suzydoll
Cheneyville, LA
age: 62
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Criticism
The foregoing discussion partly anticipates our criticism of Materialism. The father of modern Materialism is Hobbes, who accepted the theory of Epicurus, and reduced all spirits either to phantoms of the imagination or to matter in a highly rarefied state. This theory need not detain us here. Later Materialism has three main sources:
* Newtonian physics, which taught men to regard matter, not as inert and passive, but as instinct with force. Why should not life and consciousness be among its unexplored potencies? (Priestley, Tyndall, etc.) Tyndall himself provides the answer admitting that the chasm that separates psychical facts from material phenomena is "intellectually impassable". Writers, therefore, who make thought a mere "secretion of the brain" or a "phosphorescence" of its substance (Vogt, Moleschott) may be simply ignored. In reply to the more serious Materialism, spiritualist philosophers need only re-assert the admissions of the Materialists themselves, that there is an impassable chasm between the two classes of facts.
* Psychophysics, it is alleged, shows the most minute dependence of mind-functions upon brain-states. The two orders of facts are therefore perfectly continuous, and, though they may be superficially different yet they must be after all radically one. Mental phenomena may be styled an epiphenomenon or byproduct of material force (Huxley). The answer is the same as before. There is no analogy for an epiphenomenon being separated by an "impassable chasm" from the causal series to which it belongs. The term is, in fact, a mere verbal subterfuge. The only sound principle in such arguments is the principle that essential or "impassable" distinctions in the effect can be explained only by similar distinctions in thecause. This is the principle on which Dualism as we have explained it, rests. Merely to find relations, however close, between mental and physiological facts does not advance us an inch towards transcending this Dualism. It only enriches and fills out our concept of it. The mutual compenetration of soul and body in their activities is just what Catholic philosophy (anticipating positive science) had taught for centuries. Man is two and one, a divisible but a vital unity.
* Evolutionism endeavours to explain the origin of the soul from merely material forces. Spirit is not the basis and principle; rather it is the ultimate efflorescence of the Cosmos. If we ask then "what was the original basis out of which spirit and all things arose?" we are told it was the Unknowable (Spencer). This system must be treated as Materialistic Monism. The answer to it is that, as the outcome of the Unknowable has a spiritual character, the Unknowable itself (assuming its reality) must be spiritual.
As regards monistic systems generally, it belongs rather to cosmology to discuss them. We take our stand on the consciousness of individual personality, which consciousness is a distinct deliverance of our very highest faculties, growing more and more explicit with the strengthening of our moral and intellectual being. This consciousness is emphatic, as against the figments of a fallaciously abstract reason, in asserting the self-subsistence (and at the same time the finitude) of our being, i.e. it declares that we are independent inasmuch as we are truly persons or selves, not mere attributes or adjectives, while at the same time, by exhibiting our manifold limitations, it directs us to a higher Cause on which our being depends.
Such is the Catholic doctrine on the nature, unity, substantiality, spirituality, and origin of the soul. It is the only system consistent with Christian faith, and, we may add, morals, for both Materialism and Monism logically cut away the foundations of these. The foregoing historical sketch will have served also to show another advantage it possesses -- namely, that it is by far the most comprehensive, and at the same time discriminating, syntheseis of whatever is best in rival systems. It recognizes the physical conditions of the soul's activity with the Materialist, and its spiritual aspect with the Idealist, while with the Monist it insists on the vital unity of human life. It enshrines the principles of ancient speculation, and is ready to receive and assimilate the fruits of modern research.
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stringsvrs
Syracuse, NY
age: 51 online now!
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Happy Saturday Morning Sisters and Brothers;
And thank you Sister Suzy for this very informative piece of material.
You have nothing to fear but fear itself, and I want you to know that I am waiting on the side lines with the needle, thread and antiseptic bandages
Fear not, I also bring in the Might Smell of Brother Skunk that will disburse all vigilantes
In the peace and Love of our Creative force acknowledged as the Eternal Creator/Father
In Unity may we bind together in Love and Peace
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rich101
Lillington, NC
age: 51
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The Soul, a spirit bound up in the flesh,
At your passing of this short time on earth,
Your soul goes on to live as a spirit.
If there is confusion on that I can elaborate, I am trying to learn how to give short sweet answers.
Stay in good spirits, and the soul will fallow.
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skunkbreath
Saint James, MO
age: 88
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strings!!!! ...my stink, not so strong today, but doing what it can.....
Suzy, i like your choice of words and sentence structure... It denotes a complex and creative mind. Well writin.
[Edited 12/1/2007 8:12:04 AM]
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queenofhearts61
Seymour, IN
age: 62 online now!
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Some of these posts of cut and paste are so long a person would be wanting to read a book to read them. I have much to much reading at school and reading what I want to read to take this much time to read what someone else is interested in. And these long posts are just another humans interpretation anyway which is as true in fact as our guesses of what the Creater is made of.
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