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he could not construct a mechanical model. The Victorians were
really a little inclined to echo Dr. Johnson's gross imbecile stamp
on the ground when the ideas of Bishop Berkeley penetrated to the
superficial strata of the drink-sodden grey cells of that beef-witted
brute.
29. Now, look you, I ask you to reflect upon the trouble we
have taken toÈ calculate the distance of the fixed stars, and hear
Professor G. N. Lewis, who 'suggests that two atoms connected by a
light ray may be regarded as in actual physical contact. The
*interval* between two ends of a light-ray is, on the theory of
relativity, zero, and Professor Lewis suggests that this fact should
be taken seriously. On this theory, light is not propagated at all.
This idea is in conformity with the principle that none but observ-
able factors should be used in constructing a scientific theory, for
we can certainly never observe the passage of light in empty space.
We are only aware of light when it encouters matter. Light which
never encounters matter is purely hypothetical. If we do not make
that hypothesis, then there is no empty space. On Professor Lewis's
theory, when we observe a distant star, our eye as truly makes
physical contact with that star as our finger makes contact with a
table when we press it.'
30. And did not all of you think that my arguments wÎere argu-
ments in a circle? I certainly hope you did, for I was at the
greatest pains to tell you so. But it is not a question of argument
in Mr. Sullivan's book; it is a question of facts. He was talking
about human values. He was asking whether science could possibly be
cognizant of them. Here he comes, the great commander! Cheer, my
comrades, cheer!
'But although consistent materialists were probably always rare,
the humanistically important fact remained that science did not find
it necessary to include values in its description of the universe.
For it appeared that science, in spite of this omission, formed a
closed system. If values form an integral part of reality, it seems
strange that science should be able to give a consistent description
of phenomena which ignores them.
'At the present time, this difficulty is being met in two ways.
On the one hand, it is pointed out that science remains within its
own domain by the device of cyclic definition, that is to say, the
absÌtractions with which it begins are all it ever talks about. It
makes no fresh contacts with reality, and therefore never encounters
any possibly disturbing factors. This point of view is derived from
the theory of relativity, particularly from the form of presentation
adopted by Eddington. This theory forms a closed circle. The
primary terms of the theory, *point-events*, *potentials*, *matter*
(etc. -- there are ten of them), lie at various points on the circum-
ference of the circle. We may start at any point and go round the
circle, that is, from any one of these terms we can deduce the
others. The primary entities of the theory are defined in terms of
one another. In the course of this exercise we derive the laws of
Nature studied in physics. At a certain point in the cahin of
deductions, at *matter*, for example, we judge that we are talking
about something which is an objective concrete embodiment of our
abstractions. But matter, as it occurs in physics, is no more than a
par1
ticular set of abstractions, and our subsequent reasoning is
concerned only with these abstractions. Such other characteristics
as the objective reality may possess never enter our scheme. But the
set of abstractions called matter in relativity theory do not seem to
be adequate to the whole of our scientific knowledge of matter.
There remain quantum phenomena.'
Ah!
'So we leave her, so we leave her,
Far from where her swarthy kindred roam -- kindred roam
In the Scarlet Fever, Scarlet Fever,
Scarlet Fever Convalescent Home.'
31. So now, no less than that chivalrous gentleman, His Grace,
the Most Reverend the Archbishop of Canterbury, who in a recent
broadcast confounded for ever all those infidels who had presumed to
doubt the possibility of devils entering into swine, we have met the
dragon science and conquered. We have seen that, however we attack
the problem of mind, whether from the customary spiritual standpoint,
or from the opposite corner of materialism, the result is just the
same.
OneÇ last quotation from Mr. Sullivan. 'The universe may ulti-
mately prove to be irrational. The scientific adventure may have to
be given up.'
But that is all *he* knows about science, bless his little
heart! We do not give up. 'You lied, d'Ormea, I do not repent!'
The results of experiment are still valid for experience, and the
fact that the universe turns out on enquiry to be unintelligible only
serves to fortify our ingrained conviction that experience itself is
reality.
32. We may then ask ourselves whether it is not possible to
obtain experience of a higher order, to discover and develop the
faculty of mind which can transcend analysis, stable against all
thought by virtue of its own self-evident assurance. In the language
of the Great White Brotherhood (whom I am here to represent) you
cross the abyss. 'Leave the poor old stranded wreck' -- Ruach --
'and pull for the shore' of Neschamah. For above the abyss, it is
said, as you will see if you study the Supplement of the fifth number
of the FirsÊt Volume of 'The Equinox', an idea is only true in so far
as it contains its contradictory in itself.
33. It is such states of mind as this which constitute the
really important results of Samyama, and these results are not to be
destroyed by philosophical speculation, because they are not suscep-
tible of analysis, because they have no component parts, because they
exist by virtue of their very Unreason -- 'certum est quia ineptum!'
They cannot be expressed, for they are above knowledge. To some
extent we can convey our experience to others familiar with that
experience to a less degree by the aesthetic method. And this
explains why all the good work on Yoga -- alchemy, magick and the
rest -- not doctrinal but symbolic -- the word of God to man, is [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]