280 EVOLUTION AND MAN S PLACE IN NATURE 



known, its regard to the lessons of observation, its 

 inventiveness in use of instruments, its government 

 of conduct, its formation of character, its respect for 

 the rights of others. In sight of this wide and varied 

 range of activity, the biologist is invited to complete 

 his conquest, to show us how he proposes to include 

 this rational power which, in the world s history, 

 has been traced as far back as we have traced the 

 abodes of man. 



Fortunately, we can afford to dispense with further 

 historical research, for the problem is that of our own 

 life. The facts are within reach of every member of 

 the race. But, even with evidence thus available, 

 the biologist is badly placed for advance. For, as 

 Professor Tyndall has effectively shown, the observa 

 tion which is concerned with structure and functions 

 of brain cannot pass over into consciousness, any more 

 than an ordinary man, in directing physical move 

 ments, can pass over from consciousness to brain action. 

 There is a chasm between these two which cannot 

 be bridged. All traces of continuity of action from 

 the physical side, lose themselves in this chasm and 

 never reappear. The biologist is halted on the further 

 side, finding it impossible to cover the intermediate 

 space. Every man lives consciously on the other side 

 of the chasm, is always there, does all his work there, 

 stores his knowledge there, forms his plans there, 

 gathers all the largest and most enduring results of 

 his life there. All biologists are themselves living in 

 this position. There is no agnostic retreat here. We 

 know with certainty what our thoughts are, and 

 what are our feelings and hopes dependent on these, 

 and what are our efforts after self-control, and what 



