As we saw above, Herbart argues that from the instant at which a and b “collide” in consciousness, to the point of static equilibrium, a period of time must elapse. While at \(t_0\), the oppositional forces are at a maximum,[44] at \(t_1\) they will already have dimmed each other to an extent; at \(t_2\) this dimming will have progressed even further; etc. Herbart symbolizes the combined amount of the dimmed portion of a and b with “\(\sigma\)”.[45] Hence we can see that as time passes and a an