Materialism brought to the test of reason : and refuted by a consideration of the structure of the body and the faculties of the mind / by the Rev. Richard Hart.

  • Hart, Richard, -1846.
Date:
1835
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Materialism brought to the test of reason : and refuted by a consideration of the structure of the body and the faculties of the mind / by the Rev. Richard Hart. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    18/98 (page 10)
    PART THE FIRST. CONSIDERATION OF THE ARGUMENTS EMPLOYED BY MR. LAWRENCE AND OTHERS, TO PROVE THE INTELLECTUAL FACULTIES MERELY FUNCTIONS OF THE BRAIN. FIRST ARGUMENT. From the effect which diseases of the brain appear to have upon the mind. The first argument which I shall notice in proof of the absolute dependence of the mind upon the brain, is founded upon the assumption, that where the latter is diseased, the former is necessarily impaired; as, when the brain is compressed by a piece of bone, or by effused blood or se- rum, all intellectual phenomena are more or less completely suspended.” * And another writer of the same school has remarked, that mental derangement is often a sequel of inflammation of the brainthat a vertical pressure upon the brain will produce insensibility; and sometimes an exostosis, or tumor formed in the substance of the brain, or even a projecting spiculum irritating the membranes, may produce insanity.” In reply to this I would remark, that as we most willingly admit the brain to be the instrument by which the soul per- forms its functions, even were this universally the case, our assertion respecting the spiritual nature of the human mind would not be aflTected in the least; for—let it be conceded that man is a compound of matter and spirit—that the mind should be able to sympathise with the joys and sorrows of