"Modern Physical Fatalism" is an able examination of the groundwork of H. Spencer's "Negative Philosophy" from a mathematical and physical standpoint. Though dealing with abstruse problems it is characterized throughout by unusual perspicuity of thought and logical acumen. Mr. Birks displays much skill in demonstrating the numerous contradictions and startling paradoxes which underlie the verbose definitions and imperfect reasoning of the "First Principles" of this philosophy, a philosophy which would reconcile religion and science by extinguishing the former and placing blind fate on the throne of the universe. As we shall show hereafter, he conclusively proves that the whole system is based on false assumption, and established by more than doubtful logic. We rejoice that the university which gave birth to this doctrine of physical fatalism has also sent forth so able and complete a refutation of it. - The London Quarterly Review, Volume 52 [1879]