New-York daily tribune., 1856-06-07
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
SOCIAL SCIENCE.

SOCIAL SCIENCE.
INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL SCIENCE By GEORGE II
CALVERT. l2mo, pp 49, R,dheld
The general purposes aud methods OF Social Sci
epce aye set forth with admirable clearness aud
discrimination in this impressive volume. The
author 10 man of sound philosophical culture, Of
uncommon literary sttainments, and wide expe-
rience Of society both in ths country and in Ed
rope. His previous works have established his
reputssion 90 an acute observer, % energetic and
cOnsiderate thinker, and writer Of unusual c)m-
pass and force. Disconnected with the various
practical enterprises for social reform which have
been stteu pied in the course of the last fifteen
year., he treats the present subject in purely
scientific point of view, ansyziDg the laws of hu-
man progress exposing the defects of prevalent ia-
stitutoos, and describing the condition, of future
harmony and happiness. His words, accordingly,
are entitled TO great weight in the estimation Of
right minded men. No one can peruse his thought
full volume without receiving suggestions of equal
freshness ard value, klndlioe new hope 10 the fu-
ture Of society, or at least exciting deeper in
terest in the profound problem Of which it treats.
In the commencement of bis work, Mr.. Calvert
illustrates the guarantee OF progress founded on
the natural love Of knowledge. The steps by
which humanity is elevated are the mental percep-
tons Of facts and principles. We men in pro-
portion TO the extent and accuracy of our knowl-
edge. This is the meaure Of our power We are
not, however, to undersrsnd by knowledge the
mere sccumulatiOns Of memory, but an acquant
ance with the nature relations aud laws of things
b "a knowledge mbibed by sympathy, as we'll as ap-
prop,iated BY the intellect-a knowledge wrought
into the texture Of the mind by genial and active
incorporation. Napoleon, for instance, had knowl-
edge only Of material forces. In the moral world,
he WIS a stranger and an ignoramus. de fully ap-
preciated the power Of human selfshaess as an in
strument for his designs but be had no perception
Of the superior potency OF human nobeness as an
instrument for good. Hence his career WAS bat
splendid failure, his greatest deeds sprung from
personal ostentation, his memory feeds only SEN
sitive national vanity, and his example has never
ceased TO be curse 70 France. Byron was an
other example of the de.tirution of knowledge in
the sphere Of mails moral nature. He was con-
noisseur in the lower passions Of humanity, but
could never comprehend the disnterested impulse
Of Shelley TO save the llis Of his friend by the OK
posure Of bis own. Shakespeare, on the contrary,
lad an iutuitive genius for reading the human heart
in ali its emotions He knew the wealth and fer
vor of affection-he knew the keenness aud subtle
~ of intellect. Hence his power to mold the fiery
elements of humanity into his living cre-
stions of character. But, like Shakespeare, all
men draw their strength ffcm their knowledge.
The acquisition of knowledge depends on our
quenchless thirst for novelty. Life itself is but
the ~ arch for something new. The course Of his
tory but the contest between the present and the
pact. Humanity has grown by deeper intuition Of
divine laws. Great men revealed new great truths.
Roger Bacon, Leonardo do VInci, Paracelsus aud
their associates laid the foundation of experimental
science and modern mechanics. Copernicus, antic-
ipauDg Kepler, Galileo and Newton, shattered the
fabric Cf ancient astronomy and launched the earth
On itsorbit Thefery hear: Of Dante gushed forth in
wai Of musical woe to be followed in few cent1rics
by the melodious joys of Shakespeare. Leonardo
and Michael Angelo, Raphael and Rubens, and the
majestic works of gothic architecture gave new
expression to plastic beauty. Wick;iffe and Huss
.poke bold words for new freedom, which found
an echo in the Titanic voice Of Martin Luther.
Thus BY perennial accessions OF newnoss has the
world sdsauced from the weaknesses Of its inianie
state TIE contsct Of genius with nature has srl'k
out new light for the inyigoration and enlargement
Of humanity We stand on al emncnce composed
of all the truths, all the discoveries all the inyen-
tops that have been reached 10 he past life OF the
rsoeau emin, nee on which frat str he the rays OF
new truths as they rise surlke, irotn the bosom OF
the Infinite.
But we cannot remain stationary on this emit
nence. Time, heretofore SO prolific, has not sud
denly become barron. The principles which the
past has nurtured have not yet borae their best
fruit. The earthly condition Of man is not com
pleted. The seeds Of truth are not all .pon'. The
grsnar, Of God is not exhausted.
In the present epoch of hgmln progress, man $
hisher nasu.e Graves free Spontaneous develop
Meh'' All living things are formed from within.
Ane germ q each blade OF grass determines the
quAi5 oil the whole. Bu, outward agencies are
indispensable for tho nurture Of this inboro epdow
ment. The blade Of grass mu,t have earth al,
water. suDshine The union Of the.e tvvo element,
10 essential to the Accomplishment Of N,,r,.,.
poses in each Of her myriad forms of rc. psa,,
finite existence implies relations with other AZ, :.
ences The higher the being, the more nume, ON.
yarious. and subtle are its relations and depenaor
o,es. Msn is the meet striking example Of thi,