New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-07-04
NEW PUBLICATIONS
PHILOSOPHY.

TlfE JCUkNAb OF SPECULATIVE PHILOSOPHY.
% VIZ Il sdns 81 +0"i' p Gray NeT-fo'A John
The publication of this new Journal is certain
ly significant TACT in American literature. 1t
Indicates reaotsOn against the prevalent direo-
tion of thought at the present day, in q quarter
from which such movement would naturally
have been anticipated. For the last thirty or
fosty years, speculative philosophy has hled a
marrow space IN European civilization. The love
Of metaphysics has yielded to passion for the
Ratura sciences Since the death of Hegsl in 1881,
no gTest schOelOf philosophy has arisen, prominent
has appeared among it's cutiEatOrs, 40 original
theory has been advanced to explain the phenomena
of existence. Kant has been supplanted by COmte;
Lebg and MoleschOtt have thrown Schelhng into the
shade; Stuart Mill and Herbert Spencer puisue the
discovery of truth the basis of physical facts,
Mther than an the flights 81 metaphysics; and the
Amble George Henry Lewcs proclanns the death OF
speculative philosophy, and that he is the man 10
write its epitaph. We may well he surprised at the
announcement of journal devoted to th's subject
from the banks of the Mississippi. 1t takes us ih
back into the cultivation of the past and leads us 10
woader where il win find an audience among the
makeralistie activities Of thepreseRt SIM takes
its stand with brave front Right mantuily does 1t
face its task without the faintest sign of mlsglvng
Ii makes no attempt to attract readers by any BAIT OF
po1,alar discussion 1t exhibits sympathy with the
material interests even the literary fances OF the
day Questions of pure metaphysics, OF phliosopncu
criticism Of the principles of art, are the only
themes which.fnd welcome in its pages. Aportlon
of tie space will be given to transatiOns from the
great thinkers of the wOrid, whose writings nave
been.deemed Of too profound too abstract char
acterfor friendly reception in the English language
of which specimen is given IN version OF the intro
auctions to Fiahte's "Wissenschaftsehre," Benards
Essay on Hegels Philosophy of Art, and shorter
papers of similar tendency and scope. Amongst the
original articles are elaborate and aegresslVeSrl-
tique the writings OF Herbert spencer, Noes
on Raphaeps TRANSPORTATION" Introduction to
Philosophy" Notes on Millions Lycidas," and
Music as a Form of Art" The editor announces
for immediate publication, the Monadology Of Leib-
nitz" FSehte's CTtique of the Kantian System"
Sehopenhauers Doctrine of the Will" Philosophy
of Nature" and Critical Exposition of some of the
Systems promulgated in our time"
In explanation of the purposes of the enterprise,
and the mode of its execution, we take paragraph
or two from the introductory article:
There is no need it presumed TO speak Of the i'm
religious movements now going ON IN tins country
and IN England The tendency 10 break with the tad
tOnal and 70 accept only what bears for the soul s own
Justification is widely active and can end only in the de
msnd that Reason shall find and establish p6osOPrcaI
basis for al those great ideas which are taught az rel
gSsTs az .u IhS a5 BaS as se GSc of my
beginning O spring who prefer TO ignore utterly al has
mel itself Inc vortex the traditional faith and
che intellectual conviction cannot be closed by renonneng
the latter but only by deepening 1t TO speculative Id
sight. 80, ,
eciOusneSs has moved forward on TO a new platform
during the last few years Ihe idea deryng our to
essential phasesthat of brittle ndviduaism-in which
natOl unity seemed external mechanism soon 10 De
a or OF Be soTporaon uRsHted for it. Now
have arrived at the consciousness OF the other essena
10 the SUCH The freedom OF the citizen docs
not consist IN he mere n St va In ests
lished law That this new phase OF national Ie atuaHus
10 be dgested and cOmprehended is further occasion
for the cultivation Of the speculative.
Tho new journal, moreover, intends to keep vigil
ant eye on the revolution now in progress III physical
science, and which has been developed within the
last ten years with such wonderful activity. The
center of this movement to be found in the doctrine
of the Correlation of Forces but its spirit extends
to wider number of thinkers than are prominent as
the expOundeTs of that doctrine including the names
of Carpenter, Grove, Mayer, Faraday, Thompson
Stuart Mill, Buckle. Draper Lewes, Leckey, Max
Miller, Marsh Liebig, Darwin, and Agassiz, whose
writings are so prominent among the intellectual
productions of the day.
But the province Of philosophy, as stated by this
Journal is of broader range than can be covered by
the discoveries of physical science 1t sets before it
sef the problem of explaining the entire phenomena
of the Universe, comprising both the products of
ture and the creations of spirit. The first duty of
the speculative thinker is to comprehend the thoughts
of the world. He is to give the key to the solutions
by which men have attempted TO solve the mighty
riddle Hence the thoughts of other men furnish the
object of his abOrs, in the same way that outward
phenomena claim the attention Of the man ofscience
The editor, Mr. VIM. T. Harris Of ST. Louis, as san
Rune in the conviction that such discussions possess
an interest for portion of the American people. We
do not share has hope in that respect, but heartily
welcome him 10 field of labor. to which the avenues
have become nearly closed the pressure of opposite
tendencies. The great multitude will never eel an
enthusiasm for the problems of philosophy but with
the current settling strongly in the direction of
positive science it is well to recall attention to the
speculative ideas which also have their ground in the
constitution of the human mind.