New-York daily tribune., 1843-01-07
40 For the Tf.DuEc
asghteb of aar. BaTtrott's 2eeturc.
The Spirit Of the Age.

exhibited Socrates copcnding with the SophIsts OF
Greece Every scholar knows how numerous was
tna, host of quackish pretenders, each in his own
way protesting TO have discovered some new
scheme Of education, soKe notable moral OF
philosophical reform. Some contended that var
tue, TO use thoir own language was dldactic, ano
professed themselves able only 10 teach It's prin-
cpes, but actually render their pupils vrtuous'
by mere force of moral suasion Others, as we
learn from Aristotle, proposed the most sweeping
reforms in the State on the ground of introducing
perfect equality. There were the Skidmors and
Fouriers of that age as well as Of our own. some
professed to WELD with invincible skill, the then
newly-discovcred art of logic; and others, on
reasonable compensation paid for their lectures 10
initiate their pupils into all the mysteries OF The
philosophy of mind and matter. Whoever will
closely examine the history Of that period, viii
fad nothing SO much resembling it the present,
with It's lectures and lecturers on every science,
and on every subject, moral, political and phllo
sophical. Bot one thing is wanted to complete
tho likeness. Had we only some Socrates to con-
found the modern race of sophists by those search
ing interrogatories which no other man could ever
put with such effect, the resemblance would be
complete. In this refined age, we could not ex-
pect such one TO wander about our streets, like
the old are-headed and bare footed Athenian,
proposing puzzling questions at every corner to
the ingenious gentlemen who favor with their
nightly lectures. 1t would be enough if the spirit
of the age could only produce some one, who coulo
skiifully use the true Socratic method-who coulo
apply it like chemical test TO discover and precip-
itate the sophistry, and what is worse, the utter
nonsense, which, under the cant of Transcendent-
alism, Spiritualism, the young Philosophy, the
young Democracy, the Spirit of the Age. bids fair
to destroy all the remains of clear and manly
thought, which better mode Of education has YET
left among US. Yes, we want the Socratic method
with its short and searching interrogatories, in dis
tinction from those long and continuous harangues,
in which the Spirit of the Age emits its cloudy
philosophy. A well conducted public disputation
in this style, on some of the matters which form
the subjects of our modern lectures, would result,
in more clear ideas than are derived from all the
diatrses with which we nightly favored In
the Protagoras we are introduced to q splendid
circle of Grecian li;erati, gathered around the
most famous of the lecturers who at that time
drew forth the admiration Of the young men OF
Athens. What contrast is presented by the
bare-feoted Sage who is represented casually
meeting with this literary company, and their al
most ador ed oracle. The one fluent, declamato-
ry, having great command Of the cant of the
times, and able to WELD it with the most orator.
cal effect, wishes to be ndulgcd in loag ha-
rangue. The other, with his well known irony,
insists that their logical skill would be better
manifested by the short mode Of question and an
swer, in which he nigh expect to be more u
par with his learned antagonist He illustrates
his position by comparison, which for elegance
and point is not exceeded in the whole range OF
Greek literature. These rhetoricians or public
lecturers" he tells US, are like bells which when
struck ring loud and long, until the slightest touch
with the finger upon the edge produces at once
these windy orators be interrupted by single
question of definite nature relating to the sub
iect under Discussion, they would become as mute
rs their kindred brass" This passage, together
with vivid recollection of the style and manner
of Socrates, came forcibly to mind on reading Mr..
BANcRorr's late lecture on the Spirit of the Age.
We could not help thinking what an utter contu-
sion Of all ideas there must have been, had some
Socratc lover of perspicuity sin his audience been
allowed to propose few plain questions in the
manner of the Grccian sage. How suddealy must
the sonorous reverberntion have ceased, if in the
midst of this splendid defamation about the
Spirit of the Age, some one had made the trouble
some inquiry-What do you mean by all this -
VIII you, my good Sir, tell US definitely, or at
least with as much precision as your own mind
coaceives It, just what is intended by this Spirit
of the Age?
The great excellence of the Socratc methsd
consists in tkis--that neither party can for any
length of time talk nonsense withou, discovering
IL The Sage never suffers himself or his antago.
mist to proceed, as long as any important term re-
maias underlined, or any of the back ground anex-
plored. Alopinions are subjected to the analysis
of diaiectcal crucibie in which the dross is con-
sumed, the smoke blown away, and either the pure
ore or nothing remains. The more common the
phrase ,he more rigid the scrutiny, and no mpu,
iaaea OF sedSoasness or unnecessary trifins induces
any resaxatloa, until, to use one of his own mos,
common comparisons, the sophis,.y ishau,ed out Of
ali Its DARK lurking places, aud exposed 10 The
light CT day IN its true Observation-Disclosures
downright nonsense.
In the lecture before US, the phrase which forms
its subject is used in almost every sen,e,c..
While we think thar We have sscestained the
length and breadth of the conception in oas pas.
sage. 10! it presently Starts up under new form
in some other. Sometimes we are inclined TO set
tie down TO the conclusion, thar the lecturer is
more orthodox than ne has been supposed TO be-
and that the Spirit of the Age means a Divine SUI
perin,endiag Providence; or perhaps something
of sill! more sacred import, even the Spirir OF
.rush, of whom she evangelism speaks, and who is
l.
ara we drawn to this opinion, when we listen To
the description OF the philosopher who in vain
trims his m;dnish, lanp, if he relies upon his own
,fs. stiilnsss of his