The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, MAY 19, 1928. SCIENCE AND THE SOUL.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 May 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, MAY 19, 1928. SCIENCE AND THE SOUL.

Last week the eminent surgeon Sir Arthur Keith lecturing at Manchester University, publicly attacked the traditional belief in the independent existence of mind or soul, and a vehement discussion is now raging on this question at Home. The Auckland Star in passing comment says it has no intention of plunging into endless controversy on this subject, but in its opinion, Sir A. Keith’s statement of his ease is so illogical that it demands a little critical attention. When a distinguished scientist asserts that “there is no evidence to support the assumption that the spirit survives after the brain censes to function,” he ought to be prepared to back his statement by something like a cogent .and conclusive argument, and this requisite Sir A. Keith has entirely failed to supply. According to Sir A l . Keith, scientists have' been driven to the conclusion that “the mind, the spirit, and the soul are manifestations of the living brain, just as a flame is the manifest spirit of a burning candle. What is the

meaning of this curious phrase? The 11 amo we know is a material product than can be measured in regard to temperature and intensity by an appeal to known physical laws. What, then, is the analogy between the flame, tho product of the candle, and thoughts or ideas, the products of the mind ? There can be no analogy unless we assume that thoughts and ideas arc, like flame, material objects, and that the connection between thought- and brain is precisely the same ,as tho relation between the llaino and tlic candle. But this is the very point that Sir A. Keith believes he lias proved; in other words, lie argues in a. circle. To make this clear, let us put the argument in a slightly different form. The candle, a material object, produces a material flame. If the brain is to. the mind as to the candle is to the flame, therefore all the products of psychic activity and all the phases of consciousness—thought*, ideas, dreams, emotions—must lie material as well. But is this true? Can we apply material tests to ideas and thoughts and dreams as we can measure or weigh the candle and its flame? To state the question is to answer it. et it is this palpable “argument in it circle.’’ this crude and flagrant fallacy, that Sir A. Keith offers as proof that what we call mind and soul are simply the products of a material organ whose I n act ions are obviously physiological. And ho “begs tho question” still further when he talks of the flame as “the manifest spirit” of the .burning candle. If this is the best that Materialism can do fa justify itself, it would be well for its exponents to relapse into sale and dignified silence when this subject i- culler discussion.

Thr approaching general ('lection is being heralded in various ways and it is evident there will not be any lack of candidates. There is plenty of latent. of a kind on offer, while Ihe activity of the I’nited Party is proving one of the mysteries of the advancing campaign. This organisation is apparently securing aid and converts from the l.ilw'ral ami Reform sources, but neither policy nor leader is disclosed. The Prime Minister lias expressed bis pleasure at so many condidates being forthcoming' for he sees prospects of much splitting of votes. However, long before polling day, the United Party .must needs come out into the open and disclose full identity, while a policy mils 1 he proclaimed in no uncertain sound. The Labour parly is on the alert, but hardly as aggressive as usual. Hr Holland is to tour the Westland electorate at an early date in company with the prospective Labour candidate, for the seat. Hr Scddbn. the sitting member has been up and down the constituency, and no doubt has his finger on the " political pulse. It may lie expected that there will he again a keen fight f;>r the Westland seat, with the honors in favour of the sitting member. The Labour party is not proclaiming its policy on the usual lines, being content apparently to make what capital it can out of the sins of omission and commission of the Government. The Government is strong in the sense that its financial policy is recognised and appreciated on the money market. But there is much criticism of policy which interferes with public business and utilities. The growth of the linemuloyed problem' is attributed to check the increase of arrivals who are displacing others, rather than entering new avenues of employment. Tlie'industrial side of the Country has suffered from tlic restrictive policy of the Government. Sawmilling is a ca.sc in point. Tn regard to coal mining the Government justifies its action in bringing in coal as an insurance against tho strike proclivities of tho New Zealand miner, and tho trend of things generally in regard to organised unionism rather supports the wisdom of that policy. What is certainly lacking in the Government administration is a forward land policy. This no doubt is in the domain of Mr MoLood, one of the few strong men in the Ministry, but lie is not “strong” enough to onunciafle a policy such as a strong Liberal Minister would favour. There is room for improved action in that' direction along lines which would tend to lift the country ahead and assist to minimise some of the problems now besetting the Dominion.