What is the basic principle of my system? It is, _Learn_ by _Thinking_.
What is _Attention_? It is the will directing the activity of the
_intellect_ into some particular channel _and keeping it there_. It is
the opposite of mind-wandering. What is thinking? It consists in
_finding relations_ between the objects of thought with an _immediate
awareness_ of those relations.
What is the Sensuous memory? It is association through the eye or ear of
a _succession_ of sights or sounds without any reflection or
consideration of the units of the succession, or what they stand for, or
represent. It is learning by _rote_--mere repetition--mere brainless or
thoughtless repetition--a mode of learning that is not lasting--and
always causes or promotes mind-wandering.
What is Assimilative memory? It is the _habit_ of so _receiving_ and
_absorbing_ impressions or ideas that they or their representatives
shall be _ready for revival or recall whenever wanted_. It is learning
through relations--by thinking--from grasping the ideas or thoughts--the
meaning and the comprehension of the subject matter. This mode of
learning promotes attention and prevents mind-wandering.
What are the two stages of the Memory? Let me illustrate: Last week,
month, or year you saw a military procession pass along the streets.
Note how your mind was affected. Into your eyes went impressions as to
the number composing the procession, their style of costume or dress,
the orderliness or otherwise of their march, the shape and form of the
musical instruments in the hands of the band, and the appearance of the
officer in charge on horseback. Into your ears went impressions of the
sound of the tramp and tread of the soldiers, the tune played by the
band, and any commands uttered by the officer. These impressions
commingling in your brain made up your experience of the passing of the
procession--your first and only experience of it at _that_ time. I call
this the First Stage of the Memory--the stage of the _First Impression_,
which is always the precursor of the Second Stage.
What is the Second Stage of the Memory? This moment you recall what? Not
the procession itself; for it is no longer in existence. You saw and
heard it then, but you do not see or hear it now. You only recall the
impression left upon your mind by the procession. A ray of Consciousness
is passed over that impression and you re-read it, you re-awaken the
record. This is the Second Stage of the Memory--the _revival_ of the
previous experience--the recall to consciousness of the First
Impression. The First Impression with no power to revive it afterward,
gives no memory. However great the power of Revival, there is no memory
unless there was a First Impression. There are three conditions of
memory--(1) Impression. (2) Its Preservation. (3) Its Revival. We are
mainly concerned here with the Impression and its Revival.
There are (_five_) kinds of memories rising from the natural aptitudes
of different individuals--(1) First Impressions are apt to be feeble and
the power to revive them weak--a poor memory. (2) First Impressions are
usually weak but the power to revive them is strong--still a poor
memory. (3) First Impressions are usually vivid but the power to revive
them is weak--a poor memory. (4) First Impressions on all subjects are
strong and the power to revive them is strong--a first-class memory. (5)
First Impressions in some particulars are very strong and the reviving
power in regard to them is very strong--a good memory for these
particulars, or a memory good for mathematics, or music, or faces, or
reciting, or languages, &c., but usually weak in most other respects.
SINCE WE ARE TO LEARN BY THINKING WE MUST AT THE OUTSET LEARN THE
DEFINITION OF THE THREE LAWS OF THINKING.