New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-07-24
A COSMOPOLITAN DEBATE.
TUE CHAMPIONS OF SCIENCE AND OF RELIGION
CONFRONTING EACH OTHER.

a
THE CHAMPIONS OF SCIENCE AND OF RELIGION
CONFRONTING EACH OTHER.
The Cosmopolitan Conference listened, yes
traav 20 an essay by Mr.. Bouchet, Social Science
what II is not and what It is" compass and chart,
said he needed for the navigation Of the of life
There much iooseness Of thought and utterance
the subject Of social science that IL is eminently
sary TO define rst what science IT, and then to show
what is not social science Neither opinion. belief
knowledge is science. Facts the groundwork but
they not science itself may be encycope-
dia of knowledge, and still not scientific Litera-
ure inferior to science though spch not the general
American Opinion. Deprecatory remarks about science
are often intended to ignorance. Literature Ia
loudmouthed Science Ia still and strong Sentimental
feeling aud emotion not science though the attempt
is often made to substitute them for it, Religions arc
usually founded sentiment, hence the conbats be
tween the advocates of religion and of science 1t is
when gOn strives TO ignore science that 1t works
ruin We don't know how TO be good. because we do
know science. We cannot have society truly organized
without system, and no system Is tpossibe "lthOnt
science.
The speaker remembered how reioced he once was
when studying at foreign University, to pick UP
paper called Journal Of Social Science, but was dsap
pointed TO find 1t full OF cant and He eonsd-
cred himself q student of social science proper Poh
cal economy then ethics, then sociology is tDe naur
oIer IN which TO three matters that are often con-
founded sociology has for its object the fullest ra
cation of the social nature that is consonant with the
To- show which is the next link to be added to the chain
of sciences where the iron is now hot BY knowledge
alone can man better his miserable condition, though
the sentiments must cultivated in connection with the
intellect The early thinkers beliceed; we knov They
confided in muable beings; trust in mmuable law.
But let us examine ourselves as to where stand in
this respect. Superstition and social anarchy still rule
ing TO know that sciences have been systematically de-
veOped, beginning with mathematics, until now mental
coming TO be reached Science originates when apply
a rational method 10 the investigation OF the objects of
intellectual perception Inc science OF economies IL more
pressngly necessary than any other and will be
developed We cannot follow the laws Of ethics while
oppressed by poverty. We should not call ethics
economies social science; though, grouping them with
Paupersm is the prime curse of human life. Criminals
the victims, rather than the oppresors of society
Quoting human life are the principal cause OF terrestrial
misery. Science must now take labor by the hand,
man takes woman's hand in marriage Fruitful will
be the results OF TINS union The scientific organization
Of labor will be the first step in social reorganization
the naencent destiny OF science to produce unity Of
Mr. Hume said that ne objected as a Christian to bow
ing down before that cold, unfeeling idol Science He
wanted love 10 be command rin-clie Science not
harmonious in its development hr B9uchet had
stated He used tie retUr usually made by the advocates
OF religion u the eNnorbltant demands OF science He
had entered GnOn the anti Slavery and other reforms,
not on scientific principles, but for love of right and as
ChTsti"n; 50 did ri others VITO accomplished any
thing Moral wants at the top Of the tree. and scen
Mr. Thulbor said That time and means have been
spent la finding the I0ad 90 Immortality than in any
learning claimed that tie regular scientific men showed
themselves bigoed and lacking in disoernmCnt
any "supeTstitiOus rthgOlstS. Lana reform, social
&C., nothing in his estimation com
pared with SpiritualsII, either as science OF re
form.
and delivered an eXhortieh concerning the necessity
Of the subOrdiuation of science 10 religion.
Mr.. Swackhammer geueralized and concluded that
Spirualsm had not shown itself OF any great avail as
science for the regeneration OF society.
H. Evans said science is hepercepOn OF the relations
Of phenomena. We should not ignore either science
religion argued from the point Of view OF positive
Ism We should be governed by feeling and guided by
intellect he rGjOced 10 find that sociology uni
yersaly studied and debated.
Mr.. MADDOX said that while sevenenths OF the human
family poorly supplied with the neeessares II
fe the kind OF social science should attend TO most
Is that which has for its object the relief OF human sur
fering Let put science into practical He
cited case OF Robert Owen. who atheist he was,
wonders at Banark, Scotland for the aIneli
Grafton of the peoples condition.
Mr. Gregory read on account Of the TdnliiiStere OF
Guse in rance. lie glad that such successful
perimeuts s aud the at MulhOuse and those Of
Tie cOrP rat0ga OF England and Germany, depend
cnt more Woodworking, practical men than Of
science for their success
Mr. Hodgkns that the majority of the speakers
had not much confidence III science. Sociology new,
for the facts Of society have not been thoroughly
vassed Science developed In past ages by the higher
classes who did not suffer much Only recently have
their existence; and from ths study Will the
science of society.
Mr. Bouchet in closing said, In reference 10 the re-
ligOus question introduced that religion had always
wanted to be good but did not know low; ana now
science was going to show 1t how.