Natural law in the spiritual world / by Henry Drummond.

  • Henry Drummond
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Natural law in the spiritual world / by Henry Drummond. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    differently to different minds, and in discussing an individual instance questions of relevancy will in- variably crop up. Of course, in the language of John Stuart Mill, “ when the analogy can be proved, the argument founded upon it cannot be resisted.”1 But so great is the difficulty of proof that many are compelled to attach the most inferior weight to analogy as a method of reasoning. “Analogical evidence is generally more successful in silencing objections than in evincing truth. Though it rarely refutes it frequently repels refutation ; like those weapons which though they cannot kill the enemy, will ward his blows. ... It must be allowed that analogical evidence is at least but a feeble support, and is hardly ever honoured with the name of proof.” 2 Other authorities on the other hand, such as Sir William Hamilton, admit analogy to a primary place in logic and regard it as the very basis of induction. But, fortunately, we are spared all discussion on this worn subject, for two cogent reasons. For one thing, we do not demand of Nature directly to prove Religion. That was never its function. Its function is to interpret. And this, after all, is pos- sibly the most fruitful proof. The best proof of a 1 Mill’s “ Logic,” vol. ii. p. 96.
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