| OCR Text |
Show TyndaU's Imagination. This instructive imagination for w are not concerned with mere reminiscent reminis-cent imagination here resulting in the creations of the poet and there in the discoveries dis-coveries of the man of science, is the highest of human faculties. With this faculty Professor Tyndall was largely endowed. In common with successful investigators in genernl, he displayed it in forming true conceptions of physical processes previously misinterpreted or uninterpreted, and again in conceiving modes b which the actual relations of the phenomena could be demonstrated, and again in devising fit appliances to this end. But to a much greater extent than usual he displayed constructive imagination in other fields. He was au excellent expositor, and good exposition implies much constructive construct-ive imagination. A prerequisite is the forming of true ideas of the mental states ot those who are to be taught, and a further prerequisite is the imagining imagin-ing of methods by which, beginning with conceptions they possess, there may be built up in their minds the conceptions con-ceptions they do not possess. Of constructive con-structive imagination as displayed in this sphere men at large appear to be almost devoid, as witness the absurd systems of teaching which in past times, and in large measure at present, have Btupefied and still stupefy children by presenting abstract ideas before they have any concrete ideas from which they can be drawn. W7hether as lecturer lec-turer or writer, Professor Tyndall carefully care-fully avoided this vicious practice. Herbert Spencer iu McClure's Magazine. |
