224 



Thoughts on Causality. 



ception of the universe which presents it as a system of 

 physical effects; and Gassendi signalized the possible 

 compatibility of theology with a revived Epicureanism. 

 The doctrine of atoms, which started with Democritus, 1 

 has since grown into general acceptance. But while De- 

 mocritus conceived the atoms dead, Gassendi, and more 

 recently, Clerk-Maxwell, have looked upon them as " pre- 

 pared materials," thus suggesting either the postulate or the 

 inference of an antecedent preparer. Tyndall agrees with 

 Kant in denying the power of reason to bridge the chasm 

 which separates the atoms from their maker. 



In an imaginary discussion between Bishop Butler and 

 a disciple of Lucretius, the close correlation between states 

 of mind and conditions of the brain is pointed out ; but it is 

 admitted that the impinging of dead atoms upon dead 

 atoms can never result in sensation or any other phenome- 

 non of consciousness. This admission does not appear in 

 the address as originally published, but there is no reason 

 to infer that the author's position has been changed. Pro- 

 fessor Tyndall, proceeding to the phenomena and the 

 problem of the succession of organic forms in geological 

 time, iterates his belief in the genealogical continuity of 

 the series, and follows with a sketch of the origin of the 

 doctrine of transmutation or derivation of species, and of 

 the grounds on which the Darwinian phase of the doctrine 

 reposes. Mr. Darwin and Professor Huxley receive high 

 encomiums. Repetitions here would be irksome. It is as- 

 serted that variations occur under domestication and in a 

 state of nature ; that infinitesimal variations transmitted 

 through generations become greatly accumulated and aug- 

 mented; that the external conditions which are concom- 

 itant with these variations are " true causes ;" that Darwin 

 rejects teleology, even while bringing forward some of the 



1 Democritus in fact was a pupil of Leucippus, a disciple of the Eleatics. 

 Leucippus seems to be the real originator of the atomic philosophy. Ueher- 

 weg : Hut. Phil, I, p. 67. 



