aggregate of independent parts it substi- application.

Excitable but untrained

The

cannot estimate its value and know noth-
ing of the evidence upon which it rests.
Nay, where the passion for novelty is
stronger than the power of scrutinizing
proofs and estimating impartially the
force of reasoning, even earnest students
of science may be led astray by hastily
adopting the guidance of a grand convic-
tion or belief instead of following the
slower but surer road of experimental
verification and inductive proof.
partial though still popular acceptance of
the new doctrine will thus be likely to
illustrate in its working the evils asso-
ciated with outbursts of social and reli-
gious enthusiasm. It will
operate as a
disturbing force in science, introducing
into its domain elements of confusion
and perplexity from which it had hitherto
been almost wholly free. And subjected
to this newer influence science can no
longer claim any immunity from the per-
ils and difficulties besetting other and
less positive branches of inquiry. In pro-
portion to their rash adoption and indis-
criminate use the new doctrines must
produce injurious results both speculative
and practical.

tutes the larger and more vital concep- minds would eagerly welcome it, and
tion of all being mutually related and con- through the open avenues of fancy and
stituting an organic whole. The old feeling it will gain access to numbers who
lines of rigid difference, the hard isolat-
ing boundaries, including ultimate dis-
tinctions of form and substance, melt
away before the incessant ebb and flow,
flux and reflux, of common elements and
common forces. The same constituents
are found in the mightiest orbs above us
as in the dust beneath our feet, and the
same processes are illustrated in the for-
mation alike of a star, a gem, or a flower.
Man himself occupies a subordinate place
in a vast secular procession which has
moved on through interminable ages in
the past, and, like the shadowy train that
startled Macbeth in the Witches' Cavern,
stretches out to the crack of doom in the
future. Such a conception has undoubt-
edly a power and dignity of its own that,
apart from definite evidence, would make
it almost irresistibly attractive to a cer-
tain order of minds. If it seems at first
sight to aggrandize nature at the expense
of man, the unwelcome impression is
soon removed by perceiving that it virtu-
ally annihilates the distinction between
them. In the same way its bearing upon
the moral universe is purposely left ob-
scure in the ambiguity as to whether it
may ultimately tend to materialize spirit These evils are, indeed, already appar-
or spiritualize matter. Ardent and imag-ent in almost every department of inqui-
inative minds, enamoured of natural in- ry. As we have seen, the theory of evo-
quiry, will not hesitate at speculative dif- lution supplies physical science with a
ficulties of this kind, or inquire too curi- speculative basis or philosophy which it
ously about the links of proof. They will sorely needed, and with a kind of religion
be fascinated by the novelty and gran- as well. At least the grand cosmical
deur of a conception that seems to rend conception gives a powerful emotional
the veil in nature's temple, and reveal stimulus to a certain order of susceptible
her hidden mysteries; that avowedly gath- minds, which may be regarded as a spe-
ers the scattered rays of knowledge into cies of inverted religious feeling. But
a focus for the purpose of illuminating what is thus gained in one direction is
the past, the present, and the possible; certainly lost in another. While giving
that regards geological ages as moments to science a philosophy and religion, the
in the rythmical evolution of universal great hypothesis has also brought with it
life, and planetary systems as mere all the vices usually associated with the
specks in the fathomless abyss of infinite more excited types of metaphysical and
being. Such an hypothesis appeals quite theological discussion. The intellectual
as strongly to the imagination and the evils thus introduced are exemplified in
emotions as it does to the judgment and the writings of even the more eminent
the reason, and hence the danger of its scientific men belonging to the evolution-
premature acceptance and indiscriminate ist school. No doubt the hypothesis

gives a breadth, vigour, and animation to the expositions of its best representatives, such as Tyndall and Huxley; but, at the same time, it infects their speculative reasoning and results with an element of vagueness and uncertainty which even the most confident tone and trenchant style cannot altogether conceal. Then, again, the polemical writings of the school abound with the strained emphasis, eager word-catching, the rhetorical denunciations and appeals which characterize the lower forms of religious controversy.

