rj53E35555
to
33
THE
U ? lr ! Hf, P TO w M cbA l) dv y i,W
Vol. VIII.
SKPTE.MBEH, 1871).
No.
Qtcrnnj.
MINI) AND MAN.
XERIIAPS notliing presents a prob
jHa lcm of more interest than the opera
tion of the- human mind. In the lower
animals we find (lie vital force, the nerv
otis MStciu, and .some attribute ofinind in
common with man. Hut in man tin; nerv
ous system is more concentrated; and his
noblest attributes of mind, such as judg
ment, reflection, comparison and imagi
nation are found in some of the inferior
species. It may be said that the lower
animals reason, but this is done in a sort
of mechanical way, and not with regard
to the good of being, not in the light of
duty and obligation. In man we have
mind in all i:s bearings with its moral as
well as mental attributes. Here we con
front the materialist, who, fighting the
battle upon the basis of simple matter,
advances to his attack upon the mind
and soul and finally besieges the Celestial'
City.
lie tells us the soul is developed with the
body, and that wc know nothing of such
an existence except in this connection.
It may bo admitted that the physical or
ganisms furnish the conditions of the
breath of life and the starting into being
of the living soul, hut it is evident to the
consciousness of every man, that there is
the ii. dividual cyo, always the same ident
ical self, separate ntid distinct ftom the
ever-clianging matter with which it is
connected. lie tells us that the soul is
dependent upon die body for its energy
and activity, and that a weakening of the
phy.sical constitution is attended by a
corresponding effect upon the mind. The
old saying, sunn mens in situo corpora sets
forth a grand principle, but who h 13 not
seen the mind remain strong and active
under great physical depression? The
operations of the mind are not all at
tended by a corresponding impression
upon the material organism. After the
eye has fallen upon a beautiful landscape,
it may be closed, and yet the mind goes
on combining and recompiling, forming
new pictures, pictures more beautiful
than the first. What impression is
there of the physical organism corros
ponding to this operation of the mir.dV
None whatever. Again, we call tip by at.
tentive memory the scenes of long ago.
Where is there any impression of mull or
corresponding to Ibis V There is none, it
is purely a subjective process.
The broad distinction howovor lies in
this, matter is inertmind is self-acting.
If we are told that we know notliing of
BSS2