The Ascent of Life; Or, the Psychic Laws and Forces in Nature baixar o livro de graça

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1894. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... Chapter I. One truth is apparent, that life, from its lowest to its highest, is a succession of ascents, a succession of grades or plateaux, each one intermingling with its commencing edges in the plane below and with its later or upper edges merged in the plane that is next above it. To students of natural history, this is already sufficiently clear. The advances from the fish to the amphibian, and from this to the animal, and later on to man, besides others too numerous to mention, all indicate the continuity of the principle of improvement. The question therefore arises: Is nature to be expected to cease its order and sequence as soon as it has produced the human grade? If man remained exclusively an animal in all his instincts and passions, the necessity for the question would not be so apparent. But when we find in human beings evidences of still higher planes of existence -- which alter, control, and eradicate the animal disposition--then we have to consider whether nature will proceed with the same sequence and order which she has exhibited throughout. What, then, is the next higher plane of life that is found in us side by side with the animal? What is this in us which is neither fish, flesh, nor fowl? Nature keeps every one interested. She has developed her silvery fish, her l myriad iridescent birds and beetles, her monstrous winged lizards, her huge animals, her inquisitive monkeys, and then the student of herself, with a searching brain -- a thing that looks for God. The question arises: Is she giving him that which he looks for, or at least the next advance towards what he seeks? We find that no living thing of nature has ever instinctively craved for anything unless it was proper for it to do so; and the fact is suggestive while we seek an answer t...