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

Name: Life and Matter: A Criticism of Professor Haeckel's "Riddle of the Universe"
Author: Sir Oliver Lodge

By Sir Oliver Lodge

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Philosophy & Ethics

About This Book

An empirically minded philosopher-scientist critiques contemporary scientific materialism, arguing that materialistic monism overlooks the conditions of human knowledge and cannot account for guidance, consciousness, or life. He examines concepts of substance and energy, critiques reductions of life to mere material transformations, surveys biological development and teleology, and considers mind–matter interaction, free will, and religious implications. Throughout he challenges assertions that life is simply a form of material energy, proposes analogies and hypotheses about life's origin and guiding powers, and urges a measured synthesis of scientific findings with philosophic reflection rather than wholesale scientific metaphysics.

About the Author

Sir Oliver Lodge

Sir Oliver Lodge was a prominent British physicist and writer known for his contributions to the fields of science and philosophy. He played a significant role in the development of wireless communication and was an early advocate for the study of psychical research. Lodge's notable works include "Life and Matter: A Criticism of Professor Haeckel's 'Riddle of the Universe'" and "Raymond; or, Life and Death," where he explored themes of survival after death and the intersection of faith and science. His writings reflect a deep engagement with both scientific inquiry and spiritual questions, making him a unique figure in the early 20th-century intellectual landscape.