are

sumed except those which really exist, and are sufficient to produce the effect. Now, the power of spontaneous and systematic transmutation which Mr. Darwin's hypothesis assumes has not yet been shown to exist; the slight variations within fixed and narrow limits, which is all he demonstrates, being wholly insufficient to produce the enormous changes attributed to it. The fatal flaw is the absence of evidence as to the existence and working of the power which the theory assumes. The furthest line in the past along which science can travel fails But the most serious result is the in- to supply the needed links of proof. Not road which these imposing hypotheses only the long historical period, but the are making on the method and language immensely longer geological eras of science. With regard to the first silent on this vital point. The records. point, Mr. Darwin himself leads the way of thousands and hundreds of thousands in the virtual abandonment of the induc- of years have been ransacked in vain for tive method. While nominally inductive, the needed evidence. When pressed his procedure is really deductive, and de- with these difficulties, Mr. Darwin takes ductive of the most unscientific and illog- refuge in infinite time and unknown ical kind. Mr. Darwin tells us that his space, in the alleged imperfection of the favourite speculation has guided and in- geological record, and the assumed eons fluenced his scientific observations and of animated nature that died and made no reflections for upwards of thirty years. sign. Here, of course, he cannot be folAt length he propounds it avowedly as lowed, and is at perfect liberty, therefore, an hypothesis, the fragmentary and im- to fabricate his imaginary proofs in any perfect evidence deduced in its support way, and to any extent he pleases. To being eked out with ingenious analogies cover this sort of retreat, or at least to and fanciful suggestions. The hypothet- afford ample room for this sort of indefiical character of the speculation is fully nite appeal, Professor Tyndall formally admitted by the few eminent names in claims free scope for the exercise of the science who have given it a welcome. On imagination in science. He admits the other hand, men as eminent as Mr."that, in more senses than one, Mr. DarDarwin in his own department have strongly asserted that not one of the points essential to the establishment of the hypothesis is proved; in short, that as yet it has no really scientific evidence in its support. But in his recent works Mr. Darwin boldly employs the unverified hypothesis deductively to explain the origin and history of man, and interpret what is most characteristic in human expression. And he does this with all the confidence of a theological disputant applying some dogmatic assumption, such as universal depravity or satanic influence, or defending some sectarian symbol, such as Sacramental Efficacy or an Effectual Call. In this, it need hardly be said, Mr. Darwin completely abandons the true attitude of science, which is that of suspended judgment on points not yet proved.

win has drawn heavily upon the scientific tolerance of his age. He has drawn heavily upon time in the development of his species; and he has drawn adventurously upon matter, in his theory of pangenesis." But he boldly demands that in science the speculative faculty shall be free to wander into regions where the hope of certainty would seem to be entirely shut out. In other words, when a daring scientific speculator finds himself in difficulties - becomes bankrupt in fact

he must be allowed to draw upon the bank of fancy at will, with the assurance that his draft, if eyed with suspicion by older-established scientific firms, will be eagerly honoured by excited, credulous, and expectant novices.

The philosophy and psychology of the school are, to a large extent, infected with the same vice. While nominally experiAgain, in attempting to establish his ential and inductive, they are really, to a theory, Mr. Darwin violates the funda- characteristic extent, à priori and hypomental canons of scientific inquiry- thetical. The system of Mr. Herbert Newton's celebrated laws, that in inter- Spencer, the chief philosophical expopreting nature no causes are to be as-nent of evolution, is essentially deduc

