The Labor enquirer., 1884-11-22
a Origin OF Consciousness.

For The Enquirer. ~> I
Knowledge and analogy cannot always
settle question of doubt from the fact
that we may be mistaken in things or
their attributes. When we see watch
and study its complicated machinery
and correct action, we may with certainty
conclude that conscious Intelligence had
something to do with its formation !;
when we study geology and notice the
succession of changes, all reaching. to-
wards one grand end, the existence of in
telligent beings, we may or may not con-
clude that conscious intelligence was
the first great cause, according to the diff
ference we imagine between the objects
of comparison. We must have patience
with each other and even allow each
other the use of capitals according to
our habits of thought. Thus Evolution
may m can something Divine.
According to Hume, matter and mo-
ton fill the universe; both eternal.
Motion should be just as much science
as matter Who knows but it may be
classified as we'll as matter insits various
forms? 1t may be simple, compound
and complex. The convolutions of the
brain, its system of nerves and fibers,
and it's growth according to the laws of
muscular development, c6nvinces US
that there is motion corresponding to
everv thought. BY motion it receives
all ideas through the senses.
Melodious and harmonious sounds
effect the thinking power in peculiar
manner. A continued sound in one tone
tires the ear; hence the philosophy of
melody. A number of tones whose
number of vibrations in second have a
mathematical relation to each other, of
common divisor and common multiple,
fall on the ear and produce pleasant
sensation hence the philosophy of har-
mony.
By experiment 1T will be found that
harmonious sounds do not aid the mind
in thinking.
Let person work out mathematical
problem while listening TO slow music
with the sweetest com bination of har
monious sounds and then try the. same
with discordant sounds, and he will find
that the first sooths, lulls and hinders
brain action, while the latter has scarcely
the power to break tbs train of thought
Quick music has different effect. The
mind is hardly conscious of one sound
before another takes its place. The
waves moved the whole as an exciting
discord though pleasant one A martial
intoxication takes place, in which i'm
pulse is the principal attribute.
We may conclude that motion is the
origin of consciousness. Not any simple
or compound motion, but discordant +;
not dlscordant alone but complex-in6.
nitely complex. Waves of light, heat,
electricity, magnetism, life force, etc, ETC.,
with every degree of intensity.
A vessel filled with shot has room for
quantity of sand, then for a quantity
of water and there is still room for cleo
tricity. Who knows where this gradua-
ton ends? Certainly far beyond the
reach of experiment.
Reaching the most highly attenuated
form of matter, we may conclude it is
subject to the same law. This, being
conscious, can act on the coarser forms
of matter only through the intermediate
grades, the same as the heat of the sun
effects the earth, by communicating the
vibrations first to the atmosphere.
1t is probable that human intelligence
is the same in its action. The analogy
is complete. Man is made after Gods
own image, but the difference is the diff.
ference between the finite and the Inf
mite.
In the lower forms Of life there Is cyl
dence of consciousness, but not intelli-
gence. This is well known fact. Swe-
denborg's "Esse" may possess modifca-
tions and degrees until we philosophic-
ally reach the Infinite. We may conclude
that mind and matter are mutually de-
pendent and that neither can exist
without the other.
JOHN SIXTH, Philosopher.
False Teachings.
For The Enquirer.
Teachers and preachers are plenty.
Churches and school honses are numer-