Half Hours with Modern Scientists, Volume 1 |
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action actual energy ammonia analogy animal appear atoms beam blue body brain called carbonic acid cell cerebellum cerebral hemispheres characters chemical chemistry circulatory system condition constituents contractility converted correlation Darwin dead protoplasm difference dust electricity ether waves evidence exhibited existence fact faculty genera genus geologic geological periods germ heat higher human Huxley Huxley's hydrogen hypothesis ical idea identity infinite inorganic intellectual knowledge light living lower manifestations material Max Schultze mechanical microscope mind molecular molecules Molluscs moral motion muscle muscular nature necessitarianism nitrogen nucleus object organic origin oxygen paleontologist particles period phenomena philosophy Physiology plant plasm possess potential energy preëxisting present probably produced progress proto protoplasm quadrumana qualities question reason regard relation result scientific seen species spirit structure substance syntonin temperature theory things thought tion tissue toplasm tricity truth tube vegetable vital force waves whole word
Popular passages
Page 34 - If we take in our hand any volume; of divinity or school metaphysics, for instance; let us ask, Does it contain any abstract reasoning concerning quantity or number'} No. Does it contain any experimental reasoning concerning matter of fact and existence? No. Commit it then to the flames: for it can contain nothing but sophistry and illusion.
Page 17 - Protoplasm, simple or nucleated, is the formal basis of all life. It is the clay of the potter, which, bake it and paint it as he will, remains clay, separated by artifice, and not by nature, from the commonest brick or sun-dried clod.
Page 26 - It may seem a small thing to admit that the dull vital actions of a fungus, or a foraminifer, are the properties of their protoplasm, and are the direct results of the nature of the matter of which they are composed.
Page 37 - In fact, without this power, our knowledge of nature would be a mere tabulation of coexistences and sequences. We should still believe in the succession of day and night, of summer and winter; but the soul of Force would be dislodged from our universe; causal relations would disappear, and with them that science which is now binding the parts of nature to an organic whole.
Page 31 - ... any one who is acquainted with the history of science will admit, that its progress has, in all ages, meant, and now, more than ever, means, the extension of the province of what we call matter and causation, and the concomitant gradual banishment from all regions of human thought of what we call spirit and spontaneity.
Page 14 - Corpuscles of essentially similar structure are to be found in the skin, in the lining of the mouth, and scattered through the whole framework of the body.
Page 9 - Warum treibt sich das Volk so und schreit ? Es will sich ernähren, Kinder zeugen, und die nähren so gut es vermag. Weiter bringt es kein Mensch, stell
Page 33 - This, really, is Mr. Huxley's sole proof for his classification of the powers of man. Is it sufficient ? Does it not apply rather to the birds of the air, the fish of the sea, and the beasts of the field...
Page 14 - ... and by the application of purely mechanical principles demonstrate that the cycle must end, as it is seen to end, in the reproduction of forms like that with which it began. A similar necessity rules here to that which rules the planets in their circuits round the sun.
Page 70 - Physiology has sufficiently decisive grounds for the opinion, that every motion, every manifestation of force, is the result of a transformation of the structure or of its substance...