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Single Idea 4832

[from 'The Ethics' by Baruch de Spinoza, in 15. Nature of Minds / C. Capacities of Minds / 8. Remembering Contiguity ]

Full Idea

If the human body has once been affected by two or more bodies at the same time, when the mind afterwards imagines any of them, it will straightway remember the other also.

Gist of Idea

If the body is affected by two things together, the imagining of one will conjure up the other

Source

Baruch de Spinoza (The Ethics [1675], II Pr 18)

Book Reference

Spinoza,Benedict de: 'Ethics, Improvement of Understanding, Letters', ed/tr. Elwes,R [Dover 1955], p.100


A Reaction

Very interesting to see a great rationalist philosopher making an observation right at the heart of Hume's theory of knowledge (associationism). Clearly an associationist theory of psychology need not imply a materialist (connectionist) theory of mind.