Through a Glass Darkly
Where the logical function actively intervenes, it alters what is given and causes it to depart from reality. We cannot even describe the elementary processes of the psyche without at every step meeting this disturbing - or shall we say helpful? - factor. As soon as sensation has entered the sphere of the psyche, it is drawn into the whirlpool of the logical processes. The psyche quite of its own accord alters both what is given and presented. Two things are to be distinguished in this process: First, the actual forms in which this change takes place; and secondly, the products obtained from the original material by this change.
The organized activity of the logical function draws into itself all the sensations and constructs of an inner world of its own, which progressively departs from reality but yet at certain points still retains so intimate a connection with it that transitions from one to the other continually take place and we hardly notice that we are acting on a double stage - our own inner world (which , of course, we objectify as the world of sense-perception) and also an entirely different and external world.Hans Vaihinger, Die Philosophie des Als Ob, 1911 pp 159-160
The title given to this essay is no doubt a reference to Vaihinger's title of the chapter in his book
The Philosophy As If. I've read this paragraph a thousand times and each time come away with a deeper appreciation of our own volition in matters of choice. And is it simply that easy that we decide that our choice mattes? Or not? To act "
as if" the choice to act belongs to us is simply the inverse of "
deciding" that we have no choice. And if we DO NOT decide, then
WHO DECIDES?When discussing change and transitioning in advance of promising/portentous measurements it may only be a fiction to "
believe" we have a choice in the matter, BUT then again it may only be fantasy to "
think" we do not. So if my model of the world is pure fantasy anyway, at least in terms of how I replicate that reality, then why not pull all the stops and make a new map that reflects the full force of my imagination?
I'm not sure if this is the most important essay Noel ever wrote James, but I think it is probably ranked very near the top. Thank you for the repost AND for the link to Glasser's work.
HVA
