164 THE PHYSIOLOGY OF 



PHYSIOLOGY OF MR. HERBERT SPENCER. 



No writer on Philosophy has given greater prominence 

 to Physiology than Mr. Herbert Spencer. His system 

 seems to start from physiology. Many of his most im- 

 portant arguments are founded upon physiological data 

 upon facts discovered by physiological workers and I 

 think it may be said with truth, that physiology constitutes 

 a necessary and essential part of his system of philosophy. 



Of all departments of natural knowledge, physiology 

 probably undergoes the most rapid alterations. In a few 

 years, principles that were adopted as sound and incon- 

 trovertible are forgotten and are replaced by others, the 

 reign of which is destined, perhaps, to be equally or still 

 more brief. He, therefore, wh'o constructs broad theories 

 upon facts of physiology will do well to subject the " facts" 

 upon which he determines to ground his arguments to the 

 most thorough scrutiny. For if he does not do so, he may 

 find that when, as he thinks, his system is complete, the 

 facts upon which it is based are not facts at all. Who- 

 ever, therefore, desires to generalize upon the results of 

 physiological work, ought to be able himself to test whether 

 it be accurate or not, for if he cannot do so, he may, of two 

 conflicting statements, be led to accept that which happens 

 to be erroneous, and for the reason, perhaps, that it suited 

 best the purpose for which he required it, and exactly fell 

 in with the doctrine he believed. Now, I think, that 

 Mr. Herbert Spencer has not unfrequently been induced 

 to believe statements concerning physiological phenomena 

 which neither he nor any one else would be able to verify ; 

 which are, in fact, incorrect. Moreover, it appears to me 



