n. The association fibers extending from one part to another
of the cortex are an anatomical fact. [Footnote: See p. 56.]
Facilitation is a fact, and that means that a stimulus which could not
of itself arouse a response can cooeperate with another stimulus that
has a direct connection with that response, and reinforce its effect.
In short, all the elements required for a neural law of combination
are known facts, and the only matter of doubt is whether we have built
these elements together aright in our interpretation. It is not pure
speculation, by any means.

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EXERCISES

1. Outline the chapter, in the form of a list of laws and sub-laws.

2. Review the instances of learning cited in Chapters XIII-XV,
and examine whether they are covered and sufficiently accounted for
by the general laws given in the present chapter.

3. Draw diagrams, like those given in this chapter, for the simpler
cases, at least, that you have considered in question 2.

4. Show that response by analogy is important in the development
of language. Consider metaphor, for example, and slang, and the
using of an old word in a new sense (as in the case of
'rail-road').

REFERENCES

William James devoted much thought to the problem of the mechanism of
learning, habit, association, etc., and his conclusions are set forth
in several passages in his _Principles of Psychology_, 1890, Vol. I,
pp. 104-112, 554-594, and Vol. II, pp. 578-592.

Another serious consideration of the matter is given by William
McDougall in his _Physiological Psychology_, 1905, Chapters VII and
VIII.

See also Thorndike's _Educational Psychology, Briefer Course_, 1914,
Chapter VI.

On the whole subject of association, see Howard C. Warren, _A History
of the Association Psychology_, 1921.

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CHAPTER XVII

PERCEPTION

MENTAL LIFE CONSISTS LARGELY IN THE DISCOVERY OF FACTS NEW TO THE
INDIVIDUAL, AND IN THE RE-DISCOVERY OF FACTS PREVIOUSLY OBSERVED

You will remember the case of John Doe, who was brought before us for
judgment on his behavior, as to how far it was native and how far
acquired. We have since that time been occupied in hearing evidence on
the case, and after mature consideration have reached a decision which
we may formulate as follows: that this man's behavior is primarily
instinctive or native, but that new attachments of stimulus and
response, and new combinations of responses, acquired in the process
of lear