The day after death, or, Our future life, according to science / translated from the French of Louis Figuier.

  • Louis Figuier
Date:
1884
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The day after death, or, Our future life, according to science / translated from the French of Louis Figuier. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    over the vast extent of the heavens, to be inhabited. So that you will find in this book, not only an attempt at the solution of the problem of the future life by science, but also the statement of a complete theory of nature, of a true philo- sophy of the universe. It may be that I am deceiving myself; it may be that I am taking the dreams of my imagination for serious views ; I may lose myself in that dark region through which I am trying to grope my way; but at least I write with absolute sincerity, and that is my excuse for writing this book at all. I hope that others may be induced by my example to attempt similar efforts, to apply the exact sciences to the study of the great question of the destinies of man after this life. A series of works undertaken in this branch of learning, would be the greatest service which could be rendered to natural philo- sophy, and also to the progress of humanity. After the terrible misfortunes of 1870 and 1871, there is not a family in France which has not had to mourn a kins- man or a friend. I found, not indeed consolation for my grief, but tranquillity for my mind, in the composition of this work; and I have therefore hoped that, in reading its pages, they who suffer and they who grieve might find some of the s;ime hope and assurance which have lifted up my stricken heart. Society is in our day the prey of a deadly disease, of a moral canker, which threatens it with destruction. This dis- ease is materialism. Materialism, which was preached first in Germany, in the universities, and in books of philosophy, and the natural sciences, afterwards spread rapidly in France.
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