Elements of the philosophy of the human mind. By Dugald Stewart. Rev. and abridged, with critical and explanatory notes, for the use of colleges and schools. By Francis Bowen ...

IMAGINATION. 3 303
turnstance on which the distress turns, but with the seintiments
and feelings of every character, with respect to his situation.
In real life, we see, in general, only detached scenes of the tragedy; and the impression is slight unless imagination finishes
the characters, and supplies the incidents that are wanting.
nmaghination increases our sympathy with others. It is not
only to scenes of distress that imagination increases our sensibility. It gives us a double share in the prosperity of others,
and enables us to partake with a more lively interest in every
fortunate incident that occurs either to individuals or to communities. Even from the productions of the earth and the vicissitudes of the year, it carries forward our thoughts to the enjoyments they bring to the sensitive creation, and by interesting
our benevolent affections in the scenes we behold, lends a new
charm to the beauties of nature.
I have often been inclined to think, that the apparent coldness
and selfishness of mankind may be traced, in a great measure,
to a want of attention and a want of imagination. In the case
of misfortunes which, happen to ourselves, or to our near connections, neither of these powers is necessary to make us acquainted with our situation: so that we feel, of necessity, the
correspondent emotions. But without an uncommon decree of
both, it is impossible for any man to comprehend completely the
situation of his neighbor, or to have an idea of a great part of
the distress which exists in the world. If we feel, therefore,
more for ourselves than for others, the difference is to be ascribed, at least partly, to this; that, in the former case, the
flicts which are the foundation of our feelings, are more fully
befbre us than they possibly can be in the latter.
In order to prevent misapprehensions of my meaning, it is
necessary for me to add, that I do not mean to deny that it is a
law of our nature, in cases in which there is an interference between our own interest and that of other men, to give a certain
degree of preference to ourselves; even supposing our neighbor's situation to be as completely known to us as our own. I
only affirm, that, where this preference becomes blamable and
unjust, the effect is to be accounted for partly in the wav I men30