Chapter I: Imagination and Recognition

[Sidenote: _Recognizing the Past as Past_]

In the preceding volume of this _Course_, entitled "The Trained Memory," you learned that the memory process involves four elements, Retention, Recall, Recognition and Imagination; and the scope and operation of two of these elements, Retention and Recall, were explained to you.

There remain Recognition and Imagination, which we shall make the subject of this book. We shall treat of them, however, not only as parts of the memory process, but also as distinct operations, with an individual significance and value.

Both Recognition and Imagination have to do with mental images.

Recognition relates exclusively to those mental images that are the replica of former experiences. _It is the faculty of the mind by which we recognize remembered experiences as a part of our own past._ If it were not for this sense of familiarity and of ownership and of the past tense of recalled mental images, there would be no way for us to distinguish the sense-perceptions of the past from those of the present.

Recognition is therefore an element of vital necessity to every act of memory.

[Sidenote: _Imagination, Past, Present and Future_]

Imagination relates either to the past, the present or the future. On the one hand, it is the outright re-imagery in the mind's eye of past experiences. On the other hand, it is the creation of new and original mental images or visions by the recombination of old experiential elements.

You'll want to have it taste just right, especially if it's for "him," so be careful of the directions: Make a paste, using a tablespoonful of

Anderson's Chocolate

--to a cup of boiling milk--stir for a moment--then serve this delightful beverage. Watch his eyes sparkle--note the satisfaction in every sip--hear him murmur "You're a dear."

THIS ADVERTISEMENT COMBINES DIFFERENT ELEMENTS IN A SKILFUL APPEAL TO THE SENSES. SEE TEXT, PAGE 34]

KINDS OF MENTAL IMAGES