,g^. THE EVOLUTION OF CONSCIOUSNESS. 66i 



phenomena. Noumena are, therefore, existences out of that inevitable 

 relation which is given in fundamental experience ; and as I know 

 nothing whatever about noumena or autic existences, I leave them 

 without further ado to those who pretend to such knowledge. 



I deal entirely with phenomena, but with phenomena in their 

 double aspect— objective and subjective. Let me represent in tabular 

 form the distinction between the two : — 



By Psychology. By Physical Science. 



Explained as the consciousness of \ / Explained as an object in conscious- 



an object in terms of those subjec- ' pipg ' "^^^ i" terms of those objective 

 tive phenomena we term sensations ! I phenomena we term matter and 



and perceptions, &c. ' *> energy, &c. 



I have before contended in these pages that it is part of the very 

 grammar of science to keep these two aspects distinct, and I see no 

 cause to abandon this position. 



Let it be clearly understood, then, that in suggesting an 

 hypothesis with regard to the evolution of consciousness, I am dealing 

 with the conscious aspect of phenomena as given in practical 

 experience, and am not attempting to get behind phenomena, or to 

 shake myself free of a relationship which I hold to be inevitable. 



Now the pity of it is that I cannot, as the world is now consti- 

 tuted, get directly at the conscious aspect of phenomena in any other 

 being or thing than myself. It is a dreadful drawback ; but there is no 

 wse whining about it ; one must make the best of what one can do ; 

 and what I, qua man, can do is this. I can study with all possible 

 patience and care the association of conscious and physical phenomena 

 in beings which, though not me, are, at any rate, uncommonly like me, 

 and which, though they cannot directly show me their consciousness, 

 can, at least, in various ways assure me that they are conscious. I 

 do not pretend that the results of this study are of assured and 

 incontrovertible validity ; but I do think that we have some grounds 

 for assuming as a working hypothesis that consciousness is associated 

 in me and my like with certain complex modes of energy in my brain 

 or some part of me. If this be so we get the possibility of a corre- 

 lation which may be thus expressed in tabular form : — 



Psychical Aspect. Physical Aspect. 



Presenting to Subjective Study ^ ( Presenting to Objective Study 



certain phenomena we term J- Man. J certain phenomena we term 

 States of Consciousness. I I Neural Modes of Energy. 



Or, by means of a very rough diagram, it may be put thus : — 



€ C 



C 



THE WORLD. 



The small circles represent you and me, or that part of us which is 

 concerned in sentience and thought. The white half of me repre- 



