Lessons from Nature, as Manifested in Mind and Matter

PREFACE.

OBSERVATION and experience have convinced me of the narrowing and misleading effects upon the mind of an incomplete conception of what is meant by the term "Nature."

It is too generally taken as denoting the assemblage of phenomena external to and apart from the human mind, which none the less is one of the most important objects which presents itself to our perception. Hence arises a necessary imperfection. But a worse evil follows. "Nature," taken in this limited sense, is often made use of to explain that which has been tacitly excluded from it. Thus it is that the facts and processes of Reason are apt to be first ignored in order that they may be afterwards treated as if the mere phenomena of irrational nature were sufficient to explain them.

Impressed with this conviction it has been my endeavour to point out in the following chapters (in however imperfect and fragmentary a manner) what I deem the most important lessons to be derived from "Nature," in the broad sense of that word as a great whole of which the mind of man forms part. For us indeed the facts of mind form the inevitable starting-point from which we must set out in order to study,

logically, the phenomena of irrational nature, and to investigate, if we may, their cause and purpose. There is no doubt, in thus proceeding, a danger of Anthropomorphism— of attributing to the First Cause merely human characteristics, and projecting as it were our personality, as in the Brocken shadow, far beyond its proper limits; but the danger of Antanthropomorphism is at present much greater -the danger, that is, of allowing the facts of reason to be obscured and overshadowed by an analogously enlarged distortion of the world of sense, which ever so clamorously reiterates its claims on our attention and regard.

The following chapters are mainly reprints from articles which have from time to time appeared in the 'Quarterly,' 'Dublin,' 'Contemporary,' and 'Fortnightly' Reviews between June 1871 and November 1875. These various articles, however, were originally written with the intention that they should be augmented, re-arranged and republished in an assemblage of consecutive chapters as they now appear.

ANALYTICAL TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

THE STARTING-POINT.

"Our own continued existence is a primary truth known to us with supreme
certainty, and this certainty cannot be denied without involving the destruction
of all knowledge whatever."

Reasons why the contemplation of nature has become a passion-Specula-
tive activity of our age-Our need of a starting-point which cannot
be gainsaid-The study of mind an experimental science-The two
dangers of popular discussions—Authority has no place in philosophy
-Doubt only to be cured by investigation-Bewildering effect of the
present conflict of opinion-Expediency of stimulating a thorough in-
quiry--The Agnostic philosophy-Every philosophy of nescience stulti-
fies itself-Yet is to be directly encountered-On condition of admitting
three preliminary propositions-The first proposition-The second pro-
position―The third proposition-The teaching of a leading Agnostic as
to our knowledge of our own existence-His analysis incomplete-His
system can be destroyed by his own weapons-As considered in its
parts-And considered as a whole-Self-existence known primarily—
Self-existence implied in "certainty” itself—The refutation of nescience
not to be evaded on the ground of the inadequacy of language-A further
consequence-What the word "thought" implies-What truth is-
"Necessary" truth-The Agnostics' assertion, if valid, implies many
truths they deny-Logical consequences-What is implied in asserting
the trustworthiness of memory-A curious fallacy-Mr. Spencer's view
as to our knowledge of our own existence-He asserts a truism or an
absurdity-An illustration-An argumentum ad hominem—What he
asserts implies the existence of what he denies-Conclusion arrived at—
The first lesson from nature.