Physiological and Psychological Heredity. 275 



again repeat that our investigation goes no further the given solu- 

 tion cannot be either materialistic or spiritualistic. To connect 

 psychological with physiological heredity is simply to state a fact, 

 and it is for experience alone to say whether the affirmation is 

 true or false. 



But if it be desired at all hazards to raise the insoluble question 

 of the ultimate cause, this is our answer : A materialistic doctrine 

 is no doubt one that desires to explain all things, and in particular 

 the phenomena of mind, by the properties of matter, matter 

 being regarded as the sole reality. But we have shown that such 

 a doctrine is an utter illusion, inasmuch as the concept of matter 

 is finally resolved into notions of force, resistance, colour, motion, 

 and so forth, all of which are data of consciousness ; so that it 

 might, without paradox, be asserted that the substructure of matter 

 is mind. 



We may remark that our solution is perfectly reconcilable with 

 this metaphysical hypothesis that is to say, with the extremest 

 idealism. In fact, the only difference between us is one only of 

 position ; we reason from the standpoint of experience, the idealist 

 from the standpoint of the absolute. We debate the question only 

 within the strict bounds of experience ; the idealist goes in search 

 of perfect integration, because, to his eyes, nothing is known so 

 long as we know only the relative. 



Further, it is said that materialism is that doctrine which from 

 the inferior deduces the superior, from the worse the better. Is 

 not this what we have just been doing, when subordinating 

 mental heredity to organic ? 



If the nature of the matter be considered, it will be seen that 

 this question has no place here. Our subject is only one case 

 in the vast science of the relations between the physical and the 

 moral. That science does not inquire what is body, or what 

 spirit, nor is it required to subordinate either of these to the 

 other. It is naturally divided into two parts : the influence of the 

 organism on mental manifestations, and the influence of mental 

 manifestations on the organism. To the first part belongs the 

 question of heredity. It is thus only a small portion of a very 

 extensive science, which itself lies outside of metaphysics. 



Heredity, thus understood, appears to us to be merely one of 



