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PREFACE

TO THE FIRST EDITION

A SHORT time ago one of our most distinguished statesmen, in giving an address on education, said: "What you want to develop in your race is the art of thinking, and thinking is an art which stands a very good chance of perishing from amongst us altogether. The risks to which independent thinking is exposed, when you come to reckon them up, are manifold and dangerous. I think the Press, with all its merits, is one of the greatest enemies of independent thinking." If by the Press we are to understand newspapers, magazines, and cheap literature, then we shall be in substantial agreement with this opinion. People read a great deal more than they used to do-there is more to be read-but they think less. The chief danger to-day is that of intellectual

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apathy. Life is so complex, the struggle for existence so keen, and pleasures of various kinds are so cheap and abundant, that men and women seem to live entirely on the surface of things. What we need is a call to independent thought. It is as a small contribution to supply this need that the author puts forth this little volume. In every other respect it will, he hopes, explain itself.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Time for Thinking - Thinking for Thinking's Sake-
Wanted: more Thinkers-Thought Creation-Thought
Control-The Programme for Beginners-Thinking
and Digestion

pp. 1-9

CHAPTER II

THE THINKING FACULTY

Unity of Mind-Feeling, Intellect, Will-Innate Know-

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Observation in Fiction Writing-The Culture of Obser-
vation-What is Reflection?-Reading-Thinkers v.
Readers-Social Intercourse-Travel
pp. 17-33

CHAPTER IV

STUDIES IN PREJUDICE

Active Prejudice-Passive Prejudice-Prejudice of Birth
and Nationality-Prejudice of Temperament-Prejudice
of Theorists-Prejudice of Unintelligent Conservatism
-How to deal with Prejudice

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pp. 34-58

CHAPTER V

THOUGHT AS INFLUENCED BY EMOTION

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The Twofold Influence of Emotion Fear Pride-
Sympathy Admiration Influence of Feeling
Emotion considered Philosophically - Problems for

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Solution-Character Studies

CHAPTER VI

pp. 59-82

GENERAL RULES FOR CLEAR THINKING

The Nature and Value of Method-The Art of Concen-
tration-The Laws of Evidence-The Art of Distinc-
tions-The Correct Use of the Principle of Authority-
The Importance of Using Correct Phraseology

CHAPTER VII

CONSTRUCTIVE THINKING

pp. 83-106

The Art of Classification - Constructive Imagination -
Generalisation-The Constructive Mood pp. 107-125

CHAPTER VIII

THOUGHT IN ITS MORAL ASPECTS

The Substance of Thought-The Art of Happiness

CHAPTER IX

pp. 126-134

THE COMMERCIAL VALUE OF TRAINED

INTELLIGENCE

Intelligence, i.e. Brain and Senses-Training the Mind and
Training the Eye-All-round Culture of Faculty—
“Thinking" for a Living

pp. 135-141

CHAPTER X

CONCLUSION

Thought Revival-Thought Production-General Rules

pp. 142-146

THE ART OF THINKING

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

"It is not erudition that makes the intellectual
man, but a sort of virtue that delights in beauti-
ful and vigorous thinking, just as moral virtue
delights in vigorous and beautiful conduct."

HAMERTON: The Intellectual Life.

"AND friend, when dost thee think?" was the reply made by a Quaker lady to whom Southey had explained with no little satisfaction Time for how he spent the day. He told her thinking how he studied Portuguese grammar whilst he was shaving, how he read Spanish for an hour before breakfast, how, after breakfast, he wrote or studied till dinner; how in a word, his whole time was filled by writing, reading, eating, talking, taking exercise and sleeping; and she replied with the very pertinent

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