Page:Mind (New Series) Volume 9.djvu/232

IV. VITALISM : A BRIEF HISTORICAL AND CRITICAL REVIEW (I.). 1 CHARLES S. MYEES. DESIRE to know the purport and causes of vital phenomena life's why and how is the invariable starting-point of those vast systems of speculation which from time imme- morial the human mind has been framing in an unwearying endeavour to determine its relation to the external world. Of these systems it would at first sight appear that there are three distinct kinds those of Theology, Metaphysic and Natural Science, and that each of them deals in its own fashion with the problems of nature. Indeed to many writers so different have seemed the methods severally employed and the teach- ings thereby deduced, that, taking for granted the unity of Truth, they have held that, while Theology, Metaphysic and Natural Science may all be wrong, not more than one of them can conceivably be right in the course pursued to effect a solution. The Theologist regards the study of life as part of the study of soul. Present existence is for him a mere phase among such past or future states as are upheld in the doctrines of palingenesis, metempsychosis or resurrection. This stand- point, from its very nature forbidding criticism, contrasts with that of Metaphysic or of Natural Science, each of which is based upon independent judgment instead of upon author- ity. Among themselves Metaphysic and Natural Science have differed, in that the former has relied mainly upon reason, the latter mainly upon experience. " Perceive," says Natural Science, "conceive, then verify by further percep- tion." From the extremes of metaphysic, beyond the reach of experiment, has rather come the retort : " Conceive and rest satisfied with conceptions". Carrying her distrust of the senses into the realms now held by Biology, Metaphysic has at times ventured to speculate on life's nature in the light of reason more or less purified from the dross of ex- 1 An essay (here slightly modified and abbreviated) which obtained the award of the Arnold Gerstenberg Studentship, Cambridge, 1896-7.