Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-04-17
NEW PUsL1OArrOrs.

New I6SJam6uL, anu conversely an eXpld-
nation of that plan in accordance with this
an attempt, in fact, to solve the
great mysteries of life and death, of saliva
lion, of mans relation to the universe and
10 the divine nature itself; to settle in a
word the problems which eternally per-
plex human thought, as whence
came we, and whittier are we
going, by theory which makes all nature,
or the universe, or the world, different from
and superior to that which it appears to be
in mans perceptions. Man seems to be the
only defective thing in all the wonderful
that revolves through the course
of time. This effectiveness makes him
feel the world to be defective; his deafness
makes the seeming inertness of matter.
Appearance is that which is to our sense
but is not true to our thought, e. g., the
appearance of the moon is bright disc.
Phenomenon is that which is to our senses
and our thought, mutually correcting and
checked by each other; the moon itself
is therefore a phenomenon. Fact is
that which truly and absolutely exists: the
essential BEING of nature which we cannot
think. In other words: Fact is that which
is; phenomenon Is that which is to our con-
ception; appearance is that which is to our
sense. Defect of knowledge makes appear
ance facts to us; defect Of being makes phe-
nomena facts to us. To learn whether it
be natures or mans inertness which deter
mines to us our whole estate, the author
appeals to science and claims it as her YER
dict that man perceives defect without him
only because there is defect within him;
that the perceived defect is in mans condi-
ton, and that nature is not truly inert as it
is felt to be.
s'To be inert has the same meaning as to
be dead. So we speak of mature, thinking tito
be inert, as dead matter" To say that man
introduced inertness into nature, implies
deafness in him; it is to say that he wants
life. This is the proposition that is affirmed.
This condition which we call our life is not
the true "lfe of man." Thus "what the
Bible declared with authority so long ago,
science has at last deciphered upon the page
of nature"
The development of this religious phi
losophy, and, as it were, scientific religion
throughout the book, is unquestionably
elaborate, ingenious and profound. 1t sug-
gests most interesting topics of thought and
inquiry, entirely novel too, upon those great
questions in which all men are interested,
those absorbing inquiries about our present
state and future being to which no man is in
different: What am l, and what the world?
Why am l here, and what will be the re-
suit? If any man give answer to these
questions, the world listens with eager and
credulous ear. Without prejudging the con-
clusion whichwe leaveeach reader to form for
himself, we can heartily recommend its pc
rusal as most thoughtful and pregnantly
scientific view of what has heretofore been
a purely theological subject of discussion.
For sale by W. I. Berry & Co.
4 MANUAL OF THE ANATOMY OF VERTEBRA-
TED ANIMALS, by Thomas II. Huxley, Ii. D.,
FIR. S. New York: d. Appleton & Co.
DR.. Huxley has justly won place among
the best thinkers of the age, and the present
work will be heartily welcomed by all stu
dents of anatomy, as an able and cOmpre-
hensive exposition upon the subject of anat-
omy. The facts gathered into this volume
are exceedingly numerous, and the state
ments are clear, concise, and ths whole
work is in harmony with the most recent
advance in the science.
For sale by w. T. Berry g. Co.
THE POPULAR SCIENCE MoNTHLY-Conducted
by Prof. E. L. YOumans-New York; D. APP
pleton s. Co.
This is the title of new magazine issued
from the press of D. Appleton & Co., and
edited by Prof. E. L. Youmans. The mi
tial number contains articles of great merit
and research. Hebert Spencer, the great
sociologist of the age, contributes an article
on his favOrite theme which enters deeply
into the difficulties attending the study of
social science and the great need of it. The
other articles deal with the highest sciences
which the editor seeks to translate into the
ordinary language Of mankind.
While the work of creating science has
for centuries been organized in such insti-
tuition as the Royal Academy of London,
Ecole POlytechniqUe of Paris, the Smith
sonian Institute at Washington, the work
Of diffusing science has been but little re-
garded. The signs, however, are promising.
Schools of science are springing up in all
enlightened countries, and old educational
establishments are yielding to the reforma-
tory spirit, and undermining their systems
of study. A class of men have arisen who
are simplifying science and bringing it
down to the common comprehension
of mankind. The magazine before
us is an attempt in that direction, and we
heartily commend it as both practical and
useful, and well calculated to keep the
reader informed as to the progress of
science, term which has been vastly ex-
tended during the past half century.
Science now means a continuous Observa-
ton of the characters of men as well as of
the characters of insects. 1t means analy-
sis of mind as well as of matter. 1t means
the scrutiny of evidence when applied to
human action and political themes as deci-
ded as when applied to comets. 1t means
strict enquiry as to how society has come to
be what it is, as well as how the crust Of
the earth has come to be what it is. Science
is not the mystery and secrets of any order
of priesthood, but belongs to all persons
who can think and reason, and dedUce con-
sequences. We know of no publication so
well calculated to advance the highest pur-
poses of education and science, and recon-
mend our readers, especially the educated
ones, to subscribe for it.
THE BENCH AND THE BAR. Chicago: Callaghan
& Co.
This able legal quarterly, in its new life,
has made assurance double sure" by is
suing the October number, 1871, combined
with the January number, 1872. The en-
tire edition of the October number, just
ready for mailing, was destroyed by the
great Chicago fire, together with the pub
fishers entire stock in trade. But it comes
forth from the ruin with renewed vigor and
ability. Its title page enumerates among
it's special contributors such names as Hons.
Emory Washburn, Theophilus Parsons, and
Thomas NJ. Cooley, the latter, author OF
constitutional Limitations" which for le-
gal learning and judgment, absolute clear
ness of purpose, style and mean
ing, is the finest law book published
within the past twenty years.
Article l is by Emory Washburn,
on "The Late Treaty" "Few subjects, p"
saws Mr.. Washburn, shave excited a more
general interest throughout the civilized
world, than the late treaty between Great
Britain and the United States. Its import
ance was derived not so much from the
magnitude and difficulties of the questions
involved, or the consequences which would,
as a matter of necessity, have resulted from
a war between two of the leading nations
of the world, as from the establishment
thereby of principle in the adjustment OF
international disputes, which, when fairly
incorporated ds an element of international
Ldly,will 90 far toward putting an end to the
miseries and mischiefs of war. Its chief in
terest consists in its marking stage in the
progress of the law of nations" Article 4
a readable sketch of The Trial of Victor