EMPIRICAL PSYCHOLOGY

PART I.

CONCERNING

THE HUMAN SOUL

IN GENERAL

AND

THE FACULTY OF KNOWING

IN PARTICULAR.

SECTION I.

CONCERNING THE SOUL IN GENERAL.

CHAPTER I.

Concerning the existence of the human soul.

§. 11.

The foundation of the cognition of the soul’s existence.

We experience at every moment that we are conscious of ourselves and of other things constituted outside of ourselves. There is no need for anything but attention to our own perceptions, in order for us to be certain of that fact (§. 664 Log.).

Let no one be surprised that we propose such things as are obvious to everyone, nor that anyone should have called them into doubt. We do this at the command of method. For where something is to be demonstrated, certain things must be assumed, since no demonstration proceeds except from what is assumed. But those things which are assumed must be either evident or clear in themselves, because they have either been demonstrated already, or are granted without proof. The present proposition belongs to the latter class.

(Wolf’s Psychology.)