Criticism on Contemporary Thought and Thinkers (Volume 2) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1894. Excerpt: ... conclusion. And both Dr. Martineau's analysis of the large assumptions involved in the atomic philosophy of life favoured by Professor Tyndall, --assumptions which virtually amount to wrapping up in the premisses all that is wanted in the conclusions, --and also his criticism on the generous allowance made by Professor Tyndall for other elements iu human nature, besides the knowing faculties, are equally masterly. I shall limit myself to the latter part of the discussion, --partly because I have in other papers said a good deal on the weak points of the Materialistic philosophy, partly because the geniality of the concluding part of Professor Tynlull's address at Belfast was certainly very persuasive, and yet, in my belief, he there awarded, with great show of cordiality and respect, to the religious faculties of human nature, nothing but the shells of the oyster of which he had just assigned the whole nutritive part to the faculty of scientific investigation. Professor TyndalFs position in relation to religion is a strange one. It is enunciated in one or two different forms, which I will here cite. Men of science, he says, "fail to touch that immovable basis of the religious sentiment in the nature of man. To yield this sentiment reasonable satisfaction is the problem of problems at the present hour. And grotesque in relation to scientific culture as many of the religions of the world have been and are, --dangerous, nay, destructive to the dearest privileges of freemen as some of them undoubtedly have been and would, if they could, be again, --it will be wise to recognise them as the forms of a force, mischievous if permitted to intrude on the regions of knowledge, over which it holds no command, but capable of being guided to noble issues in the region of em...