Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-04-22
swEDENBoRG AS A SCIENTIST,


We have already noticed the growing
interest in the peculiar philosophy OF
Swedenbofg His labors as u scientist
are also beginning to be recognized. as
is set forth in an interesting article in
the Boston Transcript of April IA He
was ahead of his age in everything.
According to the writer In the Trans
cript DR.. Max Neuburger OF Vienna in
1901 delivered an address entitled
"Swedenborgs references to the Physi-
ology of the Brain" DIR. Neuburger
pointed out some of Swedenborg's most
important conclusions in the field of
cerebral physiology. Thus he says: Tile
eaped a whole century ahead of his
age by the announcement of another
discovery, for he was the first one to
show that the cortical substance of the
brain is the exclusive seat of the high
er psychical activity, the point of at
tack of the soul" The address con-
cluded with the warmest expression OF
appreciation of the great genius Of
Swedenborg in this field of research.
Following up this interest in Sweden
borg. DR. Neuburger addressed a conf
munication to the Academy of Sciences
of Stockholm, in which he expressed
his regret that Swedenborg's extensive
manuscript on the brain. which is pre-
served In the library of the Academy
of Sciences, had not yet been published.
This led to the appointment of a COM
mittee to investigate the matter.
The investigation resulted in the dis
covery of remarkable array Of scien-
tifc and philosophical works, many OF
which had never been published. They
included treatises on mathematics.
chemistry, metallurgy, magnetism. on
tology and cosmology, geology. paleon-
tology psychology. anatomy and physi-
ology. There are over eighty titles.
many OF them bulky treatises, in which
Swedenborg seemed to grasp the hid
den causes OF things BY his principles
OF vibration. degrees, series and order
he reduced the various domains OF sci
ence into unified whole. Moreover,
he anticipated by a century some of the
scientific discoveries OF the nineteenth
century. especially In the field OF ana
tony and physiology. The scientific
works OF Swedenborg will now be pub
lished. The first volume has appeared
and contains his contribution to the
science of geology. Volume II will con-
tain treatises on chemistry, physics and
mechanics; and volume III on Cosmolo-
gy. Four other volumes are planned.
two on the brain and two on phystolo-
gy.
1t seems that Swedenborg, and not
Iaplace, is entitled to the honor of be-
ing the author Of the nebular hypothe-
sis of the origin of the universe. A few
wears ago the astronomers Nyren and
Holden proved this. DR.. Retzius says;
On the first volume of his Opera Phi
Iosophica ct Mineralia' he explained
among other things. his new hypothesis
OF cosmogony, a nebular hypothesis, in
whlch-long before Kant and Laplace-
he REPRESENTED in word and illustration
the formation OF the planets in the sol
ar system. Laplace himself informs us
that he had received his first ideas
| on this subject from Button, and Buff
fon. ~ r. known, had Swedenborg $
work in his library"
Swedenborg early propounded the
theory that all forces in nature, in
| Guiding our vital force. consist mostly
of minute vibrations or tremulations
He carries this principle all through
his scientific and philosophical treatises
Electricity, magnetism, light, heat and
even grnTtat;on. according TO his
principles are vibrations OF the ether
In It's degrees In the human body the
motions of the brain and the lungs pro-
duce series OF motions which are of vi
tai Importance N the economy Of the
system Another principle which is OF
universal application in his philosophy
h his doctrine OF degrees. He shows
that as we ascend from gross matter "a
the nner and subtler forms OF NATURE
we come to more perfect forms and
forces, which arc the causes OF those
things manifested IN the solid matters
OF the Garth. This applies IN tho sphere
OF uaturs and its utmospheres. and in
the human body and its finer tissues
and fluids. There Is thus an ascent IN
perfection IN the body itself. but the
luling power iu the body h the mind
and sum within, and this ruling power
ur organism was the ultimate goal
which 5wedeuborg ouAelyored TO reach.
and some of the most sublime OF his