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Lyrics by Paul L. Fine

Let us first divide cognition into rational analysis

and sensory perception (which Descartes considered valueless).

Now reason gives us concepts which are true but tautological;

sensation gives us images whose content is phenomenal.

Whatever greets our senses must exist in space and time

for else it would be nowhere and nowhen and therefore slime;

the space and time we presuppose before we sense reality

must have innate subjective transcendental ideality.

Thus space and time

are forms of our perception

whereby sensation's synthesized in orderly array;

the same must hold

for rational conception:

in everything we think, the laws of logic must hold sway.

But a problem here arises with respect to natural science:

while empirical in method, on pure thought it lays reliance.

Although for Newton's findings we to Newton give the glory

Newton never could have found them if they weren't known a priori.

We know that nature governed is by principles immutable

but how we come to know this is inherently inscrutable;

that thought requires logic is a standpoint unassailable

but for objects of our senses explanations aren't available.

So let's attempt

to vivisect cognition

by critical analysis in hope that we may find

the link between

pure thought and intuition:

a deduction transcendental will shed light upon the mind.

You may recall that space and time are forms of apprehension

and therefore what we sense has spatiotemporal extension;

whatever is extended is composed of a plurality

but through an act of synthesis we form a commonality.

If we are to be conscious of a single concrete entity

each part of its extension must be given independently

combining in a transcendental apperceptive unity

to which I may ascribe the term "self-conscious" with impunity.

The order of

our various sensations

arises from connections not beheld in sense alone;

our self creates

the rules of their relations

and of this combination it is conscious as its own.

While these rules correspond to scientific causal laws

the question of their constancy remains to give us pause;

but once we recollect the source of our self-conscious mind,

to this perverse dilemma a solution we may find.

The self is nothing but its act of synthesis sublime;

this act must be the same to be self-conscious over time.

The rules for combination of its selfhood form the ground

so what we perceive tomorrow by today's laws must be bound.

These constant laws

whereby we shape experience

are simply those which regulate our reason: that is plain.

So don't ask why

the stars display invariance --

the Cosmos is produced by your disoriented brai