New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-08-07
rpw PUBLICATIONS.
!, ,,rc,c SUBSTANCE AND SHADOW.

oiuuapt materials for thought than are Pieson'0u
IN the writings OF the author OF this volume
Without claiming TO be the founder OF complete
eystem Of morals or metaphysics, Dir. James
never fails to set before his readers the results oil
profound and original reflection; his criticisms OIL
The pretensions of the most eminent names IN the
history of speculation is searching as surgeons
orobe. his own convictions are sustained with
formidable power of logic; while in the command
of ingenious aud brilliant Illustration in connection
with abstract reasoning, it would be difficult to
name his rival among modern writers.
The present volume pursues the same course OF
analysis and argument which has become familiar
10 the student of Mr.. James's former productions;
but it exhibits his conclusions in fresh lights and
powell rclations many collateral topics are intro
duced and summary disposed of; the theories OF
Kant and Sir William Hamilton are made the
subjects of special examination, remarkable Tor
its humorous juicines, Of statement; and the APP
plication of the religious philosophy OF the author
to the institutions of society end the wants oil the
sge eyinces his chacteristic earnesness OF appeal
depth of feeling, and force OF expression.
The scope of the book. rs We gather IRON an
attentive survey is, TO vindicate Creation not as
mere historic but as philosophic verify; not as
An incident in space and time-since these fall
within Creation, not outside of it-but as the In
sxorable postulate of consciousness itself. lie
holds Creation to be primarily spiritual process,
and only derivatyely natural one; so that II we
would put ourselves at the night point OF view ior
envisaging the problem we must recognize man.
who is the only spiritual being We know, as the
true Divine end in Creation aud regard Nature
exclusively as means to bis development, as the
vehicle of his proper consciousness.
Why is Nature required for this purpose Inc
answer, for which, however, Mr.. j. processes his
Indebtedness to Swedenborg, is easy TO be under
stood. For evidently GOD, inasmuch as He is
himself Life, cannot create life, but only COM
fnupicate it, and in order 10 sucn communica.
ton, organic forms or subjects must exist pre-
pared to receive it. Now Nature alone supplies
these receptive forms, since re exact distinction
of natural existence from spiritual is, that it has
not life In ITSELF but derives il from what is not
itself Spiritual existence is free or spontaneous,
pbeying an exclusively inward object. Natural
existence is seryile or voluntary obeying On
outward object. Thus Nature alone furnishes
forms suitable to house the Divine communi'
cation; because all her FORMS beng purely
subjective or disowning their proper objectv-
ity-t. o., being in themselves void OF Life, des-
titute of spiritual substauee-are therefore IN
capable of excluding the Divine communication.
If they did involve their own objectivity; If they
had life in themselves they would OF course de-
feat the Divine communication, or render 1t nuga-
tory; for all life is one aud consequently where
Il already exists, it cannot be given.
So fer oil is plain. Nature is q basis and only c
basis for the spiritual creation just as marble Is
basis and only basis for the manifestation of the
sculptor's genius. But now why is 1t, If the
analogy between Nature and the marble be SO
close, that the product of one is living or con-
scous of the other lifeless or unconscious 1t is
that God himself invariably creates or spiritually
WHITES Nature 60 that ell her forms conscious
or alive Oh the mothers side; while the sculptor
Aoes not himself inwardy create or spiritually i'm.
pregnate the marble, but on the contrary manipu-
lates it exclusively from without, SO that the re-
cult bis operation is wholly lfeless unconscious
form. This is the great aim Of Mr. Jamess book
sccoriingly-to show that God gives his creature
natural identity well as spiritual individuality,
and gives him the latter indeed only by means
Of giving him the former. Hence arises doc
trine Of Nature pregnant with practical conse-
quences; shedding such amplelight, as Mr.. James
conceives upon the actual course of history or
the development Of the human mind, that we can
Only refer our reader 10 the book itself for full
exposition of II, while we confne Ourselves here to
srapid summary Of its main features.
The essence OF Nature, according 10 Mr.. James
u community; which means, the alliance Of Oil
Identical or common substance with specific or
tLdisdusl form; there being absolutely no natural
existence conceivable, which does not exhibit
substantial identity with, and formal distinction
tfom, all other exstences Throughout tho ell
tire realm Of Nature, accordingly, the principle of
Identity il paramount and that Of individuality
subordinate, there being no form so specific as
not TO be at bottom a mere modification OF the
common substance and 0bedieDt to its laws; nor
got any substance so universal as not to DO limit
cd or determined by each Of these specific forms.
1t 10 this essential community Of Nature, this sub
lection Of the individual TO the common life, which
stamps Nature All inversion Of spirit, and 80 quail.
6es her forever to separate between creator and
creature, by organizing the flute CONSEQUENCES.
In spiritual existence the principle Of individuality
IN narsmount ard that of identify or uDiyersnlity