“The philosophy expounded by Hugh Elliot in ‘Modern science and materialism’ is the complete materialism which not only makes mind dependent upon matter but identifies mind with matter. The world is thus conceived as consisting of one substance. Not all of those who agree with the materialistic hypothesis will accept this extreme simplification of it. To many Mr Elliot’s view will seem as metaphysical as the opposite view which regards matter as a form of mind. Mr Elliot’s book, however, is not merely an argument against the commonly accepted dualism in the conception of matter and mind. It is also a survey of the creation of man and the universe, as interpreted by a method which reduces all processes to the working of blind, but immutable, laws. In all respects, Mr Elliot’s view of the universe is rigidly mechanistic.”—Springf’d Republican
“It is difficult not to be unjust to ‘Modern science and materialism.’ Its science is above reproach and occupies the center of the author’s interest and the bulk of the book. But it is impossible to say more of the author’s ‘materialism’ than that it is what physical science always is when it attempts to substitute itself for life.” C. E. Ayres
+ − Am J Soc 26:249 S ’20 280w
“A good bird’s-eye view, not unduly technical, for the interested layman or student.”
+ Booklist 16:257 My ’20 + N Y Times p18 O 17 ’20 140w
“Mr Elliot is one of the most intolerant of materialists, but those who read his book are likely to see that he frequently falls into the sin he castigates, that of accepting ideas as true which are merely speculative. Mr Elliot also falls into the familiar error of claiming to be an agnostic and, from this negative doctrine, he immediately and cheerfully builds up a most positive philosophy.”
+ − Review 3:45 Jl 14 ’20 850w Sat R 128:613 D 27 ’19 1150w
“Mr Elliot writes with refreshing clearness and vigour; he is always entertaining, and he never leaves his readers in doubt about his meaning. But while admiring Mr Elliot’s gifts of exposition and assertion, we would urge upon him, with some diffidence, the advantages of a larger share in his own writing of that agnosticism whose value he so strenuously upholds.”
+ − Spec 124:214 F 14 ’20 480w