Nervous Susceptiblity

[lilwilly]

The actual constitution of the nervous system of an individual will help determine the individual's natural proclivities and train of thought. I found this to be very interesting the first time I read it nearly a year ago. What do you think?
Now it is an acknowledged principle that all sensations experienced during the presence of any vivid

Comments

[kinz4]

see, what I find most intriguing is the very concept of the nervous system associating itself with one's environment and vise versa, and i definitely think there is a wide spectrum in this case. for many people, smells and tastes can immediately remind them of a certain occasion or feeling. on the other hand, i could exclaim: "my cat smells like christmas" (which i have been known to exclaim)...and those very people will think i'm crazy.

[lilwilly]

Yes, you're speaking of associationistic psychology which was developed in part by James Mill (John Stuart's father) and David Hartley (and later led to behaviorism). John Stuart Mill, of course, adopted this principle of association in his philosophy of the mind and in all the moral sciences.

The whole idea of how sensitive one's nervous system is and how that relates to how sensations are received and thus forms character is quite interesting. Good old Mill. As much as I like Russell, I think Mill will always be in a sense closer to me. I have at times, absurdly enough, almost though that perhaps I was Mill in a former life because of how similar our thought patterns seem to be. I used to be able to read Mill, the first time through, and in my head finish his sentences and train of thought when reading. Hehe. I'm a weirdo I think.

[kinz4]

wow. maybe you really *were* mill in a former life. i mean being able to finish trains of thought and whatnot? or perhaps you're related to him somehow without knowing it. either way, not a day goes by without you proving to be this undercover genius of some kind! (that sort of came out of nowhere, but true nonetheless!)