SENSORY AND RATIONAL DISCRIMINATION 143 



Jedge^tmth. which cannot be mentally visualised is 

 ever relatively the grandest. So it is also in the 

 realm of existence. The life highest in the scale of 

 being, highest in nature and in function, is a life 

 which transcends visual representation, transcends / 

 even mental vision. It is no argument against the) 

 existence of the eye, that it cannot see itself. 



If any one argue that this virtually leaves the 

 soul unknown, the suggestion is manifestly erroneous. 

 Is the eye unknown because it does not see itself? 

 IsjLt not an axiom of science that existence is known 

 l&amp;gt;y its manifestations ? Xothing is so well known in 

 this way, as we are known to ourselves. Yet this 

 knowledge is distinct from the knowledge we have of 

 our bodily existence, and is quite apart from the data 

 included within physiological science. In saying that 

 rational activity is spiritual, it may be that the 

 meaning lying nearest to us, is only the antithesis of 

 the material. But this is in itself a momentous 

 truth, raising a hard problem for biology, and leading 

 to great issues in the history of human thought. In say 

 ing that the soul is spiritual, we say only what stands 

 in correlation with this other saying, that the body 

 is material. Both statements apply to man, referring 

 to the two sides of his nature, manifested together 

 yet distinctly, the lower referable to structure, the 

 higher incapable of being so explained; the lower 

 determined by chemical and mechanical law, the 

 higher moving in conscious recognition of ethical law. 

 If it be said, still the essence of the soul is unknown, 

 we reply, so also is the essence of matter. It is enough 

 for us that existence is known by manifestation of its 

 properties. Adopting the well-chosen language of 



