The Thoughts Of Hume Vs Systemic Functional Linguistics [4]

Russell (1961: 636):

There is, [Hume] says, no impression of self, and therefore no idea of self (Book I, part iv, sec. vi).  'For my part, when I enter most intimately into what I call myself, I always stumble on some particular perception or other, of heat or cold, light or shade, love or hatred, pain or pleasure.  I never catch myself at any time without a perception, and never can observe anything but the perception.'  There may, he ironically concedes, be some philosophers who can perceive their selves; 'but setting aside some metaphysicians of this kind, I may venture to affirm of the rest of mankind, that they are nothing but a bundle or collection of different perceptions, which succeed each other with inconceivable rapidity, and are in perpetual flux and movement'.

Blogger Comments:

From the perspective of Systemic Functional Linguistic Theory, Hume's claim is that the Senser is 'nothing but' mental Processes projecting Phenomena.  That is, he excludes the Medium from the Process.