t o p ositivi s ti c vi e w s (a lth ou gh th a t is ine vit a bl e) ; by th e d e sir e to

“
r ec onc il e thos e vi e ws with th e new th ou ght , to fl a tten ou t c on
tra dic tions to r e d u c e e v e rythin g t o o n e thing whi c h is of co u r se
, ,

im p ossiblc a s is th e r econc ilia ti on of c orrec t a nd inc orrec t tru e

b
,

a nd f a l s e vi e w s u p on o ne a nd th e sa m e t h in g .

Th e grea t e r p a rt of Dr B u cke s b oo k c o ns i s ts of ex a m ples a nd

.
’

q u ot a ti ons from th e t e a c h ings a nd writings o f m en of c os m ic

”
c onsc i o u sn e ss in th e hi s tory o f th e wo rld H e dra ws p a ra ll e l s
.

b e tw een th ese te a c hi ngs a nd est a bli sh es th e u nity of th e form s of

,

tr a nsiti on in to th e ne w st a t e of c ons c i ou sness in m en of diffe rent

c e nt u ri es a n d of di ff e r en t p e o pl e s a nd th e u n ity of th eir se ns a ti ons
,

of th e w o rld a nd o f th e se lf t es tif y in g m o r e th a n a nythi ng e l s e t o

,

th e g enu ine ne s s a n d r ea lit y of th e ir e xp eri enc e s .

Th e f ou nd e rs of w o rld r e ligi o ns prop h et s phil o soph e rs p o e t s

-

, , ,

“
th e s e a re m en of c os mic c ons c i ou sne ss a ccordin g to Dr B u cke s
’
.

b ook H e d oes not pret e n d to pr esent a fu ll li s t of t h e m a nd it

.
,

is of c ou rs e p o s s i b l e t o a dd m a ny na m es to h is li st .
 3 32 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

T h e m en of th e n e w
ra ce b egi n a l ea
r dy to kn o w one a noth e r :

a lr e ady a re e s t a bli s h e d p a s s w ord s a nd cou nt e r s igns

-
And p er .

h a p s th os e s oc i a l a nd p olitic a l qu es ti ons s o sh a rply pu t forwa rd

in o u r ti m e m a y b e solv e d o n qu ite a no th e r pl a ne a nd by q u it e
a diff e r e n t m e th o d th a n w e t hi nk
— m a y b e so lv e d by th e entr a nce
into th e a rena of a ne w r a c e CONSCIOUS O F I T SELF whi c h will j u dge
th e old r a c es .

I n m y r e m a rk s I ca ll e d a tt enti on to c e rt a i n i m p e rf ec ti ons in
Dr B u cke s b oo k a ri s ing chi e fly from a s tr a nge i nd ec i siveness of
.
’

h is from his ti m idity in a sse rting th e d o m i na nt s ignifi c a nce of th e

,

new consciou s nes s This r esu lt s from th e d e sir e of Dr B u c ke

. .

to e st a bli s h th e fu t u r e of h u m a nity fr om a p os itivi s ti c st a n dp oi nt

u p o n s o c i a l a nd p o liti ca l r e v o l u ti ons B u t w e m a y r ega rd thi s
.

vie w a s h a ving l ost a ll v a lidity T h e b a nkru ptc y of m a t eria lis m

.

wh en it c om es to o rga nizing lif e on e a rth is now evid ent in th e

bl oo dy ep oc h whic h w e a re u n d ergoing , e ven to t h ose m en wh o
“ ” ”
bu t y es t e rd a y w e r e pra ting of c u lt u r e a nd c iviliz a ti on It .

b ecom es c l ea r er a nd cl ea r er th a t th e ch a nges in ou r ou ter lif e ,

wh en th ey c om e will c om e a s a resu lt of inner ch a nge s in m a n ,

,

a n d a s a r esu lt of th e consciou s ness in hi m of th o s e f a c u lti es a nd

a sp ec t s of h is o w n b ein g o f whi c h h e w a s u ncon s c i ou s whi c h h e ,

did not r ecogniz e b efore , a nd W ith ou t whic h h e th ou ght it p os sibl e

to g e t l
a on g .

We m ay fu rth er with r ega rd to Dr B u cke s entir e b ook

s ay .
’
,

th a t tou c hin g th e id ea of the na tu ra l growth of c onsci ou sness h e ,

d oes not noti ce this : na m e ly th a t p erh a p s th e wh ol e thing c on

,

s i st s n o t in th e gr o wth b u t in th e d e v e l op m e nt o r l a c k o f d e
, ,

velopm ent of a lrea dy exis ting f a c u lti e s

, Th ese f a cu lti es d o not
.

u nf o ld th e m s e lv e s p e rf o r ce : c ons c i ou s w ork o n th e m is nece ss a ry .

