Outlines of the Science of Life; Which Treats Physiologically of Both Body and Mind; Designed Only for Philosophers, and Other Candid Persons. to Which Are Added, Essays on Other Subjects (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. 1829 Excerpt: ... such a difficulty, deny its very existence. There is no need of such a plan; for the question under consideration is of no consequence, so long as the human mind is forced into the belief of such material existence. We have, accordingly, been plebeian enough not to enter into such a maze, but shall be content to believe, as the least informed citizens do, respecting the obvious properties of matter, whether living, dead, or spiritous. The most important and perspicuous of those properties, or propensities, is the changeableness of matter, especially when it is alive. It is as easy to prove mathematically the infinite changeability of matter, as it is, its infinite divisibility. This is, in mental philosophy, an important fact; for many of those vastly diversified changes may, without doubt, at least in appearance, become intelligent or mental. There is nothing c6htrary, opposed to, or beyond the comprehension of the meanest capacity in such a position; and, as nothing more is certainly known respecting either mind or matter, than what their appearance indicates, cannot a reconciliation in sentiment respecting mind be effected, and a dispute, which may have arisen from badly defined words and misapprehension, be avoided? This peace-making plan is one of our grand objects in writing our book; but when it was unknown what the whole of the vital powers were, especially in human beings, including the material sentient spirit or halitus, or its elements, there might have been some excuse, or even expediency, in the opinion of many--having reference to public prejudice--in saying, as Dr. Good, Mr. John Abernethy, and many other good men have done, that the phenomena of mind in man was occasioned by an unknown principle, designated by the common name of soul. But ...