The Portland daily press., 1867-01-29
Death Of Victor C0usim.

A Geographic despatch from Cannes, pub
ished in the London Times, announces the
death of Victor Cousin, the great French phi
losopher, in the seventy-sixth year of his age.
A brief sketch of his long and eventful career
will be Of interest to many: .a
Born in Paris, November %, 1892, he was
early indoctrinated in revolutionary principles
by is father, a faithful disciple of kousseau.-
While yet a boy II became remarkably prof.
cient in many branches OF study and gained
the highest school prizes. He was made assis-
tant professor of Greek in 1872, master OF the
conferences in 1914, and at the same time held
another professional chair. During the "hun
dred days" he enrolled in the elite corps of vol
unteers. .
Cousin was one of the first and ablest of the
pupils of Royer-COllard, who led the revolt
against the materiastic philosophy OF Cendil-
luc, and developed the spiritual theories of the
Scotch school In 1915 Cousin naturally be-
came his successor as deputy professor of phi
losophy in the Sorbonne, and iectured for five
years, advocating Reds system in his own &C.
lectic spirit Spending his vacations in Ger
many, he was considerably influenced by the
Kant metaphysics which, in modified form
he afterwards accepted. Removed from his
position on accounL of the political tendency
of his ideas OF free will, he kept up his philo-
sophical studies, and published editions of
Proclus, Descartes and Plato, and, in 1926,
published the first series OF his Philosophical
Fragments" ' A-,9
In 1877 the liberal ministryof Montignac re-
stored him to his professorship, with Guizot
and VIllemain for colleagues, memorable tri-
nmvirate, who speedily drew to the university
swarm of scholars, whose numbers and en-
thusiasm had had no precedent since the time
of Abelard, Cousin by this time had become
thorough eclectic, and developed his ideas in
systematic course of lectures. He was then at
the elimination of his popularity and infiu-
ence. 1t was new thing for professor of
philosophy to discourse in language 80 easily
understood, and the clearness of his statement
of knotty and disputed questions for time
made him the oracle of the younger students
of phi losophy. His liberal political opinions
enhaJ ced his popularity in a time fruitful OF
revolutions.
He might like Guizot and Villemain, have
enjoyed higt political stations after the revolu-
ton of 1880, out chose to adhere to his studies.
AS director of the re-established Normal
School he recognized the admirable system OF
primary instruction in France, which is still
retained. In 1S40 he entered into the cabinet
of Timers Minister OF Public Instruction.
His greatest parliamentary distinction was won
by "a speech In the Chamber OF Peers in de-
fence OF philosophy and of the University
He encouraged the levolution of 1848, but in
1S49 retired from public life. His published
works are numerous. In this country the first
general acquaintance with his philosophical
system was gained through Mr.. George Rip
leys admirable selections, published in 1888,
since which time it has been better known
through Mr.. o. w. Wight's translations of his
"Conrse OF Modern Philosophy" and Lectures
on the True, the Beautiful and the Good"