Association. An essay analytic and experimental.

Abstract

I. Preliminary Analysis.pag» a. Provisional Definition i Association is the observable connection between succeeding objects or elements of consciousness of which the second is not an object of perception.b.The Associationist and the Spiritualist theory of Association 2 Association is neither a 'psychic force' nor an ' activity of the self.' A, II.Detailed Analysis.a. Assumed identity of the associated objects with connected -past objects of consciousness 5 Association can be psychologically 'accounted for,' only in that its terms are assumed to be identical with continuous past objects of consciousness.b.The implication of *• assumed identity.' 10 Both the Spiritualist and the Associationist theory are more than psychological; and the latter is, besides, metaphysically invalid.c. Discussion of ' association by similarity' and ' by contiguity.' 12 ' Association by Similarity' is reducible to ' Association by Contiguity'; but both terms are misleading.III.The Classification of Cases of Association.a. Total, partial and focalized association 15 Cases of association are best distinguished according as the first term is a concrete whole; or a group of persisting elements of such a whole; or a single persisting element.