Conscious” and “unconscious” are only too obviously…
““Conscious” and “unconscious” are only too obviously derivatives of “above ground” and “below ground.” In modern theories of the Will we meet with all the vocabulary of electrodynamics. Will functions and thought functions are spoken of in just the same way as the function of a system of forces. To analyze a feeling means to set up a representative silhouette in its place and then to treat this silhouette mathematically and by definition, partition, and measurement. All soul examination of this stamp, however remarkable as a study of cerebral anatomy, is penetrated with the mechanical notion of locality, and works without knowing it under imaginary coordinates in an imaginary space.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Human consciousness is framed by metaphors of depth, mirroring physical concepts, leading to mechanistic analysis of feeling
In simple terms: Thought is described using physical analogies, making feelings seem measurable
Key Takeaway
Consider the limits of reducing emotions to scientific models
Themes
philosophy
psychology
metaphor
Mood
contemplative
critical
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- academic discourse
- personal introspection
- creative writing
Key Concepts
dualism
mechanistic reductionism
Questions to Reflect On
- Can emotions be fully captured by scientific models?
- What is lost when feeling is treated as a function?
A Different Perspective
Over‑reliance on scientific framing can ignore subjective experience