Lessons from Nature, as Manifested in Mind and MatterD. Appleton, 1876 - 462 pages |
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Page 25
... conceive , how these multitudinous modifi- cations of it arise . But if the phrase is taken to mean the underlying something of which these distinguishable portions are formed , or of which they are modifications ; then we know nothing ...
... conceive , how these multitudinous modifi- cations of it arise . But if the phrase is taken to mean the underlying something of which these distinguishable portions are formed , or of which they are modifications ; then we know nothing ...
Page 36
... conceive a given proposition to be true , or that they positively do see that the opposite of a given proposition cannot be true . Negative perceptions of simple inconceivability are reflex , but positive intuitions ( as when I gaze at ...
... conceive a given proposition to be true , or that they positively do see that the opposite of a given proposition cannot be true . Negative perceptions of simple inconceivability are reflex , but positive intuitions ( as when I gaze at ...
Page 39
... conceive an infinite addition of fractions , which shall yet never attain to unity ; but such a conception is utterly beyond the power of the imagination . Again , we can not only conceive but it is evidently a necessary truth that ( a2 ...
... conceive an infinite addition of fractions , which shall yet never attain to unity ; but such a conception is utterly beyond the power of the imagination . Again , we can not only conceive but it is evidently a necessary truth that ( a2 ...
Page 40
... conceive parallel lines or not , there is no evidence to show , but there is no shadow of foundation for asserting that , if they could conceive them , they would not perceive the im- possibility of their ever meeting , as we can ...
... conceive parallel lines or not , there is no evidence to show , but there is no shadow of foundation for asserting that , if they could conceive them , they would not perceive the im- possibility of their ever meeting , as we can ...
Page 41
... conceive that of which we have , and our ancestors , however remote , have ever had , by experi uniform and unvarying experience . We have ever seen with our eyes and heard with our ears , yet we can conceive of vision and audition ...
... conceive that of which we have , and our ancestors , however remote , have ever had , by experi uniform and unvarying experience . We have ever seen with our eyes and heard with our ears , yet we can conceive of vision and audition ...
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Common terms and phrases
absolute accept action activity admit affirm Agnostics amongst animals apes assert believe birds brutes Cardinal Noris cause certainty characters Chauncey Wright colour conceive conception condition consciousness considered Darwin declarations deny distinct doctrine doubt evidence evolution existence expression external fact faculties feelings female force Herbert Spencer highest homology homoplasy human hypothesis idea instinct intellectual intelligence John Stuart Mill judgment kind language less Lewes males manifest means mental mind mode moral natural selection necessarily necessary necessary truth objective observes organism origin of species perception phenomena philosophy physical position possess present principle Professor Huxley proposition question races racters rational reason recognised relations religion remarks resemblance result savage says scepticism seems sensations sense sexual selection Sir John Lubbock soul structure Suarez supposed teaching tells Theism theory things thought tion tribes true truth Tylor universe validity words
Popular passages
Page 104 - I will call no being good, who is not what I mean when I apply that epithet to my fellow-creatures ; and if such a being can sentence me to hell for not so calling him, to hell I will go.
Page 391 - If we take in our hand any volume; of divinity or school metaphysics, for instance; let us ask: Does it contain any abstract reasoning concerning quantity or number? No. Does it contain any experimental reasoning concerning matter of fact or existence? No. Commit it then to the flames; for it can contain nothing but sophistry and illusion.
Page 284 - IF IT could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed, which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down.
Page 64 - See then our predicament. We can think of Matter only in terms of Mind. We can think of Mind only in terms of Matter. When we have pushed our explorations of the first to the uttermost limit, we are referred to the second for a final answer ; and when we have got the final answer of the second we are referred back to the first for an interpretation of it.
Page 177 - It is only our natural prejudice, and that arrogance which made our forefathers declare that they were descended from demigods, which leads us to demur to this conclusion.
Page 297 - Dr. Hooker, in his address to the British Association, spoke thus of the author: "Of Mr. Wallace and his many contributions to philosophical biology it is not easy to speak without enthusiasm; for, putting aside their great merits, he, throughout his writings, with a modesty as rare as I believe it to be unconscious, forgets his own unquestioned claim to the honour of having originated independently of Mr. Darwin, the theories which he so ably defends.
Page 104 - ... that there exists a being in whom all the excellences which the highest human mind can conceive, exist in a degree inconceivable to us, I am informed that the world is ruled by a being whose attributes are infinite, but what they are we cannot learn, nor what are the principles of his government, except that the highest human morality which we are capable of conceiving does not sanction them; convince me of it and I will bear my fate as I may.
Page 125 - Psychical changes either conform to law or they do not. If they do not conform to law, this work, in common with all works on the subject, is sheer nonsense : no science of Psychology is possible. If they do conform to law, there cannot be any such thing as free will.
Page 120 - To do this effectually it is necessary to be fully possessed of only two beliefs : the first that the order of nature is ascertainable by our faculties to an extent which is practically unlimited ; the second, that our volition counts for something as a condition of the course of events.