The Relation of Science and Religion.pdf - Online Christian Library

MAN'S PLACE IN THE WORLD. 271.Now the most advanced results of physiologicalscience carry no explanation of thissimple, ordinary fact, man's recog~lition ofa law of benevolence as authoritative. Afterwe have assigned full value to the sensdilitiesof a physical nature overspread with asensitive nerve-system; after we have madeaccount of the motor activity possible to ananimal possessed of a complicated muscularsystem controlled by motor nerves, we havenot come near a region in which the reflectiveprocess takes place which applies the law ofbenevolence for the regulation of conduct.We discover within the range of physiologicalpossibility, sensitiveness to impression fromwithout, and to the influence of the cravingsand appetites of a nature requiring supportand satisfaction, and impelling power whichurges to action for the sake of present satisfact'ion.All these tl~ings we find easily explainedunder the teaching of physiology; butwe have no explanation of the act of intelligencein perceiving a law of benevolence andowning submission to it. We do not even finda scientific account of the subordinate intellectualexercises involved in the applicationof the law of benevolence when recognized.