Description

Excerpt from The Journal of Psychological Medicine and Mental Pathology, Vol. 1: April, 1875

Professor Tyndall opens his Address with a sketch of the atomic philosophy, as propounded by Democritus and his suc cessors. Their speculations, though extremely interesting, are SO well known as to require little comment, except in SO far as they prove that the atomic theory, which he preaches as zealously as if it were a new religion, is more than two thou sand years Old. His admiration for, and faith in, Lucretius are unbounded. He remarks, with evident satisfaction, Lucretius’ notions that the mechanical Shock of atoms is the all-suffi cient cause Of things, and that the constitution of nature has not been in any way determined by intelligent design and he quotes the following atheistical passage from the poet’s writings: If you will apprehend and keep in mind these things, nature, free at once, and rid of her haughty lords, is seen to do all things spontaneously of herself, without the meddling of the gods. After this, no wonder that Plato and Aristotle are dismissed with scant praise.

In enquiring into the causes which checked the advance Of science during the many centuries that passed unmarked by any philosophic discovery, after the days Of Pythagoras, Hip parehus, and Ptolemy, the Professor mentions the various causes assigned by other writers, and then proceeds to speak with very bad taste Of the introduction of Christianity as one Of the stumbling-blocks in the path of progress, though he pays a great and glowing tribute to the heroic fortitude and pure lives of the early Christians. How could he do otherwise? He evidently considers that the benefits conferred by Chris tianity are to be reckoned as Of small importance if science be at stake. I cannot be surprised at this, when I see by a note in the reprint that one of his great authorities is the infidel Renan.

It is painful to notice throughout the Address the tendency to place religion in antagonism to science, as if we were living in the days of the Inquisition, and it was necessary for Dr. Tyndall to come forward as the champion of free-thought. Never has there been a time of such entire civil and religious liberty as now, when even the atheist Bradlaugh can spout his blasphemy in Hyde Park or Trafalgar Square without the slightest hindrance; surely this ought to satisfy the Professor. In the present century some of our best scientific workers have been members of the clerical profession. Few names among geologists are more distinguished than that of the Rev. W.

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Author: Author, Unknown

Topic: Sociology
Media: Book
ISBN: 365123129
Language: English
Pages: 346