there are two kinds of attention, wrote James in…

Page 96, there are two kinds of attention, wrote James in his 1890 book the principles of psychology Number one voluntary number two passive. Voluntary attention takes effort. We must continually direct and redirect our focus as we encounter and onslaught of stimuli or concentrate hard on a task. Navigating an urban environment with its hard surfaces, sudden movements, and loud sharp noises requires voluntary attention. Passive attention by contrast is effortless it floats from object to object topic to topic. This is the kind of attention evoked by nature, with its murmuring sounds fluid motions and psychologist, working in the tradition of James called this state of mind soft fascination.

— from The Mind in the Cockpit · Extended mind by Anne Murphy paul

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