Quote by William James, Principles of Psy

Millions of items in the outward order are present to my senses which never properly enter into my experience. Why? Because they have no interest for me. My experience is what I agree to attend to. Only those items which I notice shape my mind --without selective interest, experience is an utter chaos.

Millions of items in the outward order are present to my sen

Summary

This quote emphasizes the subjectivity of personal experience. It suggests that although there are countless things happening around us, only those that capture our interest and attention become part of our conscious experience. Anything that we don't notice or find uninteresting remains irrelevant and, essentially, nonexistent in shaping our perception and understanding of the world. This highlights the concept of selective attention and how it plays a significant role in organizing and making sense of our experiences. Without our conscious selection and focus, our experiences would be overwhelming and chaotic.

Topics

Experience

By William James, Principles of Psy

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