Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-12-04

IL the argument founded on the contradictions Of ment
science be valid against its claims branch OF huma
study let il be borne in mind that it equally obtain
against politics and theology The science OF Statesman
ship and Of political economy must be given to the wind
and the schools the prophets must be closed as SO
sources and Of vain angngs and teasing subtle
ties that darken counsel with words without knowedg
Shall we throw our Constitution overheard because tn
South Caronian and the man of Massachusetts,
will not accord in its Interpretation! Shall we discar
the Holy Book because the monk of Wttemberg the
tie of Geneva and his Holiness the Pope of Rome
agreed as to its precepts and its prncipes? Must w
hate metaphysics cordially Southy did the writing
Of the Adam Smiths and the Malthuses cry agains
Plato as Voltarc against the teacher of Galee crust
the wretch! An argument which thus proves too mucl
may be left to confute itself.
But philosophy is compelled to afront the utlitariar
challenge cur bono; in the vulgate, twill it pay?" In
an age and country like this do not think it safe to
dismiss such an interrogatory with contempt 1t has
been strongly urged by eloquent English divine that
the distractions Of the metapby lie from
the business of life be generally interesting and do not
compensate by their for their defects in the ascna
tons Of pleasure Here again. let 1t be observed the OBJ
ector is using argument which resembles Chinese
musket in being dangerous to him that aims it than
the object which he eyes its reco is fearful than
its discharge for every science abors under precisely
the infeicty If the metaphysican must repudate
science because its method and processes removed
beyond the ken sympathy of the Masses must also
the physician discard his and his scapel the
must his abstruse inquiries into the laws Of
Nature and his reaching nducons among the pheno
OF every day life the astronomer must eschew his
mathematics and to calculate the orbits of comets
predict ecses the chemist must throw aside his re-
tort and leave his crucible to be exploited by astrolo
gers and teers and hunters after the philoso
piers stone the ursconsut and the judge must emerge
from the ntrcacies of the law and let society take
of itself Shall we them discard every thing in nature
science art and social poty which cannot be populariz
ed Must Tom, Dick and Harry rule the roast because
they exactly understand every word appreciate
every pursuit of Mr.. Thomas Mr. Richard and Mr. Hen
ry? The truth Is there is science which can be pc
pularzed in its raocnatve processes and it is high time
that our common-school educahonists and universal
equalitymen had begun to find it out The mass must
ever be satisfied with results; melancholy truth it may
be, but still no less true than melancholy Now,
ser with NJ Cousin, that the rcsus of metaphysc in
qury not confined to the schools the chosen few
they percolate through the very heart Of nation they
are often most operative when most unseen the light
which they shed on every subject of contemporaneous
iers all things else visible To verify this assertion
suit the page of history and it will be found
thor declares that it is always the philosophy of
epoch which expresses its thought which dsengages it
from its political and religious veils and takes it upon
itself translate that thought into abstract clear and
precise formula Can you understand the Grecian mind
without knowledge Of its philosophy Can you explain
the Middle Ages without the philosophy of Aristotle
And yet how many Of the Greeks ever studied in the aca
DENY, or how many Of the medieval priests barons
had ever looked into copy of the great stagyrtes Or
Canon? 1t was the condensed results of these systems
that influenced the entire mind Of the respective ages
have instanced for when philosophy has thus been
duced to formulas it becomes the guide and staff of
thought directing and sustaining it in all its endeayors
or repeat figure already employed it is the iumi-
mating atmosphere through which the mental eye views
all the objects of its contemplation and which therefore
tinctures them with its own peculiar hue.
One more objection and have done 1t is said that
revelation supersedes the necessity Of philosophy since
all that assuredy know his moral and spirit
ual relations has been brought to light by the pen of
SEPARATION To this i. is deemed sufficient to reply that
the Bible contains revelation that chiefly mans
practical duties his spiritual needs and his future des
tiny 1t does not profess to teach truth in systematic
FORM neither does it purpor to exhaust all Of truth that
is cognzabe by the human intellect except those
doctrines and subjects with which it 1.-THE Bible spe-
caly conversant II leaves the mind still to prosecute
its researches in all branches Of study which have not
been foreclosed by the sealing up of the vision and the
prophecy. Luke the beloved physician" not in
doctrnated in all the secrets Of modern medical science
though he was made medium for the Transmission Of
theological facts Paul did not presume, understand
the Coperncan system the Newtonian theory of the
universe or the molecular constitution Of matter though
he was fled with the Holy Ghost" 1t derogates from
the awful sancty which invests revelation to suppose it
vehicle Of knowledge which should and could dis
cover for hmsef its province is instruct those
points which unaded could not SCALE and to give
the divine sanction those moral truths which
prised in the relations of God and to his fellow
In teaching religious and moral truth it undoubt
edly sheds great light intellectual being but il Is
with mans moral nature that it primarily in
Revelation in matters OF religious belief and moral
obligation is to the what the telescope and the mi
croscope the naked eye enabling attain grand
and submer views in the 70, mer and a minute
and comprehensive conception Of duties resulting from
the latter The laws of intellectual lfe the scientific
classification of mental faculties into their constituent
categories the degrees Of evidence in the testimony
Senses &C. topics with which the Scriptures dc
not concern themselves and in which they do not pre-
cude investigation any than in the departments Of
physical research In the laws Of mechanics the pro-
perties of electricity Religion and philosophy have toe
often been srrayed against each other by dvnes the
one hand and meaph ysical doctors the other Cred
torts the philosophical Ab6ard Crede ct intcge in
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