New-York tribune., 1872-10-08

". d. WILSON D. D., LID. l-mo pI. Ia. Ia'a; Andrai.
The method pursued by Professor Wilson in
the present treatise Is that o. "a cI1uque the
prominent schools OF ancient aud modern philo,-
ophy, rather than ddacdo exposition Of princi-
pies in the form OF an exact system. After
a stringent examination Of the theories Of Descartes,
Victor Cousin, Coleritge, Sir william Hamilton, Dean
Mansel Herbert Spencer, and other eminent thinkers
Of a speculative cast, he SETS forth his own
conclusions with great eXplicitness but without
the orderly and complete development that
would be required in positive contribution 10 the his
tory Of thought In his view the pretended science Of
metaphysics has thus far been only disease Of Ian
guage, founded on hypothesis and distractions which
have no claim to objective validity. To 80 back far
O the time OF Plato; We 1nd that subtle reasOner
treating ideas as substantial realities in the mind
At a later period, we have modes Of mental opera
ton transformed into faculties parts or members OF
the intellect, the head and limbs mCmbers % Tie
human body. Still more recently, we hear Of forces, TO
explain the phenomena Of nature, and finally Of the iu
finite the absolute, the uunowable further resort
the class OF remedies for the cure Of disease
for which tho abuse Of language IS response
ble Professor Wilson undertakes TO clear
the ground Of a this supeuOus rubbish and 20 present
statement OF the Of truths which remain after
the process Of eXpurgaOn He takes his stand The
real existence OF objects in the external world The
words which denote their form, he contends
them as they Those which denote properties Ike
color smell, taste hardness Oitncss, and Others repre-
sent them only they affect the human organs Of sen
satOn They may hereafter disclose to something OF
the chemical nature and molecular condition
Of matter, concerning which We are now in
complete ignorance. These Objects moreover are each
OF them cause and force, not Only affecting
senses but producing mechanical and chemical changes
in one anothe- within the body OF man, thinking
agent, which is known only in lis acts and not as q
passive object In the forms OF It's activity which differ
from those Of any mass Of visible tangible matter,
this agent, which we call the mind, or sou. of
man, is so far spontaneous as TO distinguish it
fundamentally from any material substance. But the
phenomena Of the external world imply the existence OF
an original Cause, who before all notion and the
moving cause Of the first chemical II not OF the lrst
mechanical action that took place. Whether ne is
tie causal force OF every change, Professor Wilson
Ieges that we do not know. Nor can wo answer the
question whether he has interpOsed since the creation
by any special influence upon tine mind OF We may
believe this on the suggestions OF faith cannot %
demonstrated by sciencc-The valuable portions
Of the volume. IN opinion, are those
which are expressly devoted 10 comments on
metaphysical systems Tie author has Keen scent
errors aud Inconsistencies An expert logicau, lie
handles the arguments that have been set
forth by OF illustriOus with pitt
less severity. He seldom fails to detect an
instance OF 1cOnscQuen reasoning aud 10 expose lts
faliacy. Even when he does not succeed In set
ting aside the essential principles OF a phi
losOphic system, he often renders an excel
lent service in pointing out its short coInings
IN point Of logical form conclusive illustration His
own style not reDarkaDe for iIs transparent cbarac