Page:Mind (New Series) Volume 9.djvu/325

THE DOUBLE EFFECT OF MKNTAL STIMVLl. 311 the element in attention which conduces to more vivid consciousness is the practice of effecting this transformation ; and the universal result of continuance in practice is towards spontaneity. Much-practised centres will become at last more spontaneously conscious, yielding up their innerness whenever stimulated. Consciousness, like Virtue, can be increased by practice. So also can unconsciousness by the practice of excessive activity. 1 Definite terms are convenient. Let us therefore distinguish between these two forms of agency the transformation of energy within the brain -centres and the transference of it by stimulation to other centres as aesthesis and kinesis respectively. Both are of account for the processes of mind : the former is what makes it mind, the latter is the vehicle by which mind as sensibility becomes mind as thought. The ffisthesis of many centres goes to make a thought, but without their kinesis, their interaction and therefore their conjoint aesthesis, thought would not be possible. CONTRAST OF TYPES. (1) First and most obvious is the contrast between a mind that is in general characterised by the instinctiveness of its life, and the more slowly-moving, deeply-feeling mind with life proceeding generally out of consciousness. Each has its excellence according to the purpose in hand. The best mind is neither, because it is in due measure both ; can act instinctively under the spur of danger or other necessity; does act with consciousness when occasion requires. Even a best mind may have its congenital tendency : it may be a deeply-conscious mind, so well controlled that pressure enables it to be instinctive ; or it may be an instinctive mind trained to the prudence of pause and subjective attention. The error of the instinctive is haste : the error of the highly- conscious is actual defect of energy to act or think as in one paralysed by too much feeling. Who has not suffered from both these errors from the one in himself, from the other in his acquaintances. Not seldom is one met who has suffered much from the sheer exhaustion of being so vividly conscious of the thing to be done that he has no energy left to do it. Nor is his lot alleviated by the fact that his nearest relative exemplifies constantly the opposite type. 1 Attention is probably a double fact, and the effect of attention which makes for intelligence is of the nature of activity, and thus probably not favourable to pure sensibility /