he felt <as> he did on account of ~

[park sang joon]

The protagonist, Philip, who was born with a club foot, moved in with his uncle Mr. Carey, the Vicar of Blackstable after his mother's death.
He dropped out of King's School at Tercanbury, came to Germany, and stays at the Frau Professor Erlin's lodging house with several guests.
He ceased to believe God.

...........................
He was surprised at himself because he ceased to believe so easily, and, not knowing that he felt as he did on account of the subtle workings of his inmost nature, he ascribed the certainty he had reached to his own cleverness.
[Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham]
I'd like to know if we can use "as" in lieu of "as if/ like" in this case.
Thank you in advance for your help.

 

[sound shift]

It means "He felt the way he did".
"As if" doesn't work here.
"As" is better than "like" here.

 

[park sang joon]

Thank you, sound shift, for yet another So very kind answer from you.
I thought we should connect "feel" and a clause by "as if."
So I was wondering why "as if" doesn't work.

 

[sound shift]

"As if" describes unreal situations. Your extract is about the way he actually felt - so "as if" doesn't work.

 

[park sang joon]

Thank you, sound shift, for your continuing support.
Then how about "as though"?

 

[sound shift]

No. The same objection applies: "He felt as though he was floating" implies that he wasn't really floating. Your extract describes the way he really felt.

 

[park sang joon]

Thank you, sound shift, for your continuing to answer.