More o v er e ven if th e id ea of growth b e a d mitt e d Dr B u cke

, , .

f a ils to not e th ose c h a nges whi ch m u st b e brou ght a b ou t in th e

n a t u r a l process by r ea son of th e a pp ea r a nc e of se lf consc i ou sne ss -
.

And h e d oe s not dw e ll a t a ll on c onsc i ou s eff ort s in thi s dir e c ti on ,

o n th e id ea of th e cu ltu re of c os mic c on s c i ou sne s s M ea nwhi l e .

th ere e xi s ts a wh ol e s eri es of p sy ch ol ogi c a l t ea c hi ngs (occu lti sm ,

y og a e tc ) a nd a l a rg e lit er a t u r e h a vi ng in V i e w a s y s t e m ati c
, .

c u lt u r e of th e high e r cons c i ou s ness Dr B u c ke d o es not r em a rk

. .

thi s a nd i nsi s ts u p on th e id ea of na tu r a l gr owt h a lth ou gh h e

“

, ,

h i ms elf se v e ra l ti m e s t ou c h es u p on th e c u ltu re of c onsc i ou sness .

 T ER T IUM ORGANUM 33 3

I n one p orti on of hi s b oo k h e s p e a ks v ery cont e m ptu ou s ly r e ga rd

ing th e u s e of na r coti c s f or th e c r ea ti on of ec s t a ti c s t a t e s n ot ,

taking i nto c onsid er a tion th e f a c t th a t na rc oti c s c a nnot give a ny

thing whi ch m a n d oes not p oss ess ( this is th e expl a na ti on of th e
diff er ent a c ti on of na rcotic s on diff er ent m en) b u t c a n only in ,

c e rt a in c a s es u nf old th a t whi c h is a lr e a dy in th e sou l of m a n .

Thi s entir ely a lt ers th e p oint of Vi ew u p on na r cotic s a s Pr of , .

Willi a m Ja m es h a s sh o wn in hi s b ook Th e Va ri e ti es of R e ligi ou s

,
”
E xp e ri enc e .

I n g e ne ra l a ll u re d by th e e vo l u ti ona ry p oint of V i e w a nd l o oking

, ,

a t th e f u tu re Dr B u c k e lik e m a n y oth e r s d o e s not p a y su flic ient

, .
, ,

a tt enti o n to th e present Th a t c osmic c onsci ou sne ss whi c h m en

.

m a y di sco v e r o r u nf o ld in th emselves now is ind ee d f a r m or e im

p o rt an t th a n th a t w h ic h m a y or m a y not a pp ea r in other men
m ill enniu m s h ence .

Rega rd e d from diff erent s t a n dp oint s th e c om pl ex form s of th e

m anif est a ti on of spirit a nd a na lyzi ng th e V i e w s a nd opi nions of
,

v a riou s a u th ors w e a re a lwa ys confront e d with wh a t seem to

,

b e c ons ecu tiv e ph a s es or c ons ec u tiv e s t a ges of th e u nf old m ent of

cons c i ou s ne ss And w e find su c h ph a s es or s t a ge s to b e f ou r in
.

nu m b e r F u rth er cons id era tion of th e living world kno wn to u s

.
,

from th e l o w er a ni m a l org a nism s u p to th e highly d eve l op e d b ody

of m a n r ev ea l s th e s i m u lta neou s exi st e nce of a ll fou r form s of
,

cons c i ou sness to w h i c h a ll o th e r a sp ec t s of th e i nne r lif e c or

r esp on d : th e s ens e of sp a ce a nd tim e th e form of a ctivity etc

, , .

S till f u rth e r c o ns id e ra ti on of ma n of th e high er type r e v ea l s th e

pr es ence of a ll th e fou r form s of consciou sness whic h a re in living
na t u r e with f o r m s c o rr esp on d ing to th e m
, (S ee t a bl e p
.
, .

T h e si m u lt a neou s c o exi s t ence o f a ll fou r f o rm s of c ons c i ou sne ss

-

a t o nc e b oth in n a t u r e a nd in th e high e r typ e of m a n m a k e s t h e

,

e xc l u s iv e ly e v ol u ti ona ry s t a ndp oi nt s eem f orc ed a nd a rti

fic ia l . Th e ev o lu ti ona ry st a ndp oi nt ( th ou gh thi s is no t gener
a ll y r e a liz e d ) is o ft e n m a d e th e m ea ns of e sc a p e fr om d ifli c u lt

probl em s a nd from h a rd thinkin g M a ny c a s es present th em

, .

s e lv e s whi c h m a y b e e xpl a i ne d wi t h ou t a ny r ef e r e nc e t o e volu

