Thoughts on Religion by George John Romanes
page 79 of 159 (49%)
page 79 of 159 (49%)
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Co. Thus a new edition of the book was published in 1892, to the
author's surprise.--ED.] [35] [Or rather it was intended that it should appear under the pseudonym of 'Metaphysicus.'--ED.] [36] [Words in square brackets have been added by me. But I have not introduced the brackets when I have simply inserted single unimportant words obviously necessary for the sense.--ED.] [37] [See p. 29, quotation from Preface of 'Physicus.' The state of mind expressed in the above Note is a return to the earlier frame of mind of the Burney Essay, e.g. p. 20. That essay was full of the thought that Christian evidences are very manifold and largely 'extra-scientific.'--ED.] ยง 2. DEFINITION OF TERMS AND PURPOSE OF THIS TREATISE. [To understand George Romanes' mind close attention must be paid to the following section. Also to the fact, not explicitly noticed by him, that he uses the word 'reason' (see p. 112) in a sense closely resembling that in which Mr. Kidd has recently used it in his _Social Evolution_. He uses it, that is, in a restricted sense as equivalent to _the process of scientific ratiocination_. His main position is therefore this: Scientific ratiocination cannot find adequate grounds for belief in God. But the pure agnostic must recognize that God may have revealed Himself |
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