Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-02-24
Examination on HamIItOn's Meta
physics

| lis Truth or Mental Exercise
the superior end?" "Give the popu-
lar solution of this question, and
expose its fallacy."
Mental Exercise is the superior
end. The popular solution, Is that
the superior end is Truth. Our
knowledge consists in an acquaint-
ance with truth. It is of two kinds,
viz, practical and speculative. In
regard to the first Of these divisions,
our knowledge is, &c hypOthesi, only
q mean for q superior end. 1t is
practical-for the sake Of something
else. AS to the second, ''SOrdet
cOgnita rsritIs," is shrewd aphOr-
ism of Seneca Men disregard a
thousand truths, easy for them to
find out, and turn their attention 20
/ discovering new one. They leave
the thousand certain ones, and risk
their all on the uncertain. This is
true, also, as regards practical life.
Alexander conquered the world
for the sake of exercise, and then
wept, not because he had not suf-
ficient possessions, but for the reA-
son that he wanted exercise.
u.-''What are the twO-fold evils
of exclusive physical study?"
They are, LIST, By it the attention
is turned from the study of mind,
that distinguishing difertRtia Of
man from lower order Of creation.
An ancient philosopher saws, "On
earth there is nothing great but man,
and in man there is nothing great
but mind" "The proper study OF
mankind is man." says Pope. Sec
ond, An exclusive physical study
shows forth nothing but blind neces-
sity, for in nature nothing is mani
tested but blind necessity. Conse-
quently its second evil is, that it en-
courages a tendency to skepticism.
IH.-'Explain the distinction be-
tween philosophical and empirical
knowledge"
Empirical knowledge is that from
experience. 1t consists simply in a
knowledge of the fact. Philosoph-
ical, is. .the. knowledge of why a thing
is.
| IV.-"What are the two intellectu-
al necessities which afford the prIn-
cipal sources Of philosophy"
First, The necessity of endeavor-
ing to reduce all effects to their
causes. Second, That of trying to
reduce all our knowledge to unity.
''Mention an auxiliary cause of
philosophy"
1t is wonder.
! V.-"Show that the renunciation
OF prejudice is the first condition of
the study of philosophy"
Philosophy is a science of truth,
and therefore demands the renun-
citation of prejudice for its study.
We grow up under load OF beliefs,
arising from the accidents of coun-
try and family, or the books we read,
and the society we frequent. I'm
less we knock with a heart pure and
uncontaminated from the world, we
need never hope to enter the temple
of philosophy. In respect to preju-
dice, philosophy and religion agree.
Consciousness presents US the pure
truth. 1t is TO the philosopher what
the Bible is to the theologian.
VL-"Are Analysis and Synthesis
two different methods of philoso-
ply? Describe these processes, and
inform us to which the preference
must be accorded"
They are not two different meth
DDS. Analysis is the fundamental
procedure of philosophy. By it
facts are taken, and analyzed into
their component elements. We only
analyze that we may recompose, and
this decomposition is Synthesis.
They mutually depend on each other.
Analysis is imperfect without Syn
thesis; Synthesis is dependent upon
Analysis for Its existence. The
preference must be accorded TO
Analysis.
| VH.-"What are the three grand
divisions of philosophy"
| Willis our knowledge Of mind
and matter relative or absolute?
Give the illustration from Yoltairs."
Our knowledge is relative. Our
faculties are limited. The illustra-
ton from Voltaire (aIiUd agsndo) il
concerning a conversation which he
supposed to have taken place be-
tween an inhabitant Of Sirius and
an inhabitant of one of the other
stars. The duration of life on both
the stars was several centuries, and
their faculties were almost unlimit-
ed; yet they were complaining Of the
shortness Of their lives and the linn
it Of their senses. In this he shows
that if the number Of our senses
was extended almost dd iatiRitum,
our knowledge would still be rela-
tive, and we would be no better sat
icfied.
N.-"What is the origin and
meaning of the terms Subjective
and Objective?"
The scholiasts of the middle ages
originated them both. Subjective
means relative to the thinking sub
ject. Objective means relative to
the object of our knowledge.
X.-"Defne the term hypothesis,
and name the two conditions of Is
legitimate hypothesis"
An hypothesis is a kind Of con-
ditiOn. E. G. In discussing ques-
ton we may suppose that its con-
trary is true; and if we prove that
J it is, then, by hypothesis, the first is
, not. The first condition of its le-
gitimacy is to find out the an SIT,
! before we discuss the cur sat. Sec
ond, That the question cannot be ex-
planned by anything but an hypoth-
) esis.
XI-"What are the three grand
: clauses of mental phenomena, and
what essential element do they all
comprise?"
First, Phenomena of knowledge
: Second, Phenomena of Pleasure and
} Pain, or Feeling. Third, Phenome-
, na of Conation. They all comprise
: the essential element of conscious
I ness.