”
tion bu t by linking th em u p with it th ey fa ll m ore r ea d ily within
,

th e li mit s of ou r u su a l c onc e pt s th ey r e qu ir e l ess t e ns ion of m i n d

, ,

a n d d o not d e m a nd th e r e vi s i on a nd r e val u ati on of es t a bli sh e d

va l eu s .
—
E vol u tion thi s is a very comf orta bl e id ea : therefor e
3 34 T ER T I UM ORGANUM

som e p eopl e a pply th e e vo l u tiona ry t h eory wh er e th er e is no

ne ce s s ity f o r it wh a t e v er I n m a n y c a se s thi s is a c om pr omis e o f
.

th ou ght Not u n d ers t a nding th e e xi sting va ri ety of f or m s a nd

.
,

n o t p osse ss in g a s uf fi c i ently p o w e rf u l i nt e ll e c t to thi nk of a ll thi s as

a u nity m en h a v e r ecou r s e t o th e e v o l u ti on a ry id ea a nd r eg a rd
, ,

f
thi s gre a t v a ri ety o for m s a s a n a sce n n —
di g l a dde r not b e c au s e
thi s c onf orm s to f a c ts b u t from a d esire to sys tem atiz e a t a ll c o s t s
, ,

th ou gh on e ntir ely a rtifi c i a l f ou nd a tions I t a pp ea rs to m e n .

t h a t h a ving b u ilt a sy stem t h e y a lr ea dy know som ething w h e r ea s ,

in r e a lity th e a b s enc e o f a sy s te m is o ft en m u c h n ea r er t o r ea l
kno wl edg e th a n a n a rtific a l sy s t em .

FO R M S OF MA N OF H I G HE R
LI VI NG WO R LD TY P E

C e llS grou p s of
, l
c el s ,
p la nts lower a ni
,
C ells f
az“
u Ps 0
La tent m a ls a nd org a ns
c e lls d
,

f t12b lly
35 a
C onsciou sne ss . a nd p a rts of b ody
org a ns o e 0
of hig h e r a ni m a l s

a nd of man .

Anim a ls p o sses sing

B 0 dy t d
'

inS t
i tlfe
uC S
c o m p l ex org a n
’
"
S im I le
-

H Eiy
r s , V O I C eS 0
i sm s Ab sence of
C O D S C IO S HC S S
.

0
c on sc i o u sness of
.

d ea th .

S elf
M a n ( h e rd an i ma l) . S i m p le
C on scmu sne ss of Logi c a l
C onsc iou sness dea th . m i nd .

M a n of highe r typ e
H 8
C os mic (i sola ted a nd ind e
p en d ent b eing) £81 c
,
C on sc w u sness .

tui ti on m y sti c a l
B e ginning of im
W I S do m
,

m o rta lity
’

.
336 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

th e o rga ns m em b e r s o f th e b o dy of m a n a s e v o lve d
a nd

one fr o m a no th e r in a given individu a l a nd w e s h ou ld not b e g u ilty

o f th e sa m e e rr o r w ith r e l a ti o n to th e o rga ns a nd m e m b e r s o f th e

b o dy of living na tu r e .

I do not d eny th e la w of ev o l u ti on b u t th e a pplica ti on of it to th e

,

expl a n a ti o n of m a ny ph enom e n a of lif e is in gr ea t nee d of c o rr ec ti on .

Firstly , if w e a c c ept th e id e a of one com m on e vo l u ti on a ft er a ll ,

it is ne cess ary to r em em b er t h a t th e typ es whic h d ev el op sl ower ,

th e r emn a nt s of e v ol u ti on , m a y not c ontin u e to fo ll o w a ft e r a nd ,

a t a sl o w p a ce the s a me e v o l u ti on b u t m a y b eg i n a n e v o l u ti o n of
,

th eir ow n d ev e loping in m a ny c a s es e x a c tly t h ose prop erti es on

,

a c co u nt of whi c h th e y w e r e thro w n ou t fr om b a s i c e v o l u ti on .

S ec on dly , th ou gh w e a c c ept th e la w of e vo l u ti on th e re is no
,

ne c essity t o r eg a rd a ll e xi sti ng fo r m s a s h a vin g b e en d e v e l op e d

on e fr om a no th er ( lik e m a n fr om th e a p e f or e x a m pl e )
, I n su c h
.

c a s e s it is m or e c orr ec t t o r e g a rd th em a ll a s th e highes t types in

th eir ow n e v o l u ti on . T h e a b se nc e of i nt erm e di a t e form s m a k e s

thi s V i e w m u ch m ore pr ob a bl e th a n that whic h is u su a lly a c
”
c epte d a n d whi c h giv es su c h ri ch m a t e ri a l f o r
, th eosophic a l
di scu s si ons a b ou t th e obliga tory a nd in evit a bl e p erfec tion of a ll .

