Ward, J. (1899). Lecture IX: Reflections on Mr. Spencer's theory: His treatment of life and mind. In J. Ward, Naturalism and agnosticism: The Gifford lectures delivered before the University of Aberdeen in the years 1896–1898, Vol. 1, pp. 243-271). Edinburgh, Great Britain: Adam and Charles Black.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/14214-009
This lecture provides reflections on Mr. Spencer's theory and treatment of life and mind. The conclusions to which we were led in examining the mechanical theory apply here. It is impossible to get more out of a theory than there is in it. Out of space, time and mass, however manipulated, progress, development, history, meaning, can never be deduced. How has Mr. Spencer come to think this possible? His procedure is illustrated. He succeeds by means of formularies that seem to have always a strictly mechanical sense, though they are frequently only figuratively mechanical. Indeed, he outvies the mechanical theorists by his more fundamental analysis as well as by his completer synthesis. But he confounds abstraction with analysis; and abstracts till he has no content left. The eliminated elements are then gradually resumed under cover of the principle of continuity. The existing gaps in scientific knowledge help to cloak such recoveries. An instance in Mr. Spencer's transition from Inorganic Evolution to Organic Evolution is considered. The two missing volumes of the Synthetic Philosophy are discussed. Mr. Spencer's somersault in passing from Life to Mind is discussed. After all, the interpretation of Spirit in terms of Matter is allowed to be 'wholly impossible.' (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)