Some properties of the essence of the soul

Introduction

124. In the preceding book, I indicated consciousness of ourselves as the source from which psychological teachings have to be drawn. At the same time, I established the PRINCIPLE OF PSYCHOLOGY, which lies in the essence of the soul. This consists, I said, in a first, immanent and wholly substantial feeling. The present book and the three following are dedicated to explaining (through meditation on that feeling) and revealing (by careful analysis) the elements, characteristics and attributes of the essence of the soul, and excluding those which have been falsely attached to it. Our teaching, therefore, will be partly negative and partly positive. In other words, I shall say what the soul is not, and what separates it from other substances; and I shall also indicate what it is in itself. I shall do all this as far as I can; I begin with the negative characteristic of unity.