New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-03-25
oRR. SATURDAY. MORNING, MARCH rs, 1sas.
Social Science.

Social Science.
From the Friends OF AssociatiouI
Review OF Fourier's Works by n Den7e.
cratic Writer.
we noticed the other day the appearance OF !
new Weekly paper edited By Parke ,dwin ESQ
formerly co.editor of the Evening Post, and dis
,inguished writer of the Democratic school of poi
tics This paper has left entirely the barren elc
of political discussion, and has entered into bolc
and conscientious investigation and di scrssion o
high order OF Social questions, of the means o
Of the Masses. Since the Editor has taken thit
noble position and entered upon this vast work
he has studied the Social S:iance of Fo1 rer, ard
we record his opinion which find in tie las,
number Of the Pathfinder.
Mr.. Goodwin is a man of superior talents, and
fact that several of the most able editors Of pa
per5 belonging to the two great opposing political
parties have taken decided stand in favor OF the
gree: doctrine Of Association, and however much
they may differ in the sphere of party politics,
when they meet upon the higher platform of the
they unite and agree perfectly. This is an augury
of the reconciliation and union which will be eff
fec;ed between present conflicting parties, when
the true end higher interests of mankind are felt,
and the means of securing them are understood.
The COMPLETE WORKS OF CHARLES FOURIER. Second
Edition, u volumes.
We have done what we suppose few persons in
this country nave done, and that is-we have read
the greater part Of these four large volumes. We
do not mention the fact proof of the accom-
plishmenI of an unusual feat, but as an evidence
of the co comparative obscurity OF the author. 1t is
only within the last few years that his name has
been heard oil, This side OF the Atlantic; and he
vas not even then much better known TO his
co,intrymen.
How the world could have SO long remained
ignorant of the existence of SO capacious genius,
il one OF the curious mysteries of human life. AS
he seems, however, to have died martyr to his
rr;ncinle,. and as the requisite half century has
nearly passed since his works appeared, there is
.ome hone chat society will consent to look into
rhe prersnsions of the wonderful science, which
he processes to have discovered.
For our OWL, part we regret that we have made
his acquaintance so l,ete-we regard as almost
lost that part Of our ex. stence which has passed
over without the knowledge OF bis writings-we
regret tho having wasted SO many OF the best en-
erqies of the best period Of i.'e IN pursuing the
- bezparlv elements of this wor.'e when new
gospel stood ready by our side IL lead Us In the
wav of righteousness and truth. 1t Is matter OF
unspeakable astoniskment TO us, that we nave not
before been told Of the brilliant and ext raordinary
revelations which God had vouchsated u mere
g serieani de boutiqua, Ia mere counter ui'Pei'
as he calls himself, of France. ~.
We do not pretend to have Mastered the WI'oie
Of Fourers system of Universal Cnty' nor 70 he a.,
seen tie force of all his social principles. MS
works are so comprehensive and graG'd.the &c
suit of forty years of patient thought-tea' they
are not t, be exhausted in d week or even year
But we have examined enough Of them to be con
v1nccd that the author is one OF the most mas
nfcent seniu5es of the age. be has opened to
human investigation, like another Columbus, an
entirely new world Social science can hardly be
said to hsve existed before be applied his won
derful faculties TO its elucidation. Not since the
DAYS of Bacon, has mankind seen another such
thinker Not since Newton, has there been SO
profound student of the works of the Deity. lie
is in many respects, greater even, than either oil
tue mighty spirits whose names we have just
written Bacon, revealed the true method OF IN.
uuiry in physical science, but was not aimseH
discoverer of science Newton perfected the pro-
cesses of mathematics and discovered the theory
of material gravitation. But Fourier has done
much more than all this. He has worked out
both the method of social science, and tie SCI
erce itself; he has discovered, not merely the
laws which regulate the movements OF matter,
but those higher and deeper laws, which pcrvade
The instincts Of animals and the spiritual nature of
man. In word, he has shown the way In
which labor can be rendered attractive, in which
The dscordant interests of individuals can be har-
monlzed at the semc time that their rights are
secured in Which every member OF the race shall
receive the full developments of his physical ana
mural f,cnIIies in which man shall attain his true
destiny, and the reign of God be established upon
the earth. If nobler problem could have been
solved by the intellect OF man, we should Ike 1t 10
be pointed out, for We are gnoIant OF the TACT
Apart. however, from bis merits as d'scoyerer,
the WORKS of Fourier have strong claims to the
attention of thinking men, in other respects. he
i one of the acutest and hravest critics that has
written in very long while. His examinations
f the institutions, sciences, tendencies and reia-
rion, OF our existing civilization, are tuli CT the
mos, Instructive details. We may suppose his
NUN theories TO be wrong, and yet lind word OF
truth in the remarks which ne offers ns to the theo
ries of others. In the review OF contemporary
8. philosophers and sayans, he is most astute ana
scorchirsg. His power OF analizlng dehes all oe-
,cr;o,io1. 1t is like the proboscis of an elephant,
which j. so strong that it will pull up huge tree by
ia roots. and vet so delicate that it will pick the
head Of pin. When he gets hold of any sub
pretended science a mass ct tacts-ne
axes i, 10 pieces as deliberately as watch-na-
gar taL IS out the different wheels OF watch. Or
rarber.--since the sciences and the facts which ne
anulyze4, are not generally IS well constructed as
watches, and so can net be properly compared
he picks them into little bits as sailor does a