330 APPENDICES. 



modern philosophy itself" (Huxley). And look at the effect 

 suddenly produced by the appearance of a genuine philosopher ! 

 Descartes' influence was immediate and lasting. No sooner had 

 he conceived his philosophical scheme than an immense sensation 

 was created throughout Europe. He was at once read, discussed, 

 commented, admired in every country. His reputation was so 

 universal that Queen Christina invited him to come to her. His 

 " Physics," though unsound, (?) were nevertheless taught everywhere 

 for one hundred years, so commanding was his influence. His 

 theory of Vortices at least propagated the general notion of regular 

 laws. If his doctrine of Vortices was discredited, the cause must 

 not be sought in the fact, as some think, that it was intrinsically 

 absurd and inconceivable, but in the fact that it could not give 

 results in accordance with the heavenly bodies (Jevons). Besides, 

 may it not be said to be revived in a different form by the theory of 

 Vortices of Helmholtz and Thomson (Lord Kelvin) ? 



The Cartesian School the effect of which was the complete 

 severance of ethics from revealed theology affected all the branches 

 of moral philosophy logic, ethics, theology, metaphysics and 

 bears witness to the weight and greatness of its founder. It may 

 be doubted whether any genius, ancient or modern, Aristotle and 

 perhaps Galileo and Newton excepted, ever exercised so powerful 

 and universal an influence as Descartes, considering the impulse 

 which his ideas, doctrines, and principles gave to philosophical 

 thought and scientific activity. 



