86

1908 Nov 19
Logic
I.i. 5

Everybody knows that people are able to exercize some considerable
control over their habits; and some day I ought to endeavor
to give you some aid in tracing out the modus operandi of
that control somewhat minutely. At present, it comes in my
way to direct your attention to certain features of the process only.
In doing so, I shall not meddle with the science of psychology;
and this is a remark that I shall often have occasion to repeat.
Many persons, perhaps most persons have the idea that
every observation about the human mind is a psychological
observation. They might as well regard the sight or sound of
an apple dropping from a tree as an astronomical observation
in view of what is said to have befallen Isaac Newton. The notino
is due to the utter want of comprehension, on the part of the public,