Th e vi e w s pr op ou n d e d h er e a re i nd ee d m o re dif fic u lt th a n th e
u su a l e v ol u ti on a ry p o i nt of Vi e w j u s t a s th e c oncepti o n of th e
,

livi ng world a s a n entire orga ni sm is m o r e diffi c u lt ; b u t thi s diffi

c u lty m u s t b e s u r m ou nt e d .I h a v e s a id a lr e a dy t h a t th e r ea l world
m u s t b e ill ogi c a l fro m th e u su a l p oi nt o f vi e w a nd by no m e a ns
,

c a n it b e m a d e s i m pl e a nd c o m pr eh e ns ibl e to o n e a nd a ll Th e .

th eory of e vo l u ti on is in n eed of m a ny corre c ti ons a dditi ons a nd

, ,

m u c h d e v e l o p m en t . I f w e c onsid e r th e e xi sti ng form s on a ny

give n pla ne it will b e q u it e i m p oss ibl e to d ec l a re t h a t a ll t h es e
,

form s e volve d fr om th e s i m pl es t form s o n t h i s pl a ne S om e u n .

d o u bt e dly e volve d from th e l o we s t on es ; o th ers r esu lt e d fr om th e

proc ess of d egenera ti on of th e hig h e r one s ; a third c l a ss d e v elop e d
from th e r emna nt s of s om e e v olv e d for m — whil e a fou rth c l a ss
r esu lt e d a s a cons e qu enc e of th e i ncu rsi on int o th e giv en pl a ne of
th e pr op erti es a nd c h a r a c t eri s ti c s of so m e hi g h er pl a ne I t is c er
.

t a inly i m p o ssibl e to r ega rd th e s e com pl e x f or m s a s d e v e l op e d by

a n e v ol u ti ona ry pr oces s u p on th e giv e n pl a ne .

T h e b e l ow c l a ss ifi c a ti on will S h o w m or e c l e a rly thi s c o rre l a ti on

of f or m s o f m a nif e s t a ti on o f c o nsc i o u s ne s s o r of di ff e r e nt st a t e s of
,

i
c on sc ou s n ess .
 T ER T I UM ORGANUM 33 7

First f A s e n
ors emof o n
. e di m e n s i o na l s pa c e E veryt h i ng -
.

tran spir es on a line a s it w ere S ensa ti ons a re not diff erenti a t e d

, . .

Thi s is th e st a t e of th e c ell , th e gr ou p of c ell s , of pl a nts , a nd th e

ti ssu e s a nd orga ns of th e b o dy of a n a nim a l T h e consci ou snes s .

is su b m e rge d in s l eep , a s it w ere C onf u se d shad ows of s ensa .

ti ons c om p el it w e akly a nd u nc onsci ou sly to r ea ct to ou t er irrita

tions Not b ein g consc i ou s of it se lf it feebly goes forth towa rd
.

h e a t t o wa rd light t owa rd foo d

, , .

S econd f orm A se nse of tw o di m ens i ona l sp a ce

. This is th e -
.

s t a t e of th e a ni m a l Th a t whic h f or u s is th e t h ird di m ension f o r

.
,

it is m otion I t is c onsci ou s of only tw o di m ensions s i m u lt a ne

.

ou sly . I t a lr e a dy s enses f eel s b u t d oe s not think E v erything , , .

th a t it s ees a pp ea rs to it a s r ea l For it th e w orld is f u ll of non .

e xi sti ng ill u so ry m o ti o n
, .

Third f orm A s ense of three di m e n s i ona l sp a ce

. M a n a h erd -
.

b eing S e lf consc i ou sness a n d l ogi c a l t h inking Divi sion into

.
-
.

I a nd Not I D ogm a ti c r eligions or d u a li sti c spiriti sm a nd n eo

-
.

t h eosop h y C o difi e d m ora lity Divi s i on i nto spirit a nd m a tt er

. .
,

or m a t e ri a li s ti c m o ni sm Positivi sti c sc i e nc e T h e id ea of evolu

. .

ti o n A m ech a ni ca l u niv ers e T h e u n d ers ta nding of c osm ic a l

. .

“ ”
id ea s a s m et a p h o rs H i st oric a l m a t eri a li sm i m p eri a li sm a nd
.
, ,

s o f o rth S u bj ec ti on of th e p e rsona lity to so c i e ty a nd la w

. C om .

pl e x a nd c o ns c i ou s a c ti ons c a u s e d by i ns ti nc t s ou t e r i m pr ess i ons , ,

o r i m a g es of p e r c epti o n a nd r e m em br a nc e C onsciou s a u to .

m a tism D ea th a s th e extinc ti on of th e p ers ona lity

. .

