(AP:48) When phenomena are of such a kind,
that the impression they make on our senses requires little effort of
imagination, and can consequently be easily remembered, we say that they
are well-ordered; if the contrary, that they are ill-ordered or confused.
(AP:49) Further, as things which are easily imagined are more pleasing to
us, men prefer order to confusion, as though there were any order in
nature, except in relation to our imagination, and say that God has
created all things in order; thus, without knowing it, attributing
imagination to God, unless, indeed, they would have it that God foresaw
human imagination, and arranged everything, so that it should be most
easily imagined. (50) If this be their theory they would not, perhaps,
be daunted by the fact that we find an infinite number of phenomena, far
surpassing our imagination, and very many others which confound its
weakness. (51) But enough has been said on this subject. (52) The other
abstract notions are nothing but modes of imagining, in which the
imagination is differently affected, though they are considered by the
ignorant as the chief attributes of things, inasmuch as they believe that
everything was created for the sake of themselves; and, according as they
are affected by it, style it good or bad, healthy or rotten and corrupt.
(AP:53) For instance, if the motion whose objects we see communicate to
our nerves be conducive to health, the objects causing it are styled
beautiful; if a contrary motion be excited, they are styled ugly.
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