[22] Michel Breal:  Hercule et Cacus.

[23] We are not here concerned with a priori metaphysics, but with the psychical and organic dispositions slowly produced by evolution and by consciousness in its cosmic relations.  The organic nature of these reflex phenomena is due to the fact that in the long course of ages their exercise has, through physiological evolution, first become voluntary or spontaneous, and then unconscious.

[24] The double meaning is projected into objects.  The primitive meaning of dexter was fitting, capable, and it was then applied to the side of the material body.  Sansc. dacs, to hasten.  Ascoli, Studi linquistici.

[25] A careful reader will not hold this repetition to be unnecessary, since it explains from another point of view the fundamental fact of perception and its results.  It is here considered with reference to the three elements which constitute this fact.

[26] This great truth was observed by Vico, the most advanced of modern psychologists, in his views of primitive psychology.

[27] In Chinese, for example, and in many other languages, there are many words to indicate the tail of a fish, a bird, etc., but no word for a tail in general.  Even an intelligent savage does not accurately distinguish between the subjective and the objective, between the imaginary and the real; this is the most important result of a scientific education.  Tylor, Primitive Culture; Steinhauser, Religion des Negres; Brinton, Myths of the World.  The objective form of conceptions and emotions, which are subsequently transformed into spirits, are found among the superior races of our day, in the Christian hierarchy of angels, in popular tradition, and in spiritualism.

[28] Fetishism may be observed in the civilized Aryan races, but still more plainly among the Chinese and cognate races, among the Peruvians, Mexicans, etc.  Castren, in his Finnische Mythologie says that we find extraordinary instances of the lowest stage of fetishism among the Samoeides, who directly worship all natural objects in themselves.  The Finns, who are comparatively civilized heathens, have attained to a higher phase of belief.  But numerous examples, in every part of the world, will occur to the intelligent reader.

[29] Numen really means the manifestation of power, from nuere.  Varro makes Attius say:  “Multis nomen vestrum numenque ciendo.”  In Lucretius we have mentis numen, and also Numen Augusti.  An inscription discovered by Mommsen runs as follows: 

     “P.  Florus, etc.  Dianae numine jussu posuit.”

[30] The illustrious Du Bois Reymond delivered a lecture a few years ago, in which he made it clear that the Semitic idea of one Almighty God led to the later and modern conception of the unity of forces and the rational interpretation of the system of the universe.  This important testimony of so able a man confirms the theory set forth some years ago in the work of which I have reproduced a part in the text.