Single Idea 1544

[catalogued under 12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 6. Inference in Perception]

Full Idea

That it is the inner air that perceives, as being a fragment of the god, is shown by the fact that often when our minds are preoccupied with other matters we fail to see or hear.

Gist of Idea

Perception must be an internal matter, because we can fail to perceive when we are preoccupied

Source

report of Diogenes (Apoll) (fragments/reports [c.440 BCE], A19) by Theophrastus - On the Senses 42

Book Reference

'The First Philosophers', ed/tr. Waterfield,Robin [OUP 2000], p.200