, 1874-01-25
MIR. tEWfS' NEW PHILOSOPHY.


HExnx LEwEs. First Series. THE FOUNDATION
or CREED. Vol. ]. Doston: James T. Osgood /
Co.
We approach this book, which appeals special
" to the scholar and the thinker, with the con-
viction that it is worthy Of respect. It's author
is we'll known as one Of the most industrious
students. most yoluminous writera, and c1earest,
If not most profound and original, reasoners
among tina literary men Of England. He has
established q considerable reputation AZ phi
losophical essayis., q critic, and q biographcr,
and, in the latter capacity particularly, has ac-
complished work Of distinguished value. His
Life of Goethe is universally acknowledged
to bo mastery memorial Of the great German,
at once comprehensive, scholastic, and authori-
tatiye. It's testimony, united with that OF al else
he mas done, has convinced the world that to tho
elucidation Of whatever subject Mr.. Lewes de-
voted his powers, he will bring untiring zeal, OK
tcnsye learning, and the logic OF philosophi-
cal mind OF 30 much we are sure, as we tako
up this last and most weishty Of the volumes he
las yet published As Il historian Of philosophy
Mr. Lewes has long enjoyed respect
able position, hut the present is his
first effort to range himself among the creators
or e!aborators Of novel system. rhe scheme
has been many years under consideration. lts
origin dating 80 far back rs the year 1885, when,
with the rashness Of youth, the author contem~
plated treatise on the mind, which should
enlarge and improve the doctrines OF the Scotch
echool OF metaphysicians. Obstacles-we may
conclude Observation-Disclosures, preventing
tue premature fulfilment Of this plan, and dolaJ-
lug it from time to time, until prolonged and
profound Investigations in the realms OF science
and thought had better equipped the scholar
for an honorable completion Of attempted
reforms in existing methods Of philoso-
ply. It Was primarily Mr.. Iewes' purpose to
confine himself to the exposition Of detached
questions in series of separate essays but the
work insensibly increased in magnitude until
finally it attained its present pretentious pro-
| portions. and stood complete in the form Of 3
systematic introduction TO the philosophy Of
science.
31r Lewes displays commendabie modesty in
urging his claims to novelty in certain OF the
| formulas and conceptions set forth in tho sys-
| TEN he supports. In words 30 noble as to
deserve quotation. be remarks: "After all,
| the question OF originality is of quite minor
importance; that OF efficiency most concerns us.
| Convinced that a1l germinal conceptions are the
! product Of their age rather than Of any individ
! ual mind, should look at any conception OF
mine with extreme suspicion il it wore the air OF
| other novelty than that Of added precision Or
extension for, as De Morgan felicitously re-
marks in tracing the discovery Of the differential
calculus, A great method ia always within the
perception Of many before it Is within tho grasp
Of one.'
| Tho foundation OF Mr.. Lewes' creed is the
Positivism OF August Comte The system which
the French philosopher established is accepted
as firm and correct basis, and his English
apostle and successor addresses himself merely
to the expansion and more definite expression Of
the original plan. Comte excluded metaphysics
from his systom, esteeming its inquiries vain
and futile; but Alr. Lewes admits it into tho
scheme, declaring all its problems which are
susceptible Of rational statement capable Of q
rational oolution. And here is centered the pith
OF his work. He would apply to questions in
metaphysics the same method OF scientific pro-
cedure which Comte prescribed in social and po-
htical research But be would first strip meta
| physics Of Whatever is speculative. subtle, and
transcendng the domain OF experience.
! He would reduce it to d positive quantity,
bring it within the range Of science, aud render
it amenable to exact resolution. To designate
the discarded rema1nde., he coins new word,
uete,npirica1 as opposed 70 empirical, and signi-
/! fying that which is supra-sensible, outside the
nro.r;nco of reason and calculation, This dis
rarded remainder represents very significant
sr7,, IA a larpa norton of mankind. It includes
al that rotntes to world and q life beyond the
..oaont II embraces all inquiries into the e1-
;n.aaoo - snnrame De;ne. Of a soul. and OF
;n,u,o vitality n 1nanv. after this rigid separa-
tin- thcre will seem but little left worthy to en-
INV +}a fncn1ties and satisfy the cravings Of
! .f+,d Rrf
;ats Mr.. Leves would elevate the things
rhicb concern us here. the known and
+bo Enowable. tho possible and the demonstrable,
;nto a anficiont and crowniug Importance.
Enonch to busy, enough to content us, he would
find in working out to an ultimate and happy
conclusion tho manifold problems Of nature and
humanity. In the Introductory chapter, in Stat
inc tho object of his work: to transform meta
r,h,s;ca hv ;ts reduction to the method OF sci
ann and the necessity OF q successful result,
in orf3er to reconcile the growing antagonisus
bottroan re1ir;on and science. he declares the
.,,,,, th,+ tta crvinor want Of the aga ia a doc.