FOREWORD

In the summer of 1929 I was asked to speak for thirty-five minutes in a symposium on the Nature of Life arranged by the officers of the Physiological Section of the British Association. I soon discovered that there are many ways of filling up thirty-five minutes devoted to the consideration of so formidable a topic. Eventually I decided to make my contribution in the form which appears almost unchanged in the fourth essay of this book. By that time I had written a volume without intending to break my silence before attaining my sixtieth year. With the insertion of some material to elaborate the point of view I had developed this collection might be described as the rejected addresses. I owe to my friend Mr. Sewell, who has adopted the same standpoint in a criticism of æsthetics in course of preparation, the suggestion of the word public in contradistinction to the external world of Professor Eddington.

Four contributors to the Symposium on the Nature of Life, General Smuts, Dr. Haldane, Dr. Wildon Carr and Professor Eddington, had already published their philosophical views in book form. General Smuts and Dr. Haldane courteously wrote to me, expressing the hope that I would criticize their views destructively. I found the time at my disposal insufficient for stating my own point of view. I have responded to their invitation in these essays. If certain passages seem to some of my readers unduly polemical, I have the assurance that my fellow-contributors will regard this collection as the continuation of what was a very friendly argument.

I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness to my friend Professor Levy for criticism and assistance in seeing this book through the press.

L. T. H.

Cape Town, April, 1930.