142 Science corrects uneducated Consciousness. 



aid of new knowledge and of inference based upon 

 it, science gradually accumulates so large a prepon- 

 derence of evidence as conclusively settles them to 

 the conviction of every unprejudiced and reasonable 

 person. Many of the most deeply interesting ques- 

 tions in mental science and morality are of this kind ; 

 .and will probably be settled in this manner. It is 

 well-known also to scientific men that the indirect 

 conclusions of the intellect and reasoning power are 

 often more certain than the direct evidence of the 

 senses and consciousness ; we are more certain for 

 instance that the Earth is a sphere than that it is a 

 plane, although the former conclusion is arrived at 

 largely by inference, whilst the latter is the direct 

 testimony of uneducated consciousness. Whilst our 

 senses and consciousness inform us that the Earth is 

 a fixed body, inference proves to us that it is rushing 

 through space at an immense velocity. Sense and 

 consciousness are not intellect, although they are 

 often treated as such. Their functions are to perceive 

 and observe, to act as witnesses, to supply evidence to 

 the judgment, and not to usurp the reasoning power 

 Even the universal consciousness of all mankind is 

 insufficient to overthrow the final decisions of the 

 intellect, or to decide what is true or false, because 

 the senses and consciousness cannot compare or infer. 

 As it is the force and repitition, and not the truthful- 

 ness of mental impressions, which largely determines 

 belief, we are capable of believing error as well as 

 truth, and we believe much that is erroneous until the 



