SENSE, the faculty of the soul by which it perceives external objects by means of impressions made on certain or gans of the body. The external organs of et Ise are usually classed under live heads, viz. those of sight, hearing, feeling, smell, and taste. The nerves and the brain are the organs of sensation. if the external organ be destroyed, no sensation con be produced : where there are no nerves there is no sensation : where the nervous branches are most numerous there is most sensation ; if the nerve be destroyed, sensation cannot lie produced from those parts to which the nerve belongs, which are further from the brain than the in jured parts. All the nerves terminate in the brain. If 1 he brain is compressed, sensation is suspended: if the lint in is considerably injured, sensation ceases Sensations are the rudiments and ele ments of our ideas, that is, of all our thoughts and feelings. In the earliest exercise of the seustttive pourer, sensa tions sire simple, uncompounded with the relies of former corresponding sensations : but the sensations soon become percep tions ; that is, they instantaneously recall the relics of other corresponding sensa tions. The accuracy and extent of the
perception depends on the vividness and efficaciousness of the compound sensa tions, and the number of them received from the same or similar objects in differ ent situations, and through the medium of different senses. The object therefore of earlier education should be to invigo rate the organs of sense is that power of the mind which, by a kind of instinct, or a short process of rea soning, perceives truth, tho relation of things, cause and effect, ,he., and hence enables the possessor to discern what is right and expedient, and adopt the best means to accomplish his purpose.--lloTat Sense implies, a determination of the mind to be pleased with those affections, actions or characters of rational agents, which are considered good and conducive to virtue.