Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-12-18


We noticed in previous number under this sam,
head, some of the more popular objections to til,
study Of intellectual philosophy. We attempted t
vindcate its claims as one of the fair ssterhood
sciences, and endeavored, in conclusion, to show
that philosophy was not only legitimate branch
OF human study, but that, unlike the physica
sciences, it negtaby must arise in every age which
seeks to refer its knowledge to the highest general
cations, We now wish briefly to remove an asper
sion which is sometimes cast upon its teachers and
professors. 1t has been ably and eloquently argued
by the great English divine, Robert Hall, that
there is principle Of mortality inherent in meta
physical science which sooner or later mpairs the
reputation Of its most distinguished adopts 1t Is a
circumstance, he observes, worthy of remark, as
showing the falacy of its scientific pretensons, that
g there aecer has been a reputation of this kind
which has continued with undiminished lustre
through the revolutions of century" This science,
so grand and imposing in its appearance that it
TO lay claim to universal empire, and to sup
ply the measures and criteria of all other know
ledge, he kens in its progress to the conquests Of
a Sesostris and a Bacchus, who overran Kingdoms
and provinces with ease, but made no permanent
settlements and soon left no trace of their achieve
ments; from all which he proceeds to draw the
useful inference that he who aspires to reputation
that shall survive the vicssudes of opinion and of
time must think of some other character than that
of metaphy sican.
We are at loss to conceive how it was possible
for man Of Robert Halls profound scholarship
and general accuracy of statement to fall into such
singular forgetfulness of the most patent and
striking facts in literary history. With the names
of Plato and Aristotle so often on his lips and in
the face Of his frequent tributes to the " simplifying
genius" Of the former and the close logic of the
1, Lou, IL IL ,bo
cape him that there never had been reputation in
philosophy which had retained its lustre through
the revolutions of century? What names have
better survived the vicisstudes of opinion than that
of the broad-shouldered philosopher who ectured
in Academus, and that of the immortal Stagyrite
who Organized the thought not only of successive
centuries, but of two prevalent religious dispersal
tons, the heather and the christian Alexander
the Great, 1t will be admitted, is one of the few
:. immortal names that were not born to die" but
what trace would ask has he left Of his achieve
ments! Aristotle taught that boy and what is
more has left fame in literature which rivals his
IN war Bacon, in abiding somewhere to the autho-
rltatve manner in which the author of the Organon
enunciates his opinions takes occasion to remark
that he to have wished to establish the same
dominion over mems minds as his pupil over the
civil destinies of nations If such were his aim it
must at least be admitted that he was more
tul in his aspirations than the Macedonian con-
queror, whose name may still be quoted I" to point
moral, but has long since spent its power . to
adom tale" We will not longer detai1 our rea-
ders by arguing this case, but leave NJ. Cousin to
sum up its strong points:
The pursuits which offer most to the development
Of great Municipalities and philosophy. \
Nowhere do the identify themselves vsiby
with the great man than the field of battle but If
this Identification is brilliant in the great captain
Il is morenmae and profound in the great philosopher.
There are no greater names than those of Plato and
Aristotle. Whoever knows Alexander and Cesar knows
Plato and Aristotle The human race, it is true, does
not render to itself any account of what these last
names represent but it does not any account to
itself Tor what represented by the Of Cesar and
Alexander. The human race employs the first as sym
bols Of political and military genius and the latter a
symbols Of phlosophic genius. Listen school
than 10 parties listen to the human To the hu
philosophy is, and always will be- Plato an
Aristotle have cited the greatest philosophers in
der to equal Caesar and Aexander but it must be oh
served that nowhere there more great men than
philosophy. We account for this phenomenon Tn
highest degree Of individuality is reflection which sepa
rates US from all that is ourselves, and puts
array with ourselves; at the time the object
philosophical reflection is what most general in thought
Reflection has generality for its foundation, and ind
vduality for its form II is precisely the highest aanc
of these two elements which constitutes the great man
Finally remember that philosophy has been demonstrate
70 be the highest degree and the necessary summing up
losopher himself in his time and in his country, tn
ultimate Of all other great men, and with the great cap
tain, the most complete representative Of the nation
which lie belongs"
Not to detain the reader longer at the threshold
Of the distinctive philosophical system suggests
by the volumes before US, let US endeavor to cate
few hurried glimpses of Ecectcism, in its origin
author and relations Eclecticism, among the man
modern systems of speculative philosophy whc
have their patrons and confessors, may be regarde
the reigning system Of the nineteenth century
alike in Europe and in our own country. OF tn
philosophy Nj. Cousin is indisputably the princp;
author and the most able expounder Its relation
70 previous and contemporary systems be e,
hibted by a hasty sketch Of the rise and progres
Of modern speculation.
Modern philosophy, we may say, dates from tn
lnstauratio Magma" and the Novum Organon
Of Bacon Men like Telesius, Campanella, an
Glordano Bruno, had doubtless perceived before hi
day the practical futiity Of the scholastic method
Of study and research, but their assaults on tn
rcigning system were weak and ill-drected Ii wa
not until Bacon had unfoded the efficiency of ANA
LysIs as an instrument for the discovery of trut
that the way was opened for the march Of improve
ment either in physical or mental science Tn
father Of modern philosophy, however, as is wei
known, would have confined the working of his sys
4 TEN TO the investigation Of nature 1t is true, h
saw that the analytic and inductive method mail
be equally applied to the decomposition Of thought
but it is apparent from the general tenor Of his wr
ings that he entertained but little, if any, hope
much " pro6cience and advancement of learning