CHAPTER IX.
THE LOGIC OF SCIENTIFIC NEGATION.
What gives the denials of positivism their general weight, is the impression that they represent reason 208 They are supported by three kinds of arguments: physical, moral, and historical 209 The two first bear upon all religion; the latter only on special revelations 210 Natural religion is the belief in God, immortality, and the possibility of miracles generally 210 Physical science prefers to destroy natural religion by its connection of mind with matter 210 1st.

Making conscious life a function of the brain.2nd.

Evolving the living organisms from lifeless matter.3rd.Making this material evolution automatic 210 Thus all external proofs of God are destroyed 212 And also of the soul's immortality 213 External proof is declared to be the test of reality 213 And therefore all religion is set down as a dream 215 But we believe that proof _is_ the test of reality, not because it is proved to be so, but because of the authority of those who tell us so 215 But it will be found that these men do not understand their own principle 216 And, that in what they consider their most important conclusions they emphatically disregard it 217 One or other, therefore, of their opinions is worthless--their denial of religion or their affirmation of morality 219 But we shall see this more clearly in considering the question of consciousness and will 220 We shall see that, as far as science can inform us, man is nothing but an automaton 220 But the positive school are afraid to admit this 221 And not daring to meet the question, they make a desperate effort to confuse it 222 Two problems are involved in the matter: 1st.

How is brain action connected with consciousness 223 2nd.

Is the consciousness that is connected with it something separable from, and independent of it 223 The first of these problems has no bearing at all on any moral or religious question.