The Relation of Science and Religion.pdf - Online Christian Library

MAN'S PLACE IN THE WORLD. 247tinction between what we may describe asmuscular action, and what we would morenaturally denominate personal conduct. Thiscontrast will serve throughout, as we proceedto estimate the explanations which sciencehas reached in dealing with the characteristicsof human life.The proved superiority of brain and nervein man affords an adequate explanation ofhis generally recognized superiority in thevariety of the forms of his muscular activity.In mere muscular power man can not competewith the more powerful animals. Hispractical superiority is seen in manipulationand the vastly greater variety of occupationsto which he can turn; and i11 the greater wisdomhe has for self-government. Leavingmeanwhile out of account comparative intelligence,we have only to consider the superioruse man has of the general sensibilitiesof the body, and of the special senses of touchand sight; the greater variety of the jointsand muscles in his body; the more complicatedarrangements of his nerve system; andthe relation of all these in a single economy,in order to perceive a distinct phase of thesuperiority of man, sufficiently accounted for