F ou rth f orm A sense of f ou r — . di m ensi ona l s p a c e A new sens é .

of ti m e Intu ition C osm i c consc iou sness My sti ca l sens a tion of

. . .

a liv ing u niv e r s e R e a lity o f th e won dro u s S ensa ti on of infi nity

. . .

“ ”
M a nif esta tion of th e s ou l In divid u a l m a n a s a n i n d ep end ent
.

u nit . Mor a lity a s a s ens a ti on of a high er world M a n a s a .

c en t e r of f o r c es a nd a c ent e r of f o rthgoi ng a c ti o n s
, P os sibility .

o f p e r so na l i mm o rt a lity .

Th u s th e third fo rm i nc l u d es th a t m an wh om p os itivi sti c

s c i e nce s t u di es ; b u t th e f ou rt h f o r m is c h a r a c t e ri s ti c of th e m a n

w h o h a s a lr ea d y p a ss e d o u t o f th e fi e ld of o b s e rv a ti on o f p o s i
tivism .

Th e t a bl e at b ook is a su m ming u p of th e c o n
th e e nd o f th e
t en ts of th e entir e b o ok a nd sh o ws m or e in d e t a il th e c orr el a ti on
o f th e o b s e rv e d f o r m s o f c o ns c i ou s ness in th e livi ng w orld a nd in

man
CC 9,
.
33 8 T ER T I UM ORGAN UM

E VO LUTI ON O R C ULTURE ?
Th e m os t i nt eres ting a nd i mp ortant qu es ti o n a ri si ng with
r ega rd to c o smic c ons c i ou sness m a y b e su m m e d u p a s foll o w s :
I s th e m a nif e st a ti on of c os m ic c ons c i ou snes s a proble m o f th e di s t a nt
—
fu tu re a nd of ot h e r gener a tions i e m u st c o smi c Consc i ou sness
, . .
,

a pp e a r a s th e r esu lt of a n e v o l u ti ona ry pr oc ess a ft e r c e nt u ri es a nd ,

m ill enniu m s— o r c a n it m a k e its a pp ea ra nc e now in c o nt e m p or a ry

m a n a s th e r e su lt of a c ert a i n e du ca ti o n a nd s e lf d e v e l o p ment
,
-

whi ch will a id th e u nfo ldi ng in h im of d om ina nt fo r c es a nd ca p a

bilitie s i e a s th e r esu lt of a c e rt a i n cu ltu re?
, . .
,

I t s eem s to m e th a t with r ega rd to this th e fo llo w ing id e as a re ,

t ena bl e :
O n ea rt h t h e r e a re livi ng t w o diff er e nt sp e ci es of m en Th e .

p ossibility of th e a pp e a ra nc e or d e v e l op m en t of c osm ic c ons ci ou s

n ess is th e di s ti ngu i shi ng m a rk o f o n e o f t h e s e s p ec i es— n u m e r
ica lly sm a ll I n th e o th e r i nfi nit ely m or e nu m e rou s c o sm i c c on
.
, ,

s c iou sn e ss d o es n o t app ea r a n d c a n n e v e r a pp e a r, .

B u t e v e n in th e c as e of t h o s e m e n in wh om c osmic c ons c i ou s
n es s m a y a pp ea r c e rt a i n q u it e d efi nit e i nner a nd o u t er c ondi
,

n —
ti o s a re r e q u i sit e f or its m a nif est a ti on a c ert a i n cu ltu re th e ,

e d u c a ti on of th o s e e l em e nt s c ong eni a l t o cos m i c c on s c i ou sn e ss ,

a nd th e e li m i n a ti on of th os e h o s til e t o it .

I n o t h e r w ord s co sm i c co n s c i ou s n e ss c a nno t b e c re a t e d in th a t
,

m a n in wh om it d o es n o t e xi s t in e m bry o B u t e v en in h im thi s .

em bry o m a y b e d e v e l o p e d o r it m a y n ot b e d e v e l o p e d ; it m a y b e

c h ok e d a n d d es tr o y e d .

T h e di sting u i shing m a rks of th os e m en in wh om c os m i c c o n

s c iou snes s is like ly t o m a n if es t a re n ot s t u di e d a t a ll th ou g h th e
, ,

id ea of tw o r a c es (in s om e w h a t diffe r ent f or m ) h a s b e en in exi st

e nce a l ong ti m e
*
Thi s id e a is e xpresse d in C hri sti a nity with
.

gr ea t e r c l e a rness th a n a nyw h er e el s e .

