Professor Tyndall's article on Materialism and its opponents, in the Fortnightly review / introductory address of the President, Mr. Serjeant Cox.

  • Edward William Cox
Date:
1875
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Professor Tyndall's article on Materialism and its opponents, in the Fortnightly review / introductory address of the President, Mr. Serjeant Cox. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    this great question of Materialism, of such overwhelming interest to every human being. That course will probably be a startling one at the first sight. We admit that it is a question of fact to be determined according to the rules of scientific investigation. We admit frankly and fearlessly all the facts upon which Professor Tyndall bases his doctrine of Materialism. That is to say, we admit that the substance of the body, however highly organised, is material; which means, com- posed of molecules—the only combination of atoms the human senses are constructed to perceive. That the brain and the nerve system is the material mechanism through which the operations to which we have given the collective name of Mind are performed. The Mind is dependent for its power of expression upon the material mechanism of the brain, insomuch that it is less or greater in precise proportion to the quality and quantity of that mechanism—grows with it, fades with it, is extinguished when it is diseased or dies. Admitting, then, all the facts and arguments of Professor Tyndall, we nevertheless contend that his conclusion is erroneous.. Maintaining this, we start from the point at which his inquiry ceases. He says in effect: “ Here I can go no further; I can per- ceive nothing but this matter. I have no means of know- ledge if there be anything outside of this matter. I am on solid ground so far. I object to advance into a region at once unknown, unknowable, and even unthinkable Professor Tyndall's argument rests upon assumptions winch we emphatically dispute. First, he assumes that what we call ff matter ” is the onlv form of being. J Second, he asserts that if there be any other form of being it .8 imperceptible to us, therefore unknown and [103]