51

45

I compared the case to the dipping of an ivory object down
into water. There will be at any instant, as the dipping
proceeds, a water lin, or locus which is at once occupied
by air, water, and ivory. No matter at how
early an instant in the dipping process we snap our mental
camera, there will have been lines already. Where there has
no been no line already there is no line, but only a point.

Some men, like our dear James, are and like Thomas
Davidson, the founder of this school, think that this [is] absurd.
They think there must be a first line. That is, against the testimony
of the sense or imagination they invoke logic. Well, we
say to them, put the argument, if there be one into any syllogistic
form. They are unable to do so. Very well, we say, if it cannot
be put into any of the recognized forms of syllogism, tell us under
what new form of reasoning this you can put the argument