THE AUTOMATON THEORY AND THE CONSERVATION OF ENERGY.
[TO THE XDITOIL OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—The consciousness of every one at every moment of action is so indisputable—we are so distinctly conscious that our actions are prompted by and guided by our feelings—that Mr. Spalding's denial of the fact, which he claims as a discovery, rests, no doubt, on some peculiar interpretation of the word "consciousness." It is evident that the meaning attached to it in your articles is not the meaning attached to it by him. If he would make his position intelligible, he must answer the following questions :-
What does he mean by consciousness? In what part of the organism does he suppose consciousness to arise,—if it arises there ? What is the connection of this part with the other parts of the organism when consciousness is in action ?
Will the same series of bodily action.s—such as those performed by Mr. Brown in writing a cheque—follow a stimulation, whatever may be the state of Mr. Brown's consciousness, and equally follow this order, whether Mr. Brown be conscious or not?—I am,
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