Th e firs t of th e s e signs is th e cons t a nt or fr e qu ent sensa ti o n t h a t

th e w orld is not a t a ll a s it a pp ea r s ; that wh a t is m os t i m p ort a n t
in it is not a t a ll wh a t is c ons id ere d m os t i m p ort a nt Th e q u e s t .

o f th e w o ndr ou s s en s e d a s th e on ly r ea l a nd tr u e
, r esu lt s from ,

t h is i m pr e ssi on of th e u nr ea lity of th e world a nd e v erythi ng re

l a t e d t h ere to .

An ot h er c h a ra c t e ri s ti c S ig n of m e n of c osmic c onsc i ou snes s is th e

a b se nc e in t h e m o f a ny inner division a n d th e ir i n ability to thi nk ,

* T h I d a o f H av
e e d H ll eT h W i d om o f th
en a n e by P D O p k y
e s e . . us e ns .
34 0 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

e d ly d em ands a c ert a in a ttu nement gr e at fre ed om a nd concentra

, ,

tion on th e inne r world .

This c onc lu si on in r ega rd to th e nec essity f or sp ecial c ul tu re a nd

d efinitely fa vorabl e inner a nd ou te r c onditions d oes not necess ar
ily m ea n th a t cos mi c consc i ou sness is lik ely to m a nif e st in every
ma n w h o is p u t in th ese conditi ons Th e r e a re m en prob a bly a n
.
,

e no rm ou s m a j o rity of c ont em p orary h u m a nity in wh om e xi s t s

,

n o s u ch p oss ibility a t a ll . And in th ose wh o do not p oss es s it in

som e s o rt a lr ea dy it c a nno t b e c r ea t e d by a ny c u lt u r e wh a t e v e r
, ,

in th e s a m e w a y th a t no kin d or a m ou nt of c u ltu r e will m a ke a n

anim a l sp ea k th e l a ngu a ge of m a n T h e p os sibility of th e m ani
.

f esta tion of c o sm i c consc i ou sness c a nno t b e inoc u l a t e d a rtifi c i a lly .

A m a n is e ith e r b orn wit h it o r with ou t it Thi s p os sibility c a n b e

.

thr ottl e d or d e ve l op e d b u t it ca nnot b e c r e at e d And wh en it

, .

a pp e a r s it indi ca t es th a t a giv e n m a n b e l ongs to a s p ec i a l r a c e ,

living in th e mi d st of a h u m anity to which en mas se thi s prop erty

is d eni e d .

Una wa re th a t the y p o ss es s this gift of th e go ds o r not kno w

,

ing h ow to u tiliz e it m en of t h i s high er typ e oft en l ose it sinking

, ,

int o th e m a te ri a l world with its i nter est s a nd worri es a nd b egin ,

nin g to b e li e v e in th e r ea lity of thi s w o rld in th e r ea lity of ill u si on

,

or M a y a .

Not a ll c a n l ea rn to di sc ern th e r ea l fro m th e fa l s e ; b u t h e wh o

c a n will n ot r ec eiv e thi s gift o f di sc e rnm ent fr ee . Thi s is a thing
of l a b o r a thing of gr ea t w o rk whi c h d em a n d s b o ld ne ss of th ou ght
, ,

a nd b o ld nes s o f f e e ling.

“
I n th e b ook T h e Wi s d o m o f th e G o d s I h op e to d e sc rib e th e
p a th s by whi c h m en h a v e gone a nd a re goin g to t h i s goa l .
 C O NC LU SI ON

In i I wi sh to sp ea k of th os e wond e rf u l wo rd s fu ll of
c onc u s on l ,
’
profou n d m y st ery from th e A poca lypse a nd th e a p ostl e Pa u l s
E pis tle to the E ph esia ns whi c h a re pl a c e d a s th e e pigra ph of
,

t h i s b ook .

Th e Ap oc a lypti c a ng e l s wea r s t h a t T H E R E SH A LL B E T IM E NO
LO NG E R .

We kn o w not wh a t th e a u tho r of th e Ap oc a lyp se w a nte d to

c o nv e y b u t w e d o kn o w t h ose S T A T E S O F S P IR I T w h e n ti m e d is
,

a pp e a r s We kn ow t h a t in t h i s ve ry thing in the ch a nge of the

.
,

time s ense th e b egin n i n g of th e fou rth fo r m of cons c i o u s nes s is

,

e xpr es s e d th e b e ginnin g of th e tr a n siti on t o COSM IC CON SCIOU S

,

NE SS .

I n thi s a nd in phr a se s si m il a r t o it th e profou n d p h il os o phi c a l

,

cont ent of th e e v a n g e li ca l t ea c h i n g so m e ti m e s fl a s h e s f o rth An d .

th e un d ers t a nding of th e f a c t th a t th e M YS T E R Y O F T I M E is th e
fir st m ys tery to b e re vea le d is th e first st ep t ow a rd th e d ev elo p
m ent of c osm i c c onsc i ou sne s s a l ong th e i nte ll ec tu a l p a t h .

