"He has allowed that mechanical associations of ideas are presented to the mind--by which he certainly implies that there is a something within us (not explained by him) which can acquire a stock of ideas, and can have recourse to that hoard, at pleasure."

— Caulfield (fl. 1778)


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for J. Dodsley
Date
1778
Metaphor
"He has allowed that mechanical associations of ideas are presented to the mind--by which he certainly implies that there is a something within us (not explained by him) which can acquire a stock of ideas, and can have recourse to that hoard, at pleasure."
Metaphor in Context
The very manner of expression, which it is not in Dr. Priestley's power to avoid, shews the absurdity of his hypothesis. He began the paragraph in which he made the extract from Mr. Locke (which I have just inserted) with these words--'the mechanical association of ideas that has been frequently presented to the mind,' &c.--and he began the last paragraph which I have extracted, with, 'supposing the human MIND to have acquired a stock of ideas by means of the external senses' &c.--thus, by a confession, which he has been compelled to make against himself, he has given his testimony in support of our immateriality. What would he have us understand by "the mind?"----He has allowed that mechanical associations of ideas are presented to the mind--by which he certainly implies that there is a something within us (not explained by him) which can acquire a stock of ideas, and can have recourse to that hoard, at pleasure. His own manner of writing, shews the absurdity of the doctrine which he wishes to support!----What is it, which associates ideas? [...] (p. 108)
Provenance
Gale's Eighteenth Century Collections Online (ECCO).
Citation
Only 1 entry in ESTC (1778).

See An Essay on the Immateriality and Immortality of the Soul, and Its Instinctive Sense of Good and Evil; in Opposition to the Opinions Advanced in the Essays Introductory to Dr. Priestley's Abridgment of Dr. Hartley's Observations on Man. to Which Are Added, Strictures on Dr. Hartley's Theory; ... With an Appendix, in Answer to Dr. Priestley's Disquisitions on Matter and Spirit. by the Author of the Letters in Proof of a Particular, As Well As a General Providence, Which Were Addressed to Dr. Hawkesworth ... Under the Signature of a Christian (London: Printed for J. Dodsley, 1778). <Link to ESTC>
Date of Entry
07/18/2005

The Mind is a Metaphor is authored by Brad Pasanek, Assistant Professor of English, University of Virginia.