Rotheram, John (1725–1789)

An Essay on the Distinction Between the Soul and Body of Man

London

Printed by T. Saint, for J. Robson

1781

"What becomes of the old furniture when the new is continually introduced? In what hidden cells are these solid ideas lodged, that they may be produced again in good repair when wanted to fill the apartments of memory?"

If solid matter, either and entire solid, or a solid surrounding a vacuum, then the representation of objects in all their dimensions may be molded in the solid itself, or may be introduced into the included vacuum, as the furniture in a room. These solid representations must be of a texture hard and firm, else how can the mind retain its ideas? Yet they must be sufficiently soft and yielding instantly to admit of new shapes, else how shall we account for the quick succession of ideas? What becomes of the old furniture when the new is continually introduced? In what hidden cells are these solid ideas lodged, that they may be produced again in good repair when wanted to fill the apartments of memory? What gives life to these figures; and how are they perceived and felt?
(pp. 34-5)

Architecture::Furniture Architecture::Cell Architecture::Apartments

Reading (in the British Library)

An Essay on the Distinction Between the Soul and Body of Man. By John Rotheram, M. A. Rector of Houghton-Le-Spring, Vicar of Seaham, and Chaplain to the Right Reverend John Lord Bishop of Durham. (Newcastle upon Tyne: Printed by T. Saint, for J. Robson, New Bond-Street, London, 1781). <Link to ESTC>

06/22/2014