From Life: Its Nature, Origin, Development, by Salem Wilder, are taken the following pithy extracts:—
If we assume that something is self-existent, or always existed, what is that something? Mind certainly exists, and matter certainly appears to exist. Did Mind precede the existence of matter? or have both Mind and matter existed eternally? or has Mind been evolved from matter, as some suppose? If so, by what process was this evolution accomplished? Or, on the other hand, did Mind, through its act or acts, cause matter to be spoken into existence? Our minds are so constituted that it is easier to conceive that both Mind and matter existed eternally, than to suppose that something material was created out of nothing. We are necessarily driven to, one of three conclusions: first, either the supposed existence of matter is a delusion; or, secondly, something has been created out of nothing; or thirdly, that matter existed eternally. Can we believe that Mind is the product of matter? How can we account for its existence? Can we conceive it as self-existent? If only one Principle, or entity, can be self-existent, is that entity Mind or matter, material or immaterial?
