123 



46. Man, therefore, is not a mere automaton ; the helpless 

 plaything of every mode of motion with which he may be brought 

 into contact ; the transmitter of heat, electricity, and mag- 

 netism from matter, through himself, as thought, on to matter 

 again, in its former modes ; but he is an intelligent agent, 

 conscious, and responsible, having the power to originate volun- 

 tarily his own volitions, which have no congruity whatever with 

 the phenomena of matter, compelled by his very constitution to 

 assert the existence of an extra-mental world, of which, how- 

 ever, he is not conscious, but of the existence of which he is 

 as well assured as he is of his own existence ; capable of 

 originating motions in that material world which, aftertmany 

 a change perhaps in velocity or mode, ceases to be motion. This 

 power of originating motion being called force — matter also 

 having the power of producing motion, but not in the same 

 sense as an agent does it — and whatever possesses this power is 

 never without it, powers of matter and mind being as insepa- 

 rable from them as are their qualities. In this sense I affirm the 

 " Persistence of Force as strongly as I deny the " Conservation 

 of Energy.^' 



The Chairman. — I am sure we shall all join in the vote of thanks to Dr. 

 M'Cann for his able and interesting paper. I regret that, on account of the 

 state of the weather, there are comparatively few present, for the question is 

 one which involves some of the most important matters to which human 

 thought can be directed. It embraces four distinct subjects, namely. Physical 

 Science, Mental Science, Metaphysical Science, and important questions of 

 Logic. It may be remembered that one of these subjects was treated of on 

 one of the evenings when Mr. Bradlaugh was present. As the subject is 

 of much importance, I hope that it will be well taken up this evening. 

 Should any strangers be present, they are invited to join in the discussion. 



Dr. E. Haughton. — It would assist me a little if Dr. M'Cann will 

 kindly explain the last sentence of his paper. 



Dr. M'Cann. — The persistence of force means that the power to originate 

 motion is always possessed ; the motion itself always begins and ends. 



Dr. Haughton. — But the phrase, " conservation of energy " does not 

 necessarily mean the conservation of motion. 



Dr. M'Cann.— That is the point I wish to establish. 



Dr. Haughton.— It is held that energy may exist as potential energy, and 

 not as actually moving anything. 



Dr. M'Cann. — That is the very point I have referred to in the paper. I 

 speak of potential energy. 



Dr. Haughton. — With respect to the last sentence of the paper, as to the 

 conservation of energy, I confess that it is not, even now, quite clear to me. 

 The doctrine, as put forth in the paper, differs from what is accepted ordi- 

 narily, and I think there does seem to be a want of fixity in the terms used, 



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