The physical basis of mind / [George Henry Lewes].

  • Lewes, George Henry, 1817-1878.
Date:
1893
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The physical basis of mind / [George Henry Lewes]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Another object has been to furnish the reader unin- structed in physiology with such a general outline of the structure and functions of the organism, and such details respecting the sentient mechanism, as may awaken an interest in the study, and enable him to understand the application of Physiology to Psy- chology. If he comes upon details which can only interest specially educated students, or perhaps only by them be really understood, he can pass over these details, for their omission will not seriously affect the bearing of the general principles. I have given the best I had to give; and must leave each reader to find in it whatever may interest him. The uses of books are first to stimulate inquiry by awakening an interest; secondly, to clarify and classify the know- ledge already gained from direct contemplation of the phenomena. They are stimuli and aids to observa- tion and thought. They should never be allowed to see for us, nor to think for us. The volume contains four essays. The first, on the Nature of Life, deals with the speciality of organic phenomena, as distinguished from the inor- ganic. It sets forth the physiological principles which Psychology must incessantly invoke. In the course of the exposition I have incorporated several passages from four articles on Mr. Darwin’s hypotheses, con- tributed to the Fortnightly Review during the year 1868. I have also suggested a modification of the hypothesis of Natural Selection, by extending to the tissues and organs that principle of competition