| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Sophist by Plato: of Comparative Philology or of Comparative Mythology and Religion, which
would have opened a new world to him. He makes no allowance for the
element of chance either in language or thought; and perhaps there is no
greater defect in his system than the want of a sound theory of language.
He speaks as if thought, instead of being identical with language, was
wholly independent of it. It is not the actual growth of the mind, but the
imaginary growth of the Hegelian system, which is attractive to him.
Neither are we able to say why of the common forms of thought some are
rejected by him, while others have an undue prominence given to them. Some
of them, such as 'ground' and 'existence,' have hardly any basis either in
language or philosophy, while others, such as 'cause' and 'effect,' are but
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Faraday as a Discoverer by John Tyndall: I now remain; and where I am constantly employed in observing the
works of nature, and tracing the manner in which she directs the
order and arrangement of the world. I have lately had proposals
made to me by Sir Humphry Davy to accompany him in his travels
through Europe and Asia, as philosophical assistant. If I go at all
I expect it will be in October next--about the end; and my absence
from home will perhaps be as long as three years. But as yet all is
uncertain.'
This account is supplemented by the following letter, written by
Faraday to his friend De la Rive,[3] on the occasion of the death
of Mrs. Marcet. The letter is dated September 2, 1858:--
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