SCIENCE AND DEATH 271 



even the post-mortem molecular arrangements may- 

 mean some kind of consciousness ? Is it possible 

 that, all in a moment, by a mere rearrangement of 

 minute molecules, the tremendous, almost infinite 

 universe of a clear, strong mind can be annulled ? 



Science can give no hope either of a resurrection 

 of the body or of a bodiless consciousness. The 

 very most science can say (and, so far as I know, 

 she has not said it) is simply that it is possible that 

 consciousness may exist for a little time after 

 apparent death. It is indeed scientifically possible, 

 almost scientifically probable, that the tremendous 

 molecular perturbation in the cells of the brain 

 may mean a period of intense consciousness of 

 some sort. It is scientifically possible that the brain- 

 cells die last, and that the molecular messages from 

 the dying muscles may be translated into some 

 beautiful mental picture. These things are scien- 

 tifically possible, but it is scientifically impossible 

 that after disruption of the molecules of the brain- 

 cell consciousness can still persist. Science believes 

 that consciousness depends on certain molecular 

 machinery, and it can no more believe that con- 

 sciousness can exist after the machinery is broken 

 than it can believe that a watch can go without 

 works. 



That is the verdict of science ; and yet our mind 

 declines to believe it, and it appeals to philosophy. 



