140 H. MAUDSLEY'S BODY AND WILL. " Introspection itself, had it been thorough and faithful, might have opened this field of inquiry, but here again the all-sufficient abstract Ego stood like a forbidding angel in the way of patient and plodding inquiry." Surely Dr. Maudsley is aware that introspection did open this field of inquiry, and that, so far from being the peculiar property of the physiologist, sub-conscious processes were first brought into notice by Leibniz, the purest of pure idealists, and have been most fruitfully studied by Herbart and Lotze, both strenuous upholders of the spiritual-substance theory. In fact it is not too much to say that bodily processes, as such, cannot possibly be sub-conscious : they are definite presentations to the conscious- ness of an external observer. This is just what is meant when it is said that they can be known objectively by observation and induction. We have now followed out, in some detail, Dr. Maudsley's plea for materialism. We do not think he has made out his case. It must, however, be admitted that he has done his best for his client, omitting no important point, and marshalling his argu- ments in an able and impressive manner. Nevertheless most readers will turn with a sense of relief to the purely scientific part of the book. Dr. Maudsley makes most extensive use of the principle of evolution, but is quite aware that it is not an uni- versal solvent. Good service is done in pointing out what it can and what it cannot accomplish in the way of explanation. Pro- test is with great justice entered against the tendency to substi- tute mouth-filling words for real knowledge, and vague generality for patient investigation of particular processes. Marked promi- nence is given to degeneration as an inseparable accompaniment of evolution. The author avails himself freely of the abundant store of illustration supplied by his special studies. Yet among these practical details Dr. Maudsley never once loses sight of the great end which his book is intended to fulfil. The phenomena of disease, insanity, idiocy are discussed, not for their own sake, but only to show that mind is purely the outcome of material processes. Even in the eloquent eschatological section with which the work closes, he cannot help making side-hits at his philosophical opponents. Among the signs of degeneration, " the solemn tolls of destiny " are enumerated " metaphysical disqui- sitions concerning the reality of an external world," " scepticism as to the very foundations of knowledge," " elaborate introspec- tive self -analyses." Let us hope that no weightier indications than these foretoken the coming doom. Truly it is an " awful contemplation, that of the human race bereft of its evolutional energy, disillusioned, without enthusiasm, without hope, without aspiration, without an ideal." Yet, according to Dr. Maudsley, this consummation is inevitably " forefixed," "foretokened," and " foredoomed." Our salvation is in the sun, and the sun must one day fail us. The last and highest products of evolution will be the first to decay, then " in deepening succession the low,
