Essays: Scientific, Political, & Speculative; Vol. 3 of 3: Library Edition (1891), Containing Seven Essays not before Republished, and Various other Additions.Spencer, Herbert
Philosophy
Essays: Scientific, Political, & Speculative; Vol. 3 of 3: Library Edition (1891), Containing Seven Essays not before Republished, and Various other Additions.
Spencer, Herbert
Philosophy; Political science; Science
“which in the wisdom of nature appears to be thus arranged in order
that the species shall be preserved;” and when, further, he says “we
see, moreover, that a germ of reason is placed in him, whereby, after
the development of the same, he is destined for social intercourse,”
he implies divine intervention. And this shows that I was justified in
ascribing to him the belief that Space and Time, as forms of thought,
are supernatural endowments. Had he conceived of organic evolution in
a consistent manner, he would necessarily have regarded Space and Time
as subjective forms generated by converse with objective realities.
Beyond showing that Kant had a partial, if not a complete, belief in
organic evolution (though with no idea of its causes), the passages
translated by Dr. Carus show that he entertained an implied belief
which it here specially concerns me to notice as bearing on his theory
of “a good will.” He quotes approvingly Dr. Moscati’s lecture showing
“that the upright walk of man is constrained and unnatural,” and
showing the imperfect visceral arrangements and consequent diseases
which result: not only adopting, but further illustrating, Dr.
Moscati’s argument. If here, then, there is a distinct admission, or
rather assertion, that various human organs are imperfectly adjusted
to their functions, what becomes of the postulate above quoted “that
no organ for any purpose will be found in it but what is also the
fittest and best adapted for that purpose?” And what becomes of the
argument which sets out with this postulate? Clearly, I am indebted to
Dr. Carus for enabling me to prove that Kant’s defence of his theory
of “a good will” is, by his own showing, baseless.
* * * * *
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