On Miracles And Modern Spiritualism

Reprint of the original, first published in 1875.

The nineteenth-century British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace was a major influence on Darwin's theory of natural selection. He was later moved by a variety of personal experiences to examine the concept of spirituality, but his exploration into the potential for compatibility between spiritualism and natural selection alienated him from the scientific community. The three controversial essays in this 1875 book attempt to reinforce his beliefs and validate his claims. The first, written in 1871 and read before The Dialectic Society, reconsiders the credibility or incredibility of miracles. The second, 'The Scientific Aspect of the Supernatural', had been published in a secularist periodical several years earlier, and 'A Defence of Modern Spiritualism' appeared in the Fortnightly Review shortly before this book was published. Wallace's book takes the modern reader to the heart of the raging debates engendered by Darwin, many of which continue over a century later.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1875 edition. Excerpt: ... A DEFENCE OF MODERN SPIRITUALISM/ (reprinted With Notes And Additions From The "Fobtniohtlt Review.") It is with great diffidence, but under an imperative sense of duty, that the present writer accepts the opportunity afforded him of submitting to the readers of the Fortnightly Eeview some general account of a wide-spread movement, which, though for the most part treated with ridicule or contempt, he believes to embody truths of the most vital importance to human progress. The subject to be treated is of such vast extent; the evidence concerning it is so varied and so extraordinary; the prejudices that surround it are so inveterate, that it is not possible to do it justice without entering into considerable detail. The reader who ventures on the perusal of the succeeding pages may, therefore, have his patience tried; but if he is able to throw aside his preconceived ideas of what is possible and what is impossible, and in the acceptance or rejection of what is submitted to him will carefully weigh * The following are the more important works which have been used in the preparation of this article: --Judge Edmond's "Spiritual Tracts," New York, 1858--1860. Robert Dale Owen's "Footfalls on the Boundary of Another World," Triibner and Co., 1861. E. Hardinge's "Modern American Spiritualism," New York, 1870. Robert Dale Owen's "Debateable Land between this World and the Next," Triibner, and Co., 1871. "Report on Spiritualism of the Committee of the London Dialectical Society," Longmans and Co., 1871. "Year Book of Spiritualism," Boston and London, 1871. Hudson Tuttle's "Arcana of Spiritualism," Boston 1871. The Spiritual Magazine, 1861--1874. The Spiritualist Newspaper, 1872--1874. The Medium and Daybreak, 1869-- 1874 and be solely guided by...

This Is A New Release Of The Original 1896 Edition.