Editorial July 6, 1918 Issue

Metaphysics versus Human Psychology

William P. McKenzie

If one seeks to study pure metaphysics in the ordinary school or college, he will not find those who can adequately instruct him, for the simple reason that the metaphysics of ordinary textbooks is based on the testimony of the physical sense and does not reach to that vision above and beyond the physical which the very word metaphysics implies. Metaphysical vision is the insight of pure mind, not the seeing of the eyes, the hearing of the ears, nor the emotions despairing or ecstatic which tremble in the nervous system. Learned professors have done their best to find order and system and method amid the data of physical discord and delight, potency and sickness, life and death, but it is found, as "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 549) makes clear, that "these material researches culminate in such vague hypotheses as must necessarily attend false systems, which rely upon physics and are devoid of metaphysics."

Viewing the history of accepted systems we see how the theory of one age would be discarded by the next and the guessing would begin again. The world, and its perplexed learned men, and its weary unanswered multitudes, was waiting for true metaphysics, which Christian Science unfolded because Mrs. Eddy's discovery and healing enabled her to base her system upon Mind. She says (Science and Health, p. 279): "Every system of human philosophy, doctrine, and medicine is more or less infected with the pantheistic belief that there is mind in matter; but this belief contradicts alike revelation and right reasoning. A logical and scientific conclusion is reached only through the knowledge that there are not two bases of being, matter and mind, but one alone,—Mind."

There are several terms for that which is the reverse of metaphysics, pretending to be its imitation or substitute. At the same time when American independence was being established, Mesmer in Germany brought animal magnetism into notice, which gave us the term mesmerism. This word erelong came into ill repute, and desire for a more high sounding name brought on the word hypnotism. Then for a time the hypnotist had a certain distinction, and physicians boasted of using upon trusting patients this subtle mental influence. Since the world has now learned to distrust both mesmerism and hypnotism it has become necessary for those who do evil in secret, trying to work out the will of the flesh and the will of man, to find cover under another name. The term psychology is in use to camouflage mesmeric and hypnotic methods of mental suggestion. By its etymology it would mean the sum of learning referring to the "animal soul" whereof the second record of creation speaks. It is there said that God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into the image the breath of life so that it became "a living soul."

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