A Crumb for the " Modern Symposium" 77 



means of apprehending the fact ; and therefore 

 our inability to apprehend it does not entitle us 

 to deny that soul may have some such indepen- 

 dent existence. We cannot allow the materialist 

 even this crumb of consolation, that, although 

 he cannot prove that consciousness ceases with 

 death, nevertheless the presumption is with him 

 and the burden of proof upon his antagonists. 

 Scientifically speaking, there is no presumption 

 either way, and there is no burden of proof on 

 either side. The question is simply one which 

 science cannot touch. In the future, as in the 

 past, I have no doubt it will be provisionally an- 

 swered in different ways by different minds, on 

 an estimate of what is called "moral probabil- 

 ity," just as we see it diversely answered in the 

 " Modern Symposium." 



For my own part, I should be much better sat- 

 isfied with an affirmative answer, 1 as affording 

 perhaps some unforeseen solution to the general 

 mystery of life. I have no sympathy with those 

 who stigmatize the hope of immortal life as selfish 

 or degrading, and with Mr. Harrison's proffered 

 substitute I confess I have no patience whatever. 

 This travesty of Christianity by Positivism seems 



1 For a more complete expression of my view of the case see The 

 Destiny of Man, pp. 108-119. 



