ABSTRACT
Humanity, like every other organism, has to act unceasingly on the surrounding world in order to maintain and extend its material existence. The action of humanity relates either to its external circumstances, or to the facts of its own nature. The direct influence of reason over our imperfect nature is so feeble that the new priesthood could not of itself ensure such respect for its theories as would bring them to any practical result. The chief object of its practical life is to satisfy the wants of our physical nature, wants that necessitate continual reproduction of materials in sufficient quantities. Originating in feeling and in reason, it represents the social side of our nature, and to this its direct influence is limited. Each special element of our nature is fully developed, and at the same time the general working of the whole is more coherent. Greater distinctness is given to the truth that the affective element predominates in our nature.