tive, its central propositions being as-sults. Unfortunately, however, all scien-
sumed, and only illustrated by occasional tific conjectures need verification; and
but wholly insufficient references to ex- it is only after this necessary process that
perience. The psychology of the school, the man of genius can be finally distin-
again, rests on an extreme and one- guished from the daring but wayward
sided theory; and the spirit of observa- speculator. However this may be, Dr.
tion, though largely cultivated, is still Maudesley practically illustrates the li-
guided and controlled by the exigencies cense he claims for men of genius. Ac-
of the theory. One important point of customed to the observation and treat-
the theory for example, is, that we ment of mental diseases, and thus habit-
have no perception of externality and uated to the psychological side of his
distance through the sense of sight; no science, he boldly resolves all bodily ail-
direct and intuitive perception of these ments into mental disorders. All dis-
relations at all, indeed, the knowledge turbances in any part of the physical.
being arrived at in a roundabout and op- system in the lungs or liver, the stom-
erose manner by means of our muscular ach or kidneys may, according to him,
and tactile experiences. The well-known be ultimately traced to a temporary loss
facts of animal life-such as that of of local memory. He asserts, indeed,
chickens catching flies without any pre- that every organic element of the animal.
vious experience, as soon as they leave body is endowed with this mental power
the shell-directly contradict this view. the pittings of small-pox being due to
The facts rest on the express observa- the fact that the virus of this terrible
tion and testimony of eminent naturalists, disease has a peculiarly tenacious mem-
and they have recently been verified ory. Extremes meet, and the ultra-
afresh in a series of thoroughly scientific physical school, in its latest develop-
and exhaustive experiments. But Pro- ments, tends to become more metaphysi-
fessor Bain, in dealing with the objec- cal than the metaphysicians. As previ-
tion, founded on the instinctive percep- ous speculators of the same school had
tion of the lower animals, virtually denies made mind a function of the body, so
the fact. He maintains that there "does their more advanced followers are rapidly
not exist a body of careful and adequate making body a mere function of mind.
observations on the early movements of An evil almost equally great connected
animals." Elsewhere he still more ex-with this rapid and somewhat random de-
plicitly repudiates the testimony of natu-
ralists on the point. "It is likewise said
that the chick recognizes grains of corn
at first sight, and can so direct its move-
ments as to pick them up at once; being
thus able to know the meaning of what
it sees, to measure the distance of objects
instinctively, and to graduate its move-
ments to that of knowledge all which is,
in the present state of our acquaintance
with the laws of mind, wholly incredible."
The last statement would be more accu-
rately expressed in the paraphrase -
"All which facts are on the theory the
author has adopted wholly inadmissible."
In other words, the facts must be denied
in the interest of the theory.

The same tendency to substitute speculations for proof is seen in the physiology as well as in the psychology of the school. Even so vigorous and independent a thinker as Dr. Maudesley cannot escape the prevalent rage for hypotheses. Indeed, he has a theory designed, perhaps almost unconsciously, to cover the free use of the speculative element in which he delights,- that the man of genius is independent of the slow inductive processes, and leaps at once to their re

velopment of extreme theories is the confusion of tongues, or rather of technical languages it has introduced. If any of the great masters of scientific expression belonging to the last generation could look into the writings of some of their successors, they would be aghast at the loose style and mongrel dialect which in many instances have taken the place of their own purity, dignity, and precision of scientific statement. The chief confusion, so far as language is concerned, arises from the promiscuous use of terms appropriated respectively to body and mind, as though they meant exactly the same thing. No abuse could be more opposed to good taste and scientific accuracy. Physics and physiology have a definite and established language of their own, and so also have psychology and metaphysics. There are exact and appropriate terms for describing mental states and activities, and also for describing bodily states and activities, and the first rule of scientific clearness and precision is that they should be kept distinct. The new school, however some deliberately, and others through the force of evil example - habitually

