Psychologia Empirica

the essence of the thing itself is finally sought (§. 157 Ontol.); in it we recognize both what is in the number of essential attributes and what has its reason within them. Now, indeed, he who knows those things that belong to the human mind is able to judge much more correctly concerning the perfection of the mind than another who is ignorant of the same: this is self-evident. Therefore, since it is shown below that pleasure is perceived from the sense of perfection, and that it is the greater the more deeply you explore that perfection, the mind of man is rendered capable of a pleasure through psychological study which otherwise would not fall to it at all.

It is established from the Horae subsecivae (1729, Summer Quarter, no. 1; Autumn Quarter, no. 1; 1730, Winter Quarter, no. 1; and Spring Quarter, no. 1) that the sincere pleasure which most befits men is that which is perceived from the cognition of truth, both natural and revealed, and of virtue, both natural and Christian. Therefore, it is through the study of Psychology that we obtain the ability to perceive this pleasure more fully and more certainly. Since the true happiness of man, which falls to him on this earth, consists in the perception of that pleasure—as we shall demonstrate in its own time in universal practical philosophy—the importance of a solid knowledge of empirical psychology becomes evident from this. Furthermore, it will be clear from the treatment itself that it is not impossible for us to attain a certain and fruitful knowledge concerning the human soul. It will become clear that the common prejudice is false, which holds that the immateriality of the soul prevents us from knowing anything positive about it.

END OF THE PROLEGOMENA.