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 ...

78 CONCEPTION.
Conception distinguished from Incagination. - Conception is
frequently used as synonymous with imagination. Dr. Reid
says, that "imagination, in its proper sense, signifies a lively
conception of objects of sight." "This is a talent," he remarks,
"of importance to poets and orators; and deserves a proper
name, on account of its connection with their arts." He adds,
that "imagination is distinguished from conception as a part
from the whole."
I shall not inquire at present into the proper English meaning of the words conception and imagination. In a study such
as this, so far removed from common purposes of speech, some
latitude may perhaps be allowed in the use of words; provided
only we define accurately those we employ, and adhere to our
own definitions.
The business of conception, according to the account I have
given of it, is to present us with an exact transcript of what we
have felt or perceived. But we have, moreover, a power of
modifying our conceptions, by combining the parts of different
ones together, so as to form new wholes of our own creation.
I shall employ the word imagination to express this power;
and, I apprehend, that this is the proper sense of the word, if
imagination be the power which gives birth to the productions
of the poet and the painter. This is not a simple faculty of the
mind. It presupposes abstraction, to separate from each other
qualities and circumstances which have been perceived in conjunction; and also judgment and taste, to direct us in forming
the combinations. If they are made wholly at random, they
are proofs of insanity.*
then, the only objects of thought are (1.) mere words, and (2.) the conceptions of particular, material objects, such as can be imaged or pictured forth
in the fancy. Reid and the Conceptualists maintain, that there are also
(3.) conceptions of abstract and general things, - conceptions which are
more definite than mere words, but less definite than images or pictures
of particular objects.
But these differences of opinion between the Nominalists, Realists, and
Conceptualists, will be explained more fully hereafter.]
* In common discourse, we often use the phrase of thinking upon an object,
to express what I here call the conception of it. In the following passage