732 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY, 



volition. I have no doubt that is the relation between the physical 

 processes of the animal and his mental processes. In each case it fol- 

 lows inevitably that these states of consciousness can have no sort of 

 relation of causation to the motions of the muscles of the body. The 

 volition of animals will be simply states of emotion which precede their 

 actions. The only conclusion, then, at w^hich there seems any good 

 ground for arriving is, that animals are machines, but that they are 

 conscious machines. 



I might, with propriety, consider what I have now said, as the con- 

 clusion of the observations which I have to offer concerning animal 

 automatism. So far as I know, the problem which we have hitherto 

 been discussing is an entirely open one. I do not know that there is 

 any reason on the part of any person, whatever his opinions may be, 

 that can prevent him, if he be so inclined, from accepting the doctrine 

 which I have just now put before you. So far as we know, animals 

 are conscious automata. That doctrine is perfectly consistent with 

 any view we may choose to take on a very curious subject of specu- 

 lation — whether animals possess souls or not, and whether, if they pos- 

 sess souls, those souls are immortal or not. The doctrine to w^hich I 

 have referred is not inconsistent with the perfectly strict and literal 

 adherence to the Scripture text concerning the beast that perisheth, 

 nor, on the other hand, so far as I know, does it prevent any one from 

 entertaining the amiable convictions ascribed by Pope to his untutored 

 savage, that, when he passed to the realms of the blessed, his faithful 

 dog should bear him company. In fact, all these accessory questions 

 to which I have referred involve problems which cannot be discussed 

 by physical science as such, as they lie, not within the scope of physi- 

 cal science, but come within the scope of that great mother of all sci- 

 ence. Philosophy. Before any direct answer can be given upon any 

 of these questions, we must hear what Philosophy has to say for and 

 against the views that may be held, I have now laid these facts be- 

 fore you. I do not doubt that that fate will befall me which has be- 

 fallen better men, and I shall have to bear in patience the reiterated 

 assertion that doctrines such as I have put before you have very evil 

 tendencies. I should not wonder if you were told that my intention 

 in bringing this subject before you is to lead you to apply the dactrine 

 I have stated to man as well as brutes, and it will then certainly be 

 further stated that the logical tendency of such a doctrine is Fatalism, 

 Materialism, and Atheism. 



IS'ow, let me ask you to listen to another product of that long ex- 

 perience to which \ have referred. The logical consequences are very 

 important ; but in the course of my experience I have found that they 

 were the scarecrows of fools and the beacons of wise men. Logical 

 consequences can take care of themselves. The only question for any 

 man to ask is this: "Is this true or is it false ?" No other question 

 can possibly be taken into consideration until that one is settled. Un- 



