1879-1 
Notices of Books. 
253 
The Realistic Assiimptions of Modern Science Examined. By 
T. M. Herbert. London : Macmillan and Co. 
We were under the impression that men of Science fully, though 
tacitly, recognise the necessity of a general postulate underlying 
all their researches and speculations ; to wit, that phenomena are 
what they seem, and adl as they seem to adt. No one, to our 
best belief and knowledge, ever supposes himself capable of 
furnishing an absolute logical demonstration that the impressions 
of our senses are an invariably accurate copy of anything ex- 
ternal. What everyone thus fully concedes Mr. Herbert sets 
himself to prove. In reply to the man of Science who taunts 
metaphysicians with the vanity and baselessness of their endea- 
vours, he brings a counter-charge, which is merely a learned and 
elaborate version of the vulgar retort “You’re another!” But 
that he adds any degree of certainty to human knowledge, or 
shows how we may escape from the difficulties he has so acutely 
pointed out, we are unable to perceive, and consequently we can 
only regret that he did not employ his great powers of mind in 
some other and more fruitful direction. 
