Mind and Motion and Monism

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

22283

Title

Mind and Motion and Monism

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

George John Romanes explores the relationship between mind and motion, arguing for Monism as a synthesis of materialism and spiritualism. This philosophical treatise examines consciousness, causality, and the nature of reality, offering a rigorous defense of a unified worldview where mental and physical phenomena are identical expressions of a single causal stream.

Summary up to 500 words

In this posthumously edited collection, George John Romanes presents a comprehensive argument for Monism, a philosophical theory positing that mind and matter are not dualistic entities but identical aspects of a single reality. The work begins by validating Thomas Hobbes' early insights that all knowledge is essentially knowledge of motion, updated by modern science to include molecular movements and nervous system functions. Romanes details the anatomy of the brain, specifically the grey matter of the cerebral hemispheres, as the exclusive seat of consciousness, demonstrating how intelligence varies with the mass of this tissue. He critiques dualistic theories like Spiritualism and Materialism for their logical contradictions regarding causality and energy conservation, proposing instead that mental and physical changes are one and the same event viewed from different perspectives. Romanes applies this Monistic framework to complex issues such as the nature of the external world, the problem of free will versus predestination, and the efficacy of prayer. He argues that human will is a relative expression of an Absolute Volition, resolving the theological dilemma of free will without negating divine consistency. The text concludes that while the ultimate mystery of existence may be inexplicable, the most reasonable approach is to assign priority to mind, as it is the only entity we know directly. Romanes asserts that Monism satisfies both subjective feeling and objective observation, offering a coherent explanation for the universe that avoids the pitfalls of radical materialism or idealism.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Philosophy