THE LIFE OF MAX. 215 



of their perceiving the changes that are perceived in 

 nature. It would account also for their natural 

 persuasion of the existence of these changes as 

 external. 



And there are reasons which command us to take 

 this view*. The fact that the "course of nature" 

 consists- in changes of form or appearance only, and 

 involves nothing deeper there, is itself no incon- 

 siderable evidence. For this is a result which a 

 change affecting man would necessarily produce 

 upon his consciousness. It is so, indeed, that we 

 are ever made conscious of changes in ourselves. 

 Therefore, it might be urged, since man is himself 

 the subject of change, and the changes of appear- 

 ance which we term the course of nature are of the 

 kind which change in him would account for his 

 perceiving, and since no other such effect of the 

 change to which he is subject is apparent, his per- 

 ception of the course of nature should be referred 

 to this cause. It is the simplest view; it involves 

 the least assumption ; and claims on that ground to 

 be received. 



But there is other evidence. Some is derived 



