Life and Matter: A Criticism of Professor Haeckel's "Riddle of the Universe"

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Gutenberg ID

26321

Title

Life and Matter: A Criticism of Professor Haeckel's "Riddle of the Universe"

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Sir Oliver Lodge challenges materialistic monism, arguing that life is a distinct, permanent entity capable of guiding matter rather than merely being a function of energy. This controversial yet scientifically grounded work serves as an antidote to Haeckel's theories, exploring the interaction between mind and matter through analogies from magnetism and politics to propose a reformed philosophy of the universe.

Summary up to 500 words

In *Life and Matter*, Sir Oliver Lodge offers a rigorous critique of the prevailing materialistic monism of his era, which posits that life is merely a form of material energy. Lodge argues that this view fails to account for the conditions of human knowledge and the directive control evident in biological processes. He proposes that life is neither matter nor energy, but a distinct, permanent entity that interacts with the material world to guide it toward specific ends. Using analogies from magnetism—where magnetic lines of force are pre-existent and merely expanded rather than created—and politics, where a parliament survives the changing individuals who compose it, Lodge illustrates how life functions similarly as a permanent idea temporarily incarnated in matter. He contends that while energy is constant, its transformations are susceptible to guidance by a non-material agency. The text examines the development of life from simple cells to complex human consciousness, suggesting that mind and will can direct physical forces without violating mechanical laws. Lodge addresses the tension between free will and determinism, suggesting that human limitations in perceiving time obscure a fuller reality where future events may already exist in the forethought of a higher mind. Ultimately, the book serves as a supplement to scientific inquiry, extending it into higher regions to formulate a doctrine where life and mind are recognized as real, guiding forces essential to a complete philosophy of the universe. Lodge asserts that materialism becomes false when presented as a complete philosophy because it ignores the cognitive conditions necessary for facts to exist for us. He distinguishes between the legitimate abstraction of science and dogmatic materialism, arguing that life possesses a continuous existence independent of its material manifestations. By studying human guidance and control over nature, Lodge suggests we must admit the possibility of similar powers in higher beings, thereby bridging the gap between physical science and spiritual reality.

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Categories

• Religion
• Philosophy
• Biography
• Science