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the effect of sleep is so great that it causes this mistake to pass
unnoticed。 Accordingly; just as if a finger be inserted beneath the
eyeball without being observed; one object will not only present two
visual images; but will create an opinion of its being two objects;
while if it 'the finger' be observed; the presentation will be the
same; but the same opinion will not be formed of it; exactly so it
is in states of sleep: if the sleeper perceives that he is asleep; and
is conscious of the sleeping state during which the perception comes
before his mind; it presents itself still; but something within him
speaks to this effect: 'the image of Koriskos presents itself; but the
real Koriskos is not present'; for often; when one is asleep; there is
something in consciousness which declares that what then presents
itself is but a dream。 If; however; he is not aware of being asleep;
there is nothing which will contradict the testimony of the bare
presentation。
That what we here urge is true; i。e。 that there are such
presentative movements in the sensory organs; any one may convince
himself; if he attends to and tries to remember the affections we
experience when sinking into slumber or when being awakened。 He will
sometimes; in the moment of awakening; surprise the images which
present themselves to him in sleep; and find that they are really
but movements lurking in the organs of sense。 And indeed some very
young persons; if it is dark; though looking with wide open eyes;
see multitudes of phantom figures moving before them; so that they
often cover up their heads in terror。
From all this; then; the conclusion to be drawn is; that the dream
is a sort of presentation; and; more particularly; one which occurs in
sleep; since the phantoms just mentioned are not dreams; nor is any
other a dream which presents itself when the sense…perceptions are
in a state of freedom。 Nor is every presentation which occurs in sleep
necessarily a dream。 For in the first place; some persons 'when
asleep' actually; in a certain way; perceive sounds; light; savour;
and contact; feebly; however; and; as it were; remotely。 For there
have been cases in which persons while asleep; but with the eyes
partly open; saw faintly in their sleep (as they supposed) the light
of a lamp; and afterwards; on being awakened; straightway recognized
it as the actual light of a real lamp; while; in other cases;
persons who faintly heard the crowing of cocks or the barking of
dogs identified these clearly with the real sounds as soon as they
awoke。 Some persons; too; return answers to questions put to them in
sleep。 For it is quite possible that; of waking or sleeping; while the
one is present in the ordinary sense; the other also should be present
in a certain way。 But none of these occurrences should be called a
dream。 Nor should the true thoughts; as distinct from the mere
presentations; which occur in sleep 'be called dreams'。 The dream
proper is a presentation based on the movement of sense impressions;
when such presentation occurs during sleep; taking sleep in the strict
sense of the term。
There are cases of persons who in their whole lives have never had a
dream; while others dream when considerably advanced in years;
having never dreamed before。 The cause of their not having dreams
appears somewhat like that which operates in the case of infants; and
'that which operates' immediately after meals。 It is intelligible
enough that no dream…presentation should occur to persons whose
natural constitution is such that in them copious evaporation is borne
upwards; which; when borne back downwards; causes a large quantity of
motion。 But it is not surprising that; as age advances; a dream should
at length appear to them。 Indeed; it is inevitable that; as a change
is wrought in them in proportion to age or emotional experience; this
reversal 'from non…dreaming to dreaming' should occur also。
THE END
。