THE OBJECTS OF SCIENCE 55

but the "observer." The immense majority of these

objective relations exist in independent objectivity, and

would continue to so exist were every mind imaginable

by us annihilated. On the other hand, it is surely too

absurd to regard the world as made up of relations without

objects which are related.

The mind in perceiving these "objective relations" i.e.,

the circumstances in which different things stand to each

other cannot, of course, do so without having corresponding

subjective mental perceptions, which may be termed

" subjective relations " since they make known to us the

corresponding " objective " ones. But the latter exist quite

independently of any imaginable mind. Our perceiving or

not perceiving them is a mere accident of such relations, and

in no way affects them save as regards their being or not

being perceived.

A simple illustration or two will, we think, make this clear.

Thus, e.g., a definite relation exists between a piece of rock

and a volcano in eruption which ejected it, but this relation

is substantially similar between a rock and volcano perceived

and a rock and volcano of the Antarctic Continent which

never have been perceived, or between a rock and a volcano

on the averted surface of the moon, if .such things there

exist. Multitudes of relations probably exist between

various heavenly bodies, which relations existed long before

the formation of our solar system.

but the "observer." The immense majority of these

objective relations exist in independent objectivity, and

would continue to so exist were every mind imaginable

by us annihilated. On the other hand, it is surely too

absurd to regard the world as made up of relations without

objects which are related.

The mind in perceiving these "objective relations" i.e.,

the circumstances in which different things stand to each

other cannot, of course, do so without having corresponding

subjective mental perceptions, which may be termed

" subjective relations " since they make known to us the

corresponding " objective " ones. But the latter exist quite

independently of any imaginable mind. Our perceiving or

not perceiving them is a mere accident of such relations, and

in no way affects them save as regards their being or not

being perceived.

A simple illustration or two will, we think, make this clear.

Thus, e.g., a definite relation exists between a piece of rock

and a volcano in eruption which ejected it, but this relation

is substantially similar between a rock and volcano perceived

and a rock and volcano of the Antarctic Continent which

never have been perceived, or between a rock and a volcano

on the averted surface of the moon, if .such things there

exist. Multitudes of relations probably exist between

various heavenly bodies, which relations existed long before

the formation of our solar system.