He

confound the two series; the physiolo- On the other hand, Professor Bain, the gists continually applying psychological psychologist of the school, largely adopts, terms to bodily elements and functions, if he did not introduce, the equally vicious and the psychologists employing physi- plan of describing mental states and proological terms to describe mental states cesses in physiological language. and operations. Mr. Darwin himself is continually drags in physical details and a great offender in this respect. The phrases, which simply disfigure the expovery title of his ablest and best known sition without throwing any light on the work illustrates this confusion. "The mental facts to be explained. Professor Origin of Species by means of Natural Huxley attempts, it is true, to justify this Selection" might be fairly paraphrased inaccurate and misleading use of the lanas "The Origin of Species by means of guage. Blind Foresight, Haphazard Deliberation, "In itself," he says, "it is of little moment and Necessary Choice." The phrase whether we express the phænomena of matter necessary choice" is the exact equiva- in terms of spirit, or the phænomena of spirit lent of "natural selection," and strictly in terms of matter; matter may be regarded as interpreted it is simply a contradiction in a form of thought, thought may be regarded terms. The very object of Mr. Darwin's as a property of matter; each statement has a theory is to exclude the conception of in- certain relative truth. But with a view to the telligence, forecast, and design from the progress of science, the materialistic terminoloperations of nature, yet the most im-ogy is in every way to be preferred. For it connects thought with the other phænomena portant term used in describing the the- of the universe, and suggests inquiry into the ory has no distinctive meaning apart from nature of those physical conditions, or conmind. Almost any section of Mr. Dar- comitants of thought, which are more or less win's writings would furnish abundant accessible to us; whereas the alternative, instances of a like kind. or spiritualistic, terminology is utterly barren, and leads to nothing but obscurity and confusion of ideas.”

66

But this vice of confusion appears in still more flagrant form in the writings of Dr. Maudesley. Not content with an oc- If we understand this passage, Professor casional raid into the neighbouring prov- Huxley appears to say that such terms as ince, Dr. Maudesley attempts to carry thought and feeling, volition and desire, over the great body of psychological are barren, if not confused and unintelliterms into physiology. He thus invests gible, and ought therefore to be abanhis purely physical expositions with doned. But that to speak of glandular a verbal haze or glamour of emo- secretions, cerebral currents, ganglionic tional, imaginative, and volitional lan- shocks, and molecular changes, instead guage. The title of his chief work, "The of intelligence, emotion, and will, is perPhysiology of the Mind," indicates the fectly comprehensible, and contributes to kind of verbal confusion that infects its the advancement of knowledge. In other expositions. To harmonize with this words, that in dealing with mental phefeature of the work the more appropriate nomena it is more scientific to speak of title would have been the "Psychology their physical conditions or correlatives, of the Body." The special sensations of of which we are never conscious, and the cerebral neurine are called by Dr. which are indeed unknown, than to speak Maudesley emotions; the equilibrium of of the phenomena themselves, which apnervous power is latent thought, "mind pear in the full light of internal percepstatical," while the disturbance of this tion, and constitute our most habitual and equilibrium is active thought, "mind dy- vivid experiences. Such an attempted denamical." Then, again, the automatic re- fence is surely its own best refutation. If sponse of animal tissue to an external further refutation were needed, it is found stimulus is, if active, perception; if la- in Professor Tyndall's clear discriminatent, memory; and if irregular, we pre- tion of the two provinces of inquiry, and sume, imagination. If this sort of whole- his emphatic declaration that the fullest sale confounding of bodily elements and knowledge of the one does not throw any products with mental ones goes much light upon the other. In his paper on further, we shall soon have young enter- "Scientific Materialism," he points out prising physiologists extending the dic- that the passage from the physics of the tum of Cabanis, and asserting that all the brain to the corresponding fact of consecretions of the body are thoughts, and sciousness is unthinkable. "Granted all its excretions language, and discrim- that a definite thought and a definite moinating the various excretions as differ- lecular action in the brain occur simulent dialects of a common tongue. taneously, we do not possess the intel

