Download or read book On Intelligence, Vol. 1 (Classic Reprint) written by H. Taine and published by Forgotten Books. This book was released on 2015-07-28 with total page 296 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Excerpt from On Intelligence, Vol. 1 Such is the method it has been attempted to follow in this work. In the first part, the elements of knowledge have been determined; by consecutive reductions we have arrived at the most simple elements, and have passed from these to the physiological changes which are the condition of their origin. In the second part, we have first described the mech anism and general effect of their combination then, applying the law we have discovered, we have examined the elements, formation, certitude, and range of the principal kinds of our knowledge, from that of individual things to that of general things, from the most special perceptions, previsions, and recollections, up to the most universal judgments and axioms. In these inquiries, Consciousness, our principal instrument, is not sufficient in its ordinary state; it is no more sufficient in psychological inquiries than the naked eye in Optical in quiries. For its range is not great; its illusions are many and invincible; it is necessary continually to beware of it; to test and correct its evidence, nearly always to assist it, to present objects to it in a brighter light, to magnify them and construct for its use a kind of microscope or telescope; at all events, to arrange the surroundings of the object, to give it the necessary relief by means of contrasts, or to find beside it indications of its presence, indications plainer than it is, and indirectly pointing out its nature. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.