Nature is through and through infinite in her forms and processes, so it seems from the experiential knowledge thus far gained. In just what ways science is being driven to the conclusion that nature is thus constituted is too long and hard a story to tell here. We can only glance at a few of its specially striking features. The atomic theory of modern chemistry contains several of these. By modern chemistry is meant chemistry since Dalton, Lavoisier and Avogadro; and especially since Lorentz and the electron idea came into it.
The special thing about the atomic theory that I call your attention to in this connection is the conception of change of valence of atoms now being discussed by some of the foremost chemists. According to this conception, the same atom may have different combining values under different circumstances. Do you not see without further comment what this suggests as to unrevealed potentialities of atoms? If the known facts of carbon-chemistry are such as to drive the chemist to suppose the atom of carbon changes from bi valency to quadrivalency and vice versa, what sober chemist will venture to place any limitation on the possibilities for further change of like nature not only in this but in other atoms?
Since we know absolutely nothing about the relation of the atoms in living substance, would it not be a reasonable hypothesis to say that the nature of that marvelous process called metabolism is due to just the fact that the atoms of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, etc., are undergoing perpetual change of valence? I see no reason why we may not legitimately imagine even consciousness due to such a process. Were such a hypothesis to be seriously taken, it would seem to follow that consciousness would have its roots wherever metabolism is going on. What an excellent starting point this would make for dealing with the perennial puzzle of,how it is that the "mind influences the body"! The mind would then be part of the body.[1]
Another fruitful idea recently introduced into chemistry, and significant for the present point, is what is known as mass action. The essence of this, as my colleague Professor F. W. Cottrell expresses it,
- ↑ Since preparing this essay my attention has been called to the writings of Henri Bergson. From what I gather by reading a number of reviews of his works and from a glance through his "Matière et Mémoire," it seems certain that many of my positions are close akin to his, though our starting points have been so very different. Among other things, this suggestion as to the chemical foundation of consciousness would seem to fall in admirably with the views held not only by M. Bergson but also by Avenarius, that not the brain alone but the whole body is the seat of conscious life. (See "Subjectivism and Realism in Modern Philosophy," by Norman Smith, The Philosophical Review, Vol. 17, 1908, p. 138.)
effect will recognize that at this point I part company with the keen-minded Scotchman. It is not necessary, however, to go into the matter here.
