208 F. F. ROGET^ ON EENEST NAVILLE^S LIFE. 



minism, the physical and physiological sciences can receive no 

 injury, and such facts in their turn need fear nothing from those 

 sciences, for such facts are of a nature of which the objects 

 of the " natural " sciences are not. In this fashion, determinism 

 may be a fair postulate with those sciences, without becoming, 

 as is claimed by some indiscreet enthusiasts of materialism, the 

 supreme rule of the world. Indeed, it is contrary to sound 

 method in science to pretend to apply determinism to cA^ery- 

 thing, since, in order to do that, it is necessary to ignore facts 

 that are certain, for the sake of a materialistic or idealistic 

 conception of science which is by no means sure. But it w^ould 

 be just as unsound to endeavour, for the sake of psychologic 

 and moral facts, to ignore the postulates on which rests the 

 " study of matter." 



In that wise the domains of the sciences are distinct, though 

 that of one is not closed to another, and vice versa. Eeason has 

 its place in all. By means of sciences of all orders, reason is in 

 pursuit of unity, for which purpose alone reason exists. Eeason 

 entertains the idea of a supreme cause which, by its powder, 

 brings about the diversity of elements and brings them into 

 harmony by the unity of its plan. A mind guided through- 

 cut to the princiina of thought, but ever careful to submit to 

 the control of facts its hypothetical developments from those 

 princijna, combines in a just measure the self-confidence which 

 is strength with the moderation which brings security. 



In proposing a vote of thanks to the Lecturer the Chairman 

 said we had had a most interesting account of the work of one 

 great thinker by another great thinker. It was a fine summing up 

 of the work of a very long and very useful hfe. Professor Naville's 

 views as set forth may well be said to be in accord with the objects 

 of the Institute. It had been a great pleasure to hear such a clear 

 exposition of those views, and that in spite of the difficulty of 

 expression in what to the Lecturer was a foreign language. He 

 wished to add one word of warning as to the had company into 

 which the word " spiritualism " had fallen, but he thought the 

 Lecturer had carefully safeguarded it in his paper. 



Colonel Mackint-AY seconded the vote of thanks, which was 

 carried with acclamation. 



Professor Roget, in expressing his grateful thanks, said he 

 looked upon the paper as a pious act to the memory of a great and 

 good man, an act in the performance of which he had gained every 

 assistance from those who before him had written upon Naville. 



