Psychologia Empirica

§. 2.

How the doctrine of empirical psychology becomes known.

Since in empirical psychology those things which are handed down concerning the human soul are established through experience (§. 1); and since we experience those things which we know by attending to our perceptions (§. 664 Log.); those things which pertain to empirical psychology become known by directing our attention to what occurs within our soul, of which we are conscious.

This proposition has a double use. For, first, it is clear from this how one arrives at the knowledge of those things which are taught in empirical psychology: which is beneficial to those who discover them. Second, it is understood from this how the things which are handed down in empirical psychology may be both correctly understood and subjected to examination: which aids those who are eager to acquire for themselves a certain knowledge of psychological matters. Clearly, the person about to discover psychological notions must act in such a way that the soul can elicit as many operations as possible from itself; for in this way, there will be an occasion for experiencing many things. For from those things which happen in the soul, we gather what can happen, and we reduce them to determinate notions. Indeed, whoever wishes to possess notions that correspond to the words and to be certain of their truth must endeavor to experience for himself those things that are handed down in psychology, or to resolve them into such things as he does experience. However, it will be evident from the very treatment that we assist this study in every way ourselves.

§. 3.

The habit required for discovering psychological notions.

Since in psychology those things are handed down which become known through experience as a teacher (§. 1), and since those things are individual (§. 665 Log.), whereas the things taught in Philosophy, of which empirical psychology is a part (§. 111 Prelim. Disc.), must be explained by accurate definitions (§. 116 Prelim. Disc.) and reduced to determinate propositions (§. 121 Prelim. Disc.); whoever is to discover the dogmas of empirical psychology must possess the habit of reducing those things which we experience to accurate definitions and determinate propositions: such a habit is known to be possible (§. 708 Log.).