As we have seen, on Herbart’s view, representations are the perturbations, i.e., the individual or atomic representings that present as pictures the real objects that, through the senses, disturb the simple, continuous representing that is consciousness (PsW: 135).  Any representation, taken in isolation, is fully determined by the real object it presents to consciousness. Thus, since “representation” just means the generation and maintenance of the presented picture, the concept of representation, as such, contains neither the notion of striving, nor of any activity directed beyond itself (PsW: 134–5). But this Parmenidean state of a single atomic presentation, a “well-rounded sphere” completely bathed in the light of awareness, never obtains in reality. Instead, various streams of new representations constantly come flowing into consciousness, and of these representations, many oppose each other. We might picture these atoms as elastic[18]  balls streaming into the narrow beam[19] of awareness, jostling and crowding those already bobbing on the surface of consciousness. Depending on the strength and vivacity of these balls, some will remain floating, but most will quickly be pressed down, to some extent, through the surface and out of the light, which phenomenon was called “inhibition”, above.