Thinking in the Service of Understanding the World 27CHAPTER 3
THINKING IN THE SERVICE
OF UNDERSTANDING
THE WORLD
When I observe how a billiard ball, once struck, transfers
its movement to another, I remain completely without in-
fluence over the course of this process. The direction of
motion and the velocity of the second ball are determined
by the direction and velocity of the first. As long as I re-
main a mere observer, I can say something about the
movement of the second ballonly after it has actually be-
gun. But the situation is different when I begin to think
about the content of my observation. The purpose of my
thinking is to form concepts about the process I observe. I
connect the concept of an elastic sphere with certain other
concepts of mechanics and take into consideration the par-
ticular circumstances prevailing in the given case. Thus, to
the process that plays itself out without my participation I
seek to add a second process, which goes on in the concep-
tual sphere. This sphere depends on me, as is evident in my
being able to content myself with observation, renouncing
any search for concepts, if I have no need of them. But if
this need is present, then I am satisfied only when I have