Page:Mind (New Series) Volume 12.djvu/151

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PHILOSOPHICAL PERIODICALS. 137 {one's own or others') under the guidance of psychological fact and theory. Such a working-over implies, of course, constant reference to objects of nature and of art, of all times and places ; but genetic argu- ments play a very small part indeed in it. Some aid is rendered, further, by the changes of meaning in words. Darwinistic questions are entirely out of place ; they are to be raised only in the genetic portion of aesthetics.] E. Storch. ' Ueber das raumliche Sehen.' [Monocular vision tells us nothing of the true magnitude, distance or form of an object. These determinations, when correctly made, depend on the co-excitation of spatial experiences otherwise obtained (principally from the sense of touch). Binocular vision improves upon monocular only in the fact that it gives us (within certain limits) sensory data regarding the relative distance (relative before and behind) of the parts of the seen object. It, too, requires the support and refinement of extrinsic space experience. It follows that a visual form which, in consequence of such experience, is always or usually apprehended as a symbol of a deter- minate real form, will bring this real form to consciousness even when attendant circumstances demand a different spatial interpretation. If the meaning put upon the visual form be not in accord with reality, we have what is called an ' optical illusion ' before us. The author works out his theory, following Filehne, by reference to the best-known op- tical illusions.] Besprechung. [J. Cohn on Ostwald's Vorlesungen uber Naturphilo sophie.'] Literaturbericht. VlERTELJAHRSSCHRIFT FUR WlSSENSCHAFTLICHE PHILOSOPHIE UND SOCIOLOGIE. 1902, Heft 2. Ernst Goldbeck. 'Das Problem des Weltstoffs bei Galilei.' [Deals with the method and historical signifi- cance of Galileo's polemic against the traditional Aristotelian distinction between two substances, one earthly and subject to change and vicissi- tude, the other belonging to the heavenly bodies, perfect and immutable. A good article.] A. Vierkandt. ' Die Selbsterhaltung der religiosen Systeme.' [The following grounds of the self -maintenance of religious systems are assigned. (1) Imposture. (2) False statistics, i.e., the neglect' of cases which fail to confirm a belief and undue emphasis on those which appear to favour it. (3) Adaptation of judgment to conse- quences, as when a supernatural power is only believed in when and so far as it has apparently given proofs of its efficiency. (4) The main- tenance of propositions incapable of verification and the demand for conditions which cannot be fulfilled. (5) Effects of suggestion. (6) Effects of fear. (7) Trials by ordeal supposed to have divine sanction. (8) Dreams and ecstasies.] Heft 3. Cay von Brockdorff. ' Galilei's philosophische Mission.' [Brings into light the significance of Galileo as a. founder of modern Philosophy ; he discovered new and fundamentally important logical principles and methods, and originated a new attitude towards the universe.] C. M. Giessler. ' Uber den Einfluss von Kalte und Warme auf das Seelische Funktioniren des Menschen.' [Indicates the effect of heat and cold on the matter and form of ideational pro- cess.] Karl Marbe. ' Bromses und Grimsehls Kritik meiner Schrift : ' " Naturphilosophische Untersuchungen zur Wahrscheinlichen Keits- lehre ". [An interesting discussion ; but brief siimmary is impossible.] A. Vierkandt. ' Natur und Kultur in Sozialem Individuum.' [An attempt to separate the "natural" elements in man's mental tyfe from what is due to his social environment.]

  • ARCHIV FUR SYSTEMATISCHE PHILOSOPHIE. Bd. viii. Heft 2. H.

Hickert. ' Uber die Aufgaben einer Lo^ik der Geschichte.' [Maintains that History is essentially concerned with individual facts and processes and not with general laws or class-concepts of any kind. Its universal