Scientific Sophisms. 121 



rialism," for instance, Mr. Huxley asserts that 

 " all vital action " is but " the result of the 

 molecular forces " of the physical basis ; and 

 consequently, to use his own words when ad- 

 dressing his Edinburgh audience, " the thoughts 

 to which I am now giving utterance, and your 

 thoughts regarding them, are but the expression 

 of molecular changes in that matter of life 

 which is the source of our other vital phe- 

 nomena." With these words in their recollec- 

 tion, few persons would be disposed to differ 

 from Mr. Huxley when he says that "most 

 undoubtedly the terms of his propositions are 

 distinctly materialistic." 



But are they true ? 



" I know of no form of negation sufficiently 

 explicit, comprehensive, and emphatic in which 

 to reply to this question." The doctrines of 

 Scientific Materialism, as above stated, in Pro- 

 fessor Huxley's own words, are " so ujtterly at 

 variance with the most familiar facts of chemis- 

 try that it is marvellous they should have so 

 long passed unchallenged." * 



I. To enter into detail. It is in no sense true 



1 " Unchallenged, that is," adds Dr. Elam, " on purely 

 chemical grounds. On other issues, both relevant and 

 irrelevant, they have been often objected to." 



