LAWS OF MIND related to rhetoric

There are certain laws of mind which are universal among sane men. In addition to these, there are certain rules of action which grow out of particular modes of life or degrees of mental development. We need to consider separately the general laws of mind, and the particular laws depending upon individual circumstances.

THE rhetorician must address the mind in accord¬ance with its laws of action. This requires him to adapt his ideas to

(1) the INTELLECT, or faculty of cognition ;

(2) the FEELINGS, or faculty of sensibility.

Classification of Mental Phenomena

IN the preceding chapter we have considered the universal principles of the human mind in its two modes of action, thought and feeling. The laws of mind would not be completely outlined, if we were to neglect those particular principles which grow out of the conditions of life. Age, position, education, busi¬ness, even climate and government, affect the thoughts and feelings of men in ways with which the rhetorician should be familiar. Men are so modified by their circumstances, that they must be studied in their en¬vironment, in order to be understood and influenced. A large portion of what, on general principles, should be esteemed true eloquence, falls impotent to the ground for want of special adaptation. The law¬yer, the preacher, and the lecturer must study mi¬nutely the habits of thought and modes of feeling of the classes addressed. The purely literary man, who writes for the world and for all time, may not attend so closely to the modifications of human character, but those who address a particular class should adapt their ideas to its peculiar powers of reception and as¬similation. We can here present only three of the most important causes of peculiarity—(1) AGE, (2) EXPERIENCE, and (3) AFFILIATION. Others may be equal ly worthy of study.