The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-07-15

~>s-'ss- ~~SSsS-s - ~ ~ VI soe Waut8 OF Ptec
teal hfs' Mixed mathematics were deemed
derogatory 10 pure science Mechanics were
tolerated, not for inventions generally useful,
but 70 enable Kings or States to wage war or
erect monuments to their vanity OF supersti-
ton. Had Archimedes been guilty Of construct
ing the modern plough or the spinning Jenny,
We can hardly estimste the consequent advance
Of the world in the basis OF material prosperity
but he would have been banished from the high
position Of . philosophers would have been de.
graded to that Of Q mechanic. Franklin would
have stood sorry chance for co&emporary
honor. Aristotls might have tolerated his e1.
periments With he clouds, but when be came
to make stoves and plant liehtningrods, the
learned would have sneered at his vulgarity, and
the mass doomed him to the keml Ok for his
impiety. r.
"a have given a. one cause of former
Ignorance, the false object, method, and direc-
ton, of ancient inquiry In relation to their fu-
ture influence, there were two schools-that of
Plato and of Aristotle. Not that these were the
only philosophical sects that existed, but the
principal ones that deeply impressed the future.
Neither is it strictly true that either Plato or
Aristotle we're the founders of any school, but
rather reformers, and the most ilustrious ex.
Founders Of those leading, and, in all ages, ever
apparent, though VARYING divisions of philosoph-
ical inquiry, thsAbstEact and the concrete, the
ideal and the sensual. The former treated princi-
pally sthics And metaphysics, and can notice
him only % far - he contributed to establish
false taste and unasiainabls object in philoso.
ply. With his transcending genius, he acquired
. complete control over the minds of speculative
men. But his teachings directly tended to di.
vert men from the critical pursuit of the physi
cal sciences for while he counsellsd study, it
was not to acquire . knowledge of nature, or
benefit the world with its results, but rather to
raise the mind from the material universe to
those abstract general conceptions or ideas
which form part Of tho soul ITSELF His constant
aim was TO encourage us to look Though exter'
nal nature to the soul and 10 God-a noble aim !;
and had he succeeded in truly directing mankind,
and had he not succeeded in directing them
from matsriAl discovery and improvement, it
would have been less barren Of good results.
Bot while he made it the chief object of study
to acquire the power of sbstracting the mind
from external nature, it is no wonder that go
little of material science should bs accurately
learned BY his followers, and it is no wonder
that they should be lost in the mists which even
he could hardly penetrate. We should natural.
ly expect in such school what We actually
6nd-brisf and superficial observation, but ex
allied conceptions, with an occasional glimpse
of some glorious truth, as Of light through the
barriers of aneaher sphere.
In method sad in knowledge of nature-At
least, IS confued 10 this planet aristotle was
the superior of Plato; and could he have
thrown off the popular prejudice against utility,
been more practical in his aims, and given less
prominence to his dixlsctics, instead of having
been able for idealisms to substitute only
wranglings, he would have put man upon the
highway of discovery. His failure was not be.
cause he did not understand induction; on the
contrary, he taught it. 1t was not because he
could not analyzs; his categories, 80 called, are
pronounced BY modern writer, (Morell,) "a
standing monument of his wonderful power,
both of analysis and generalization" +
He should not be held accountable for all
the absurdities taught in his name, for it is not
unusual that blind followers understand moi
their matters spirit-and, indeed, it il not al
together easy to account for the barrenness of
his philosophy. But there must be something
radically defective in his method, that could
lead his followers only into war of words
for had he given them the right direction, had
his method been the true one, though he him.
self remained ignorant, those who adopted that
than vain disputations.
The defects which shall notice are three
lst hasty and superficial induction, based as
To external objects mainly upon sensual obser-
walton I'd, impossible aims; and Sd, too great
reliance upon the syllogsm.
lst "The axioms," says Bacon, speaking of
axioms as results, now in use, are derived
from scanty handful of experience, and few
particulars of frequent occurrence, whence they
are of much the same dimensions or extent
as their origin" Il Or. Aph., 25.) This ex.
perience as to material objects was mere SEN
sual observation. Much has been said and
written, both now and by the ancients, Of the
senses, as evidence, and as q guide to knowl.
edge. Some have relied upon them almost en-
tirely, while others pronounce everything illu
sorry. Each class is mistaken, and their con
illusions the result of an impatient reflection.
Besides consciousness or inward perception,
We owe primarily to the senses all knowledge
for We owe TO them primarily the power to in
vestigats, and We cannot receive what plainly
contrsdcts them. Yet, how limited IL the ex
tent Of their observation To them, water and
air are pure and simple elements. To them,
the earth remains fixed upon its pillars, while
the sun and stars daily encircle it. To them,
the lightning is but FIRE in the clouds, and
thunder the noise of its extinguishment. (Aris
tote's Anaytics, part L. 2, @. 81 But the senses
can be followed a. the sole guide of inquiry
with no more safety than can the passions in
conduct. They are not our masters, but our
servants. Their imperfection, a. we'll as true
use, is thus given by our philosopher: 4" But by
far the greatest impediment and alteration Of
the human understanding proceeds from the
duilness, iucompetency, and errors, of the
senses, since whatever strikes the senses pre-.
ponderates over everything, however superior,
8 which does not Immediately strike them
Hence, contemplation mostly osasss with sight )
$ and very scauty, perhaps no regard, is paid to
inviaihla obiects The ent;ra onaration thera
fore, of spirits enclosed in tasgibls objects,