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concerning conclusions arrived at by others, I am obliged 
to confess that I feel more strongly convinced than ever, that 
all the physical doctrines of life yet advanced are quite un- 
tenable. Some of the reasons which have led me to draw 
this conclusion shall be set forth in this paper, while many 
more have been already given in works and memoirs which 
have been written by me during the last twenty years. The 
general conclusion which, as it seems to me, a careful and 
candid examination of the facts which bear upon the question 
compels an unbiassed thinker to draw, is that no form of the 
hypothesis which attributes the phenomena of the living 
world to mere matter and its properties has been, or can be, 
justified by reason. 
Unlearned people have been flattered by having been, as it 
were, taken into the confidence of certain authorities of 
materialistic tendencies, and assured that, as science is but 
educated common-sense, they are well able to judge concern- 
ing many deep scientific questions of consummate interest 
to every person of intelligence, and that, therefore, they will 
feel convinced of the truth of recent conjectures on the 
physical nature of life. Materialistic doctrines have now been 
taught for so many years that they have come to be looked 
upon as a sort of belief, or faith, which ought to be at once 
accepted by all who desire to be considered, from the material- 
istic point of view as reasonable persons. Any who should be 
so rash as to inquire concerning the exact meaning of the 
terms employed would be, of course, altogether beneath 
notice, as they would prove, by the doubt they implied, that 
they belonged to that large group of unteachable persons not 
included among the wise, the learned, or the cultured. 
Instead of the hypothetical suggestions in favour of the 
physical doctrine of life, advocated by materialists and others, 
resulting from a legitimate flight, or extension, of the imagina- 
tion into the border-land which lies between the extreme 
limit of observation and experiment, and that region which 
gradually passes into the Unknown and Unknowable, it will, 
I think, be found that they are almost entirely sustained by 
mere assertion, and by authoritative declaration, while careful 
study will convince that they are not sanctioned by the facts, 
observations, and reasonings, which constitute the science and 
philosophy of the time in which we live. 
Positive conclusions have been drawn concerning questions 
of moDientous consequence not only to curious and scientific 
people, but to mankind at large, and have been advocated with 
a confidence which precludes doubt, and reiterated with a 
pertinacity, which is calculated almost to enforce acceptance. 