B u t wh a t did th e Ap oc a lypti c sent enc e m ea n ? Did it m ea n

—
prec is ely wh a t w e a re now a bl e to constr u e in it or w a s it s i m ply
a bit of v e rb a l art a rh e t o ri ca l fig u r e of s p eec h
, th e a c c id ent a l
,

h a rping of a s tring whi ch h a s c ontinu e d to sou n d u p to ou r o w n

ti m e t h rou gh c entu ri es a nd mi ll enni u m s with su c h a won d e rf u lly
, ,

p o werfu l tr u e a nd b ea u tif u l t one of th ou ght ? We kn o w not now

, ,

nor s h a ll w e e v e r : b u t th e wo rd s a re f u ll of spl en d o r a n d w e m a y
,

a cc ept th e m a s a s y m b o l o f r e m ot e a n d i n a cc e ss ibl e tr u th .

Th e a p os tl e Pa u l s w o rd s a re e v en m o r e s tra nge e v e n m or e
’
,

s t a rtli ng by r e a s on of t h e ir ma th ema tica l e x a c t ne ss ( A fri e n

. d
“
s h o w e d m e th es e w o r d s in A D u b ro lu b o fl s From th e B ook I n
’
.

”
vi sibl e , w h o s a w in th e m a dir ec t r ef e r e nc e to th e f ou rth
”
m ea s u r e o f sp ac e .

Tru ly wh a t d oe s t h i s m e a n ?
,

Th at y e b eing roote d a nd groun de d in love m ay be a ble to

, ,

c o m p re h e nd with a ll s a ints wh a t is th e B R E ADTH a nd L E NG TH a nd D E PT H

a nd H E I G HT .
34 2 T E R T I UM ORGANUM

Firs t of a ll, w h a t d o es mpreh ension of brea dth a nd length

th e co

a nd depth a nd h eigh t m ea n ? W h a t is it b u t th e compreh ension of

sp a ce? And w e no w kn o w th a t th e c om pr e h e nsi on of th e m y s
t e rie s o f s p a c e is th e b e ginni n g o f th e high e r c om p r eh en s i on .

“
T h e a p os tl e sa ys th a t b e in g ro ot e d a nd grou n d e d in love with ,
”
a ll th e s a ints t h e y m a y c om pr eh en d wh a t spa ce is .

Her e a ri ses th e q u es ti on : w h y m u s t love giv e c om pr eh ensi on ?

Th t a love l ea d to
s sa n cti y
t — t h i s is ea sily u n d ers tood L o v e in .

th e s en s e th a t th e a p ostl e P a u l u n d er s t a n d s it ( C h a pt er X III of .

th e Firs t E pi stl e to th e C ori nthi a n s ) is th e hi g h est of a ll em o ti on s ,

th e sy nth esis th e bl en di n g o f a ll high est e m o ti ons

, I ncontest a bly
.
,

thi s l e a d s to s a nctity S a nctity : thi s is th e s ta t e of th e s pirit

.

lib era t e d from th e du a lity of m a n, from h is e t e rna l di sh a rm on y of

sou l a n d b o dy I n th e l a ngu a ge of th e a p os tl e P a u l s a nctity m e a nt
.

e v e n a littl e l ess th a n in ou r c ont e m p or a ry l a ngu a ge H e c a ll e d

.

a ll m em b e rs of h is c h u r c h s a ints ; s a nc ity m e a nt to h im right e ou s

ne ss m or a lity r e ligi o s ity

, , We s a y th a t a ll thi s is m erely the pa th
.

to sa nctity .S a nc tity is so m ething m or e —som et h i ng a tta ined .

B u t it is a ft e r a ll i mm a t e ri a l h o w w e sh a ll u n d erst a n d h is w ord s
in h is m ea ni ng or in ou rs— s a nctity is a su p erhu m a n qu a lity In .

th e r egi on of m o r a lity it c orr e s p on d s to geniu s in th e r eg i on o f

m i nd Love is th e p a th to sa inth ood
. .

B u t with s a nctity th e a p os tl e P au l u nit es KNOW LE D G E .

S a i nt s compreh end w h a t is th e br e a dth a nd l e ngth a nd d e pth a nd

h ei ght ; a nd h e s a ys th a t a ll— throu gh l o ve—m a y compreh end thi s
with th em B u t m a y c ompr eh en d wh a t , e x a c tly ? C OM PR E H E ND
.

