
513 
XXXV.—Observations on the Speculations of Dr Brown and other recent Meta- 
physicians, regarding the Exercise of the Senses. By Professor W. P. ALIson. 
(Read 7th and 21st February 1853.) 
In offering to this Society a few remarks which have occurred to me on this 
fundamental department of Mental Physiology, I beg in the first place to explain, 
that my reason for doing so is merely this, that in consequence of certain un- 
guarded expressions, and, asI think, hasty reflections, the opinions of Dr Brown, 
and likewise of Sir JAmMEs MacxintosH, and of Lord Jrrrrey, and other more 
recent writers on this subject, have been supposed to be irreconcileably at variance 
with those of Dr Rep and Mr Stewarv; 7. ¢., with those which are usually called 
the leading doctrines, or essential characteristics, of the Scotch School of Meta- 
physics, in this fundamental department of the science. And when such difference 
of opinion is believed to exist among men of generally acknowledged talent, who 
have studied this subject, and nothing like an eaperimentum crucis can be pointed 
out, to compel us to adopt one opinion and reject another,—the natural inference 
is, that there is something in the study itself, which renders it unfit for scientific 
inquiry,—that what is called the study of the Mental Faculties granted to our 
species is, in fact, only a record of the vacillations of human fancy and ingenuity, 
in the invention and demolition of hypotheses,—and that the subject is one on 
which it is in vain for our minds to dwell, with any hope of applying the principles 
of Inductive Science, and acquiring any insight into the laws of Nature, regulating 
the phenomena presented by the last and greatest of her works, similar to that 
which is the object and the reward of all other scientific inquiries. 
When, for example, we find it stated by Dr Brown, that on the first and most 
fundamental of all inquiries regarding the human mind,—that into the belief which 
attends the exercise of the Senses,—the creed of the sceptic, and of the orthodox 
philosopher of Dr Rem’s School, consists, in fact, of the same two propositions,— 
“and that what appeared to Dr Reip and Mr Stew rr to be the overthrow of a great 
system of scepticism on this subject, was nothing more than the proof that certain 
phrases are metaphorical, which were intended by their authors to be understood 
only as metaphors ;’—(Lectures, vol. i., p. 584); when we find this statement of 
’ Dr Brown’s regarded by Sir James MackinvosH as so just and important, that 
he says, “ the whole intellectual part of the philosophy of Brown is an open re- 
volt against the authority of Rep ;—Mr Stewart had dissented from the language 
of Rerp, and departed from his opinions.on several secondary theories; Dr Brown 
rejected them entirely,—very justly considering the claim of Rerp to the merit of 
detecting the universal delusion, which had betrayed philosophers into the belief 
that Ideas, which were the sole object of knowledge, had a separate existence, as 
VOL. XX. PART Iv. 62 

