X. 



ON SENSATION AND THE UNITY OF 

 STKUCTUKE OF SENSIFEKOUS OBGANS. 



THE maxim that metaphysical inquiries are barren 

 of result, and that the serious occupation of the mind 

 with them is a mere waste of time and labour, finds 

 much favour in the eyes of the many persons who 

 pride themselves on the possession of sound common 

 sense ; and we sometimes hear it enunciated by weighty 

 authorities, as if its natural consequence, the suppression 

 of such studies, had the force of a moral obligation. 



In this case, however, as in some others, those who 

 lay down the law seem to forget that a wise legislator 

 will consider, not merely whether his proposed enact- 

 ment is desirable, but whether obedience to it is possible. 

 For, if the latter question is answered negatively, the 

 former is surely hardly worth debate. 



Here, in fact, lies the pith of the reply to those 

 who would make metaphysics contraband of intellect. 

 Whether it is desirable to place a prohibitory duty upon 

 philosophical speculations or not, it is utterly impos- 

 sible to prevent the importation of them into the mind. 

 And it is not a little curious to observe that those who 