“ ”
S PA C E B ec au se brea dth a nd l ength a nd d epth a nd h eight tr a ns
.

l a t e d into ou r l a ngu a ge of sh orter d efi niti ons a c tu a lly m ea ns sp ace .

Thi s l a st is th e m ost stra ng e .

H o w cou ld th e a p os tl e P a u l kno w a nd T HINK th a t s a nc tity giv e s

a n e w u nd er s t a ndi ng of sp ace? We know th a t it mu st give it b u t ,

F R OM W H A T cou ld h e kn o w th a t ?

None o f h is c ont em p ora ri e s e v e r u nit e d sa nc tity with th e id e a

o f th e com pr eh e ns i o n o f sp a c e ; a nd in g ene r a l th e r e w a s no d is
“ ”
c u ssion a t a ll a b ou t sp a c e a t th a t ti m e , a t l e a s t a m ong th e

G r eek s a nd R om a ns O nly no w af ter K a nt a nd a ft er w e h a v e h a d

.
, ,

a c c ess to th e tr easu r es of th ou g ht of th e O ri ent d o w e u n d e r s t a n d

,

t h a t th e tr a nsiti on i nto a new ph a se of c ons c iou sness is i m p ossibl e

with ou t th e e xp a ns ion of th e sp a ce se nse .

B u t w e w on d e r if thi s is wh a t th e a p os tl e P a u l w a nt e d to sa y
34 4 T ER T IUM ORGANUM

E v erything transc en ding th e sc h em e of energe ti cs is d e c la re d to be

su pers tition . E verythin g tra nscending th e lim its of ordina ry con
“
s c iou sn e ss is d ec l a r e d to b e p a thologica l A C hinese w a ll of p osi
.

”
tivis tic s c i ence s a nd m eth od s is b u ilt u p a r oun d fr e e inv e stiga
ti on E v erything risi ng a b ov e thi s w all is c on d emn e d a s u n
.

s cientifi c .

And se en in thi s w a y p ositivi sm whi c h b efor e w a s a sym b o l o f

,

progr ess now a pp ea rs a s conserva tive rea ctionary

, , .

Th e existing order is alr ea dy est a bli sh e d in th e w orld of th o u ght ,

a n d to fight a g a i n s t it is d ec l a r e d to b e a c ri m e .

With a st oni shing r a pidity t h os e princ ipl es which only yester

d a y expr ess e d th e high e s t r a dic a li sm in th e r egi on of th ou ght have
b ec om e th e b a s is of opp ortuni sm in th e r egi on of id ea s a nd s erve
as b lin d a ll ey s s t oppin g th e pr o gr ess of th ou ght
, I n o u r ey es this .

o ccu rr e d with th e id ea of e v o l u ti on o n whi c h it is no w p os sibl e to

,

b u ild u p a nyt hing a nd with th e h elp of whic h it is p ossibl e to

,

t e a r d o wn a nything .

Th e id ea of e v ol u ti on bri ngs t oge th e r p os itivi sm a nd th e

”
o so phy .

Th eosophy is p a ss ing a l ong th e sa m e p a th th a t m a ny m ove

m ent s of th ou ght h a v e p a sse d b e for e B eginnin g with a b old
.
,

r ev ol u ti ona ry s ea rc h f or th e w ondrou s th eos ophy s oon st art ed to

,
“
fa ll a wa y fr om th a t a nd to s top a t som e fou n d tr u th s whic h a re
gr a du a lly conv erte d i nt o i ndisp u t a bl e d ogm a s .

B u t th ou ght whi c h is fr e e c a nn ot b e b ou n d by a ny li mi t s
, ,
.

N0 one m eth o d no one s ys t em c a n e v e r s a ti sfy it a t a ll I t m u st

, , .

t a ke fr om a ll th a t whic h is pr ec i ou s in th em I t m u st r ega rd .

n o th ing a s solved a n d n o thing a s imp ossible

, .

T h e tr u e motion whi c h li e s a t th e f o u nd a ti on of e v e rything is ,

.
—
motion of thou ght Tr u e energy this is th e energy of cons ciou sness .

An d tru th it s e lf is m oti on a nd c a n ne v e r l ea d to a rr est m ent to

, ,

th e c essa ti on of s e a r c h
—
.

ALL T H A T A RRE S T S T H E MO T ION O F T HOUG H T i s FALS E .

Th er efor e th e tru e a nd r ea l progr ess of th ou ght is only in th e

broa d es t s trivi ng t ow a rd kn owl e dge th a t d o es n ot r ecogniz e th e
,

p os sibilit y of a rr es tm ent in a ny f ou nd f orm s a t a ll T h e m ea ni ng .

o f l if e is in e t ern a l s e a r c h A nd only in th a t sea rch c a n w e find

.

s o m e t h i ng tr u l y n e w .