“SOUL” OF ANIMALS.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17886, 5 December 1929, Page 11

“SOUL” OF ANIMALS.

SIR OLIVER LODGE’S NEW BOOK. THEORIES OF LIFE AFTER DEATH. Do animals “live” after death? This question is prompted by references in Sir Oliver Lodge’s latest book, “Phantom Walls,” to the possible survival of the personality of some of the higher animals after death. Sir Oliver writes:—“Suppose we let it be granted that accumulated evidence shows that human beings vive, a number of problems clamour for attention. What does survival mean in general? Why should it be limited to human beings? . . : When we talk of human survival . . . we mean Individual survival, the survival of personality and character. Whether some of the higher animals have acquired a kind of individuality, a character and wealth of affection which seem worthy of continued existence, may . . be argued.”

Germ of the Soul. Sir Oliver discusses theories rather than seeks to prove them. He points out that an intelligent creature is guided, not merely by the present, but by anticipation and hope, and con-tinues:—-“It is not easy to say where this element of consciousness, conscious striving for an as yet unrealised end, first began to enter into the animal kingdom; but we see signs of It in the higher animals, at any rate in those that have become domesticated; and we are well aware of these faculties in ourselves. At some stage or other conscious planning entered into the scheme; and this element we may well call the germ of the soul.” When president of the British Association, Sir Arthur Keith likened the mind or soul to the flame of a candle, which, being lit, displayed itself by certain visible behaviour and then went out and ceased to be. Sir Oliver writes:—“ThaT candle was not lighted without an object. Its object was to emit light, And what is light? Something that emanates from the candle and goes away into space. . .

Well, that radiation is the real ‘soul’ of the candle.”