The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-12-28

P.ofessor Tyndall III Fortn.ghtly Review.
If asked to deduce from tho phy sical
intersction of tho brain molecules the
least of ,he phenomena OF sensation or
thought, We must acknowledge eur
helrl.ssness.
The mechanicai philosopher. ~ such.
will never state u place Of onscious-
ness aud group Of molecules in the
relation of mover and moved. In pass
ing from the one 10 the other We meet .
blank which the logic If deduction js
unable to Rll.
Physical considerations do not lead 10
tho fnal explanation Of all that We feel
and know. We meet problem whicA
transcends any conceivable expansion
of the powers which We Dow possess.
We may think over the subject again
and again, but It eludes all intellectual
presentation.
Having thus exhausted physics and
reached its very rim. q mighty mystery
still looms beyond Us. We have, in
fact, made 40 step towards its solution.
We try to soar in a vacuum when We
endeavor to pass by logical deduction
from one to the other.
Religions feeling 10 - much . verify
as any other Part Of human conscious-
ness; ard against il on its subjective
side the waves OF science beat in vain.
could see that his (Csrlyls's) con.
tention at bottom always was that the
human soul has claims aud yearnings
which physical science cannot satisfy.
II seemed high time for him (vir-
chow to enter an energetic protest
against the attempts that arc made to
proclaim the problems Of research -
an actual fact. and the opinions Of sci.
entists as established science.
We ought not. Virchow urges, to re-
present our conjecture - . certainty,
ror our hypothssis as doctrine; this
10 inadmissable.
The burden Of my writing in this
connection 10 a. much . recognition Of
the weakness Of science a. IN assertion
Of its strength.
II asked wheth,r science has solved,
or 10 likely in our day to solve. the
problem of the universe. must shake
my head in doubt. Behind and sbovc
and around us the real mystery OF the
universe lies unsolved. and. - far ~
we are concerned. 10 incapable Of solu.
tion. The problem OF the connection
OF body and sout 10 a insoluble in its
modern form as il was In the pre-.
scientific ages.
There ought to be clear distinction
made between science in the state Of
hypothesis AMI science in the state OF
fact.
Aud inasmuch - il Is still in its hy-
pothetical stage. the ban Of exclusion
ought to tall upon the theory Of evola.
tion.
After speaking OF the theory OF evo-
luton applied to the primitive condi-
tion OF matter ~ belonging to the
dim twilight Of conjecture. the csr-
tsinty Of experimental inquiry 10 here
shut ont.
Those who hold the doctrine Of svo-
luton are BY no means ignorant OF the
uncertainty Of their data, and they only
yield to it . provisional assent.
In reply 30 your question. they will
frankly admit their Inability TO point
to any satisfactory experimental proof
that life can b developed. save from
dcmonstrAble antecedept life.
share virchov's opinion that thc
theory Of evolution in its complste
form Involves the assumption that. at
some pcriod or other Of the oarth'l
history, there occurred what would sow
be called Spontaneous generstion.
agree With hio that the peoofs oil Il
are still wanting.
hold with Virchow that the Tail
urss have been lamsntabie that tie
doctrine il utterly discrsdited.