MATERIALISM AND MIND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 230, 28 September 1935, Page 14

MATERIALISM AND MIND.

"Ace" has not made a reasonable paraphrase of my remarks. I, did not say that "matter does not consist of matter." Nevertheless the statement is not meaningless where a context is given which explains that matter is made up of particles which if taken separately could not be described by the term we use when we describe matter. However, the physicists say that matter is made up of" atom-units which are organisms of force. With that statement most people who understand the spirituality of life can agree. The latter people do not question the mechanistic characteristics of body and brain. These are evident enough to be accepted as facts. But surely there is a difference between the machine and the force that drives tho machine. It may be quite true that mental processes depend upon the brain in much the same way that wireless reception depends upon, inter alia, the valves. But a wireless set is no use unless there is a message to receive; and the set and the message are totally different concepts. Moreover, the human being differs from the animal, and the difference, is to be found in tho region of the mind. Is it, then, too much for "Ace" to understand that the human mechanisms of body and brain are predestined to develop'the powers of recognition of the eternality and universality of the spirituality of life? "Ace" is hardly fair to scientists when ho says that 'flurin<r 40 years science lias discovered nothing to support tlie spirituality of the mind. Is is to be presumed that "Ace" means "to support the idea of the spirituality of the mind." For science, when considered as a whole and in relation to the facts which it proves, seems to the writer in no place to be in conflict with the idea of the spirituality of the mind, though, of course, it may be true that many scientists arrive at judgments upon the facts which are adverse to such an idea. In our present state of ignorance it seems to be the wiser course not to jump too readily to theoretical conclusions. But when all the phenomena of life bespeak <i principle and a plan of harmonious interrelativitv of all phases of force, out of which have come our bodies, our brains, oitr nibids and' our reasons, it seems unreasonable to impute tho mystery of it all to undirected mechanics rather than to nil eternal and living force. P. B. FITZHERBERT.