The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-05-01
THE PHILOSOPHY OF LOVE

In the last instalment of Mr.. Herbert
Spencer's exposition of the philosophical
system which is to give us an explana
tion-so far as an explanation can be
given-of the whole universe, we meet
with an interesting passage upon the
passion of love. The advocates of the
evolution hypothesis are sometimes
called materialists. That word is too
| ofte used, as 90 atheist" is used in theo-
logical or a good round oath in poular
| discussion, simply to indicate disagree
ment coupled with moral disapproval
The fallacy which it involves in this case
might be asily exhibited. The genuine
materialists of the last century were, in
/ fact, given to maintaining that our
! loftiest sentiments were merely modifi-
cations of the most earthly instincts.
'Lust through some certain strainers well refined
Is gentle love-"
| according to Pope; and some very
equivocal sermons have been preached
upon this text. Superficial readers
have fancied that, because Mr.. Darwin
or Mr.. Herbert Spencer believes that
man has been evolved by ineonceivably
minute changes from some inferior
organism, therefore our emotions and
thoughts are nothing but transforna-
tions of the blind sensations of the low
est forms of life. The misconception is
palpable Science might conceivably
show under what condition intellect
hrst manifested itself, but it would not
be one step the nearer to discovering
what was the essence of intellect. It
might explain the how, but can throw
no light upon the what. Thus we find
that Mr.. Herbert Spencer's description
of the passion called love has nothing in
it calculated to shock the most spiritual
philosopher. 1t is, he says, an emotion
of the highest complexity, and conse-
quently ofthe greatest strength. Around
the purely physical elements gather all
varieties of powerful emotions, which
blend and unite in the closest harmony.
First come all the impressions which are
produced by the beautiful, the expla-
nation of which would involve a long
and most difficult analysis. Then we
have the sentiments of affection, which
may exist between persons of the same
sex, but which undergoes a special ex-
altation when existing between lovers.
Next come the sentiments of admiration
or reverence; and, beyond them again,
the love of appreciation, which is keenly
excited by the knowl edge that we are
preferred to all the world, and preferred
| by one whom we admire beyond all
others. Allied to this is the sentiment
of self-approval, when we are hattered
by the sense of the great merits to which
we owe so great a triumph. Beyond
this is the proprietary" or the pleas
ure of mutual possession. And, finally,
there is an exaltation of the sympathies
when our pleasures are heightened by
the close participation of another person
1 in all our enioyments. We not inquire
whether this analysis is complete or
accurate; at any rate, it illustrates
pretty fairly the amazing completely of
a passion which we are apt to describe
as simple. When a young gentleman
at ball sees the young lady who is
above al other young ladies enter the
room, he is conscious only of a keen
thrill OF emotion, 50 vivid and powerful
as 70 displace every other sentiment for
the time. If Mr.. Herbert Spencer were
standing by him, and were to propose
to give him a lecture on the constituent
elements Of his passion, we fear, though
we mean no disrespect to Mr.. Spencer,
that he would consider the philosopher
to be bore. But perhaps a few years
afSerward, or possibly ON the next day
if his suit should have come to an un-
/ timely catastrophe, he might be inclin-
ed to take his passion TO pieces, and he
would recognize the Justice ef most Of
! the remarks which We have summarized.