IV.] Dr. Buchner on Darwinism. 51 



notion of God is a figment, and that matter in motion 

 is the only real existence, — Dr. Buchner seeks in the 

 present work to interpret the facts disclosed by scien- 

 tific induction concerning the origin of man, his 

 psychical nature, his history, and his destiny as a 

 denizen of the earth. With reference to these topics 

 Dr. Buchner is a follower of Mr. Darwin, especially 

 of Mr. Darwin as amended by Professor Haeckel. 

 His book, considered on its scientific merits only, and 

 without regard to its philosophic bearings, is a popular 

 exposition of the Darwinian theory as applied to the 

 origin of the human race. Regarded simply as a 

 scientific exposition, conducted on these fundamental 

 principles, there is in the book little which calls for 

 criticism. Dr. Buchner has studied the Darwinian 

 theory very thoroughly, and his statements in illus- 

 tration of it are for the most part very accurate, show- 

 ing, so far as this portion of the work is concerned, the 

 evidences of a truly scientific spirit. He is as lucid, 

 moreover, as Taine or Haeckel, and nothing is want- 

 ing to one's entire enjoyment of his book, save that 

 modesty in the presence of the limitless workings of 

 nature in which Dr. Buchner is far more deficient 

 than even Taine or Haeckel. 



But from the scientific point of view it is not neces- 

 sary for us to discuss Dr. Buchner's book, as it is not 



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