lectual organ, nor apparently any rudiment | or influence may determine. No doubt,
of the organs which would enable us to as already intimated, some of the more
pass, by a process of reasoning, from the susceptible minds may have been at-
one to the other. They appear together, tracted not only by the novelty and noto-
but we do not know why." "In affirming riety, but by the grandeur and power, the
that the growth of the body is mechanical, secular sweep and material sublimity, of
and that thought, as exercised by us, has the hypothesis itself. But the majority
its correlative in the physics of the brain, are probably influenced by more mixed
I think the position of the Materialist' and superficial motives. Amongst these
is stated, as far as that position is a ten-is the exhilarating sense of free dom
able one. I do not think he is entitled to and independence in adopting advanced
say that his molecular groupings and his views, and the piquant feeling of con-
molecular motions explain everything. scious power in urging them against the
In reality they explain nothing. The ut- alarmed remonstrances of acquaintances
most he can affirm is the association of and friends. It is pleasant to ride as it
two classes of phenomena, of whose real were on the crest of the largest advanc-
bond of union he is in absolute ignorance." ing wave of scientific speculation, and lay
This is the language of science, which the flattering unction to your soul that
separates things that are distinct, and you share its pre-eminence, and are part
designates different sets of facts by sig- of the power that urges it forward. Un-
nificant and appropriate terms. And it fortunately these new doctrines afford
cuts at the root of the confusion both of ample scope for this seductive species
thought and language, which is so char- of self-glorification. The most striking
acteristic a feature of the school. It is points in the theory of evolution, as well
due to Mr. John Stuart Mill to say that as in its application, are precisely of the
he is never guilty of this inexact and mis-kind most readily apprehended by ordi-
leading use of language. He always de-nary minds. That we were once tad-
scribes mental facts in physiological poles, you know;" that men are de-
terms, and physical facts in physical scended from monkeys, and that "moths
terms; and this is, of course, the only and butterflies flirt with each other as we
scientific method. The reverse of the do are propositions requiring no great
process, however plausibly disguised or strength of intellect to grasp or to ex-
ingeniously defended, is in reality absurd. pound in a lively conversational way.
It would be quite as rational to talk of This kind of colloquial acquaintance with
dissecting an emotion or preserving an these advanced theories is not unfre-
idea in spirit, as to talk of consciously as- quently mistaken for a knowledge of nat-
sociating molecular currents, feeling the ural science; and in many circles, espe-
logical connexion between two nerve cially in certain sections of London so-
shocks, or realizing by internal perception ciety, fluent conversational evolutionists
the production of phosphorus in the brain. are to be found whose literary culture
We fear, however, that the sounder pre- hardly goes deeper than a slight knowl-
cept of Professor Tyndall, and the higher edge of Mr. Swinburne's poetry, and
example of Mr. Mill, will be lost on the whose scientific and philosophical train-
more advanced evolutionists. Mr. Milling is restricted to a desultory acquaint-
is, indeed, already regarded by the new
school as somewhat out of date; his phi-
losophy with them is becoming antiquated.
His purer taste and more accurate style
are hardly likely, therefore, to have much
influence on young Darwinians revelling
in all the looseness of vast but unverified
generalizations, and clothing their crudi-
ties of thought in the grotesque confusion
of a Babylonish dialect.

The practical influence of the new doctrince is seen in the rise and rapid growth of a psuedo-scientific sect, the sect of the Darwinian evolutionists. This sect is largely recruited from the crowd of facile minds ever ready to follow the newest fashion in art or science, in social or religious life, as accidents of association

ance with some of Mr. Darwin's more popular works. But whatever may have been the special influences in the case of individual converts, the majority agree in being evolutionists through feeling and fancy rather than through knowledge and insight. They thus exemplify the moral and emotional phenomena connected with temporary accesses of social and religious excitement. Their enthusiasm is for the most part unembarrassed by definite knowledge, and their zeal, like that of recent converts in general, has a tendency to outrun discretion.

One note of similarity between the Darwinian evolutionists and the more active religious sects, is to be found in the common element of strong but unen