142 Intuitive Thinking as a Spiritual Path
percept occurs, the more suited the person in question
will be to act purely under the influence of tact: that is,
tact becomes the characterological disposition.
The second sphere of human life isfeeling. Particular
feelings accompany percepts of the external world. These
feelings can become motive powers for action. If I see a
hungry person, my compassion can form the motive pow-
er to act. Such feelings include shame, pride, sense of
honor, humility, remorse, compassion, vengeance, grati-
tude, piety, loyalty, love, and duty.^3
Finally, the third level of life isthinking and mental pic-
turing. Through mere reflection, a mental picture or con-
cept can become a motive for action. Mental pictures
become motives because, in the course of life, we con-
stantly link certain goals of our will to percepts that recur
repeatedly in more or less modified form. Therefore peo-
ple who are not without experience are always aware,
along with certain percepts, of mental pictures of actions
they themselves have performed or seen others perform in
similar cases. These mental pictures float before them as
defining patterns for all later decisions; they become part
of their characterological disposition. We can call this
motive power of the willpractical experience. Practical
experience merges gradually into purely tactful action.
This happens when certain typical pictures of actions
- A complete catalogue of the principles of morality (from the stand-
point of metaphysical realism) can be found in Eduard von Hart-
mann’sDie Phänomenologie des sittlichen Bewusstseins. (Author’s
note)
[12]
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