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HPB-SD(ed.1) v.1 p.3 sec.14: Difference between revisions
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Another quite occult doctrine is the theory of Kant, that the matter of which the inhabitants and the animals of other planets are formed is of ''a lighter and more subtle nature and of a more perfect conformation in proportion to their distance from the Sun. ''The latter is too full of Vital Electricity, of the physical, life-giving principle. Therefore, the men on Mars are more ethereal than we are, while those of Venus are more gross, though far more intelligent, if less spiritual. | Another quite occult doctrine is the theory of Kant, that the matter of which the inhabitants and the animals of other planets are formed is of ''a lighter and more subtle nature and of a more perfect conformation in proportion to their distance from the Sun. ''The latter is too full of Vital Electricity, of the physical, life-giving principle. Therefore, the men on Mars are more ethereal than we are, while those of Venus are more gross, though far more intelligent, if less spiritual. | ||
The last doctrine is not quite ours — yet those Kantian theories are as metaphysical, and as transcendental as any occult doctrines ; and more than one man of Science would, if he but ''dared ''speak his mind, accept them as Wolf does. From this Kantian mind and soul of the Suns and Stars to the {{Style S-Small capitals|Mahat}} (mind) and Prakriti of the Purânas, there is but a step. After all, the admission of this by Science would be only the admission of a natural cause, whether it would or would not stretch its belief to such metaphysical heights. But then ''Mahat'', the mind, is a “ God,” and physiology admits “ mind ” only as a temporary function of the material brain, and no more. | The last doctrine is not quite ours — yet those Kantian theories are as metaphysical, and as transcendental as any occult doctrines ; and more than one man of Science would, if he but ''dared ''speak his mind, accept them as Wolf does. From this Kantian mind and soul of the Suns and Stars to the {{Style S-Small capitals|Mahat}} (mind) and Prakriti of the Purânas, there is but a step. After all, the admission of this by Science would be only the admission of a natural cause, whether it would or would not stretch its belief to such metaphysical heights. But then ''Mahat'', the {{Style S-Small capitals|mind}}, is a “ God,” and physiology admits “ mind ” only as a temporary function of the material brain, and no more. | ||
The Satan of Materialism now laughs at all alike, and denies the visible as well as the invisible. Seeing in light, heat, electricity, and even in the ''phenomenon of life'', only properties inherent in matter, it | The Satan of Materialism now laughs at all alike, and denies the visible as well as the invisible. Seeing in light, heat, electricity, and even in the ''phenomenon of life'', only properties inherent in matter, it | ||
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{{Page|603|the vital principle.}} | {{Page|603|the vital principle.}} | ||
{{Style P-No indent|laughs whenever life is called Vital Principle, and derides the idea of its being independent of and distinct from the organism.}} | {{Style P-No indent|laughs whenever life is called {{Style S-Small capitals|Vital Principle}}, and derides the idea of its being independent of and distinct from the organism.}} | ||
But here again scientific opinions differ as in everything else, and there are several men of science who accept views very similar to ours. Consider, for instance, what Dr. Richardson, F.R.S. (elsewhere quoted at length) says of that “ Vital principle,” which he calls “ nervous ether ” (“ ''Popular Science Review'',” ''Vol. ''10) : — | But here again scientific opinions differ as in everything else, and there are several men of science who accept views very similar to ours. Consider, for instance, what Dr. Richardson, F.R.S. (elsewhere quoted at length) says of that “ Vital principle,” which he calls “ nervous ether ” (“ ''Popular Science Review'',” ''Vol. ''10) : — | ||
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{{Footnotes start}} | {{Footnotes start}} | ||
<nowiki>*</nowiki> This is a mistake, which implies a material agent, distinct from the influences which move it, ''i.e. ''blind matter and perhaps “ God ” again, whereas this one Life is the very God and Gods “ Itself.” | <nowiki>*</nowiki> This is a mistake, which implies a material agent, distinct from the influences which move it, ''i.e. ''blind matter and perhaps “ God ” again, whereas this {{Style S-Small capitals|one}} Life is the very God and Gods “ Itself.” | ||
† The same error. | † The same error. | ||