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Two passages seem to require more particular explanations. First,

that which relates to the analysis of vision. The difficulty in

this passage may be explained, like many others, from differences

in the modes of conception prevailing among ancient and modern

thinkers. To us, the perceptions of sense are inseparable from

the act of the mind which accompanies them. The consciousness of

form, colour, distance, is indistinguishable from the simple

sensation, which is the medium of them. Whereas to Plato sense is

the Heraclitean flux of sense, not the vision of objects in the

order in which they actually present themselves to the

experienced sight, but as they may be imagined to appear confused

and blurred to the half-awakened eye of the infant. The first

action of the mind is aroused by the attempt to set in order this

chaos, and the reason is required to frame distinct conceptions

under which the confused impressions of sense may be arranged.