Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-03-09

SO Tar as science knows there is no
more proof of the existence of intel
ligence in a brain cell than there is in
h cells of a potato, or in the mole
cules of matter that make up this pa
per. We do know there is a connec-
ton between the brain and the mind,
that the mind thinks through aid of
the brain, as it sees through aid of
the nerves of the eye; but that does
not prove the brain thinks any more
than it proves the nerves of the eye
see. No more wen than 1t would prove
that h strings of a violin enjoy their
own music. If we do not know that
cells nave intelligence. how can we
know that any combination of cells
will produce intelligence? Yet, Mr..
Edison believes it. Assumption again;
h merest assumption.
Mr.. Edison uses a comparison to
make his idea credible to the people.
He says: "A mans intelligence is the
aggregate intelligence of the innumer-
able cells that form him-tust as the
intelligence of a community is the ag-
gregate intelligence of the men and
women who inhabit IT, Surely, he per-
mits himself here to be the victim of
a figure of speech. We use symbolic
language when we speak Of the 'ag-
gregate intelligence of a community.
The community shows it's intelligence
only through individuals: it is made up
of individuals OF different degrees of
intelligence. of different and often con-
Trajectory ideas, principles and senti-
ments. Mr. Edison could hardly choose
a less happy comparison. What does
he think happens When an idea enters
the mind? Do all the little brain cells.
begin to debate it? Are some of the
little brain cells audacious insurgents
and Others immovable stand-patters?
Has each intelligent little brain cell an
opinion of its own? How does all this
intellectual activity g on absolutely
cells nanag finally to reach an har-
monious conclusion, SO harmonious
that a political love-feast seems like
wal In comparison?
NO, II the brain cells have intelli-
gence, no scientist has ever discover
ed the fact. We know nothing, then,
about intelligent cells; but we do know
that a man has an intelligent mind or
soul We do not distinguish between
mind and soul in the way Mr.. Edison
does, in his unp~hilosophical termin-
ology: the mind is the soul In its intel
lectual operations. The mind is one and
knows itself to be one. Memory proves
this. I remember the civil war. The
little brain cells that had these early
olOgy tells us; but remain the same In
dividual through all these changing
years. Nothing is clearer to me than
my w individuality: and the prin-
ciple OF that is what we call the soul.
Mr.. Edison speaks OF his investiga-
tons into the soul: he seems to have
looked for 1t with q microscope. st.
Paul was a truer philosopher: for what
man knoweth the things of a ma ave
the spirit Of mar that IL in him? It
Is only by searching n our conscious
ness that the nature Of mind or soul
can be discovered"
But. your eminence, are there no
proofs for Q who refuse to accept
Christianity"
yes. plenty Of them; and good ones.
They are to be found In q thorough
course OF philosophy; and they al be
really grasped only by those who have
made such 9 course. Philosophy 10 per-
maps the most abstruse and difficult
branch Of knowledge; It ID the crown
Or g liberal education. = crown, I may
say. by very few, exceedingly
Kew. Most students are averse to phil
osophy, because they have not the pa
ttent capacity OF mastering It. The
readers Of your publication are INTEL
ii9ent men. no doubt: hut they will not
obiige me TO believe they are trained
philosophers. Perhaps not more than
has y p~hiloeophic education Of
truly phllophic mind. One might
~ we'll dtDcus1 algehraic problemn IA
2 popular lecture. e Nj. Edison were
9 better philosopher, he would have re-
a!i1ed gnei. but his is an iptuitive
o. truth (a1d sometimes proycs tferr1
and brilliant: blunders; butt can ~
this without offence, j an rufe nv Z
~acknowledge his genius "a, ofher line.-
his = not ct al . ~philosophic MIND. IA
HnMoeopnel: = msy ~ no ocient-