CHAPTEK VIII 



MAN 



IN Kingsley's fascinating .historical romance, Raphael 

 Aben-Ezra says to Hypatia, "Is it not possible that 

 we have been so busy discussing what the philosopher 

 should be, that we have forgotten that he must first 

 of all be a man ? ' This truth we too often forget. 

 No statesman, philosopher, least of all teacher, can be 

 truly great who is not, first of all, and above all, a 

 great man. And in our study of man are we not 

 prone to forget that he stands in certain very definite 

 and close relations with surrounding nature ? 



Man has been the object of so much special study, 

 his position, owing to his higher moral and mental 

 power, is so unique that he has often been regarded 

 not only as a special creation, but as created to oc- 

 cupy a position not only unique, but also exceptional, 

 above many of the very laws of nature, and not 

 bound by them. Many speak and write of him as if 

 it were his chief glory and prerogative to be as far re- 

 moved as possible, not only from the animal, but even 

 from the whole realm of nature. The mistake of mak- 

 ing him an exception arises, after all, not so much 

 from too high a conception of man, at least of his pos- 

 sibilities, as from too low a view of nature. 



But however this view may have arisen, it is one- 

 sided and mistaken. Man certainly has a place in 



