3 o2 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



the conclusion that consciousness stands in immediate causal relations 

 with physiological processes. To say this is to abide by the facts, as 

 at present known to us, and with the facts our conceptions must be 

 made to accord. 



The thought which I wish to emphasize is the importance for the 

 future investigation of consciousness of separating the study of what 

 it does from the study of what it is. The latter study is recondite, 

 metaphysical, and carries us far beyond the limits of verifiable human 

 knowledge. The former study is open to us and offers opportunities 

 to science, but it has hitherto been almost completely neglected. Biol- 

 ogy has now to redeem itself by effectual researches on consciousness. 

 On the adequate prosecution of such researches we base great hopes. 



Before I close permit me a few words concerning the relations of 

 consciousness to the body, to living substances through which it mani- 

 fests itself. It is intimately linked to protoplasm. Probably no ques- 

 tion is so profoundly interesting to all mankind as the old question, 

 what is the relation of the mind to the body? It is a question which 

 has been stated in many forms and from many points of view, but the 

 essential object of the question is always the same, to ask whether con- 

 sciousness is a function of living matter, or something discrete and not 

 physical or material. 



Throughout this address consciousness has been viewed as a device 

 to regulate the actions of the organisms so as to accomplish purposes 

 which on the whole are useful to the organisms, and accordingly we 

 have termed its function teleological. If this view is correct it accounts 

 for the limitations of consciousness, its mechanical mode of work, its 

 precision and definiteness of action, for of course, unless consciousness 

 is orderly and obeys laws, it cannot be of use to the organism, but, on 

 the contrary, it would be harmful, and conscious animals would have 

 ceased long ago to survive. "The very fact that consciousness is of such 

 high value in the bionomy of an animal renders it obvious that it must 

 be subject to law. Accordingly it appears to us regulated as do the 

 functions of protoplasm. Hence to certain modern thinkers it presents 

 itself as a function of protoplasm, or, as it may be better stated, as a 

 state or condition of protoplasm. 



The internal evidence of consciousness, however, is against this 

 view and presents to us conscious actions as depending upon the con- 

 sciousness. As before stated I believe that this evidence must be 

 accepted. Now all the sensations of consciousness are derived from 

 physical force, and all the acts of consciousness are manifested through 

 physical force; hence if it has any real power consciousness must be 

 able to change the form of energy. Unless we accept this doctrine, we 

 must give up all belief in free-will and adopt the automaton theory of 

 life. Is not the more reasonable explanation that which is based upon 



