New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-10-03
THE NEW PHILOSOPHY or SCIENCE.

THE NEW PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE.
PROF. TYNDAIL AND HIS CRITICs-wHAT Is MATE
RIALIsM W-yIEws or HERBERT sPENCER-NO
ATHEISM INVOLVED.
TO me Bditor Of Tho Tribune.
SIR: The address of Prof. Tyndall at Bel
naturally and properly excited universal atten
ton and criticism When the distinguished physicist
said have touched on debatabe questions ana LED
you over dangerous ground" he probably anticipated
the adverse criticisms which bis remarks would CAL
forth The charge Of q reactonary effect proceeding
from Christianity its relations to science naturally
placed the clergy in belligerent attitude toward tue
whole address 1t Is from the theoogans, therefore,
that the larger part OF the adverse criticism mas pro-
ceeded. But Prof Tyndalps illusions to Christianity
were the most important points IN his address, INC
principal point toward which all his eff 'rts were
directed the Origin OF Things or the nature OF
Mind and Matter. He sums up his Investigations by
saving that discerns in Matter the promise ana
potency OF every form aud quality OF ie. MS seh
has brought down upon the Professor the hardest
and heaviest blows Of the transcendenta' schOOi OF
philosophers They construe this language into denial
of FIRST Cause and OF the superiority or Mind over
Matter doing they misconstrue the general tenor
and full scope the address, and neglect to give full
weight to the Professors explanatory remarks. lmme
diately after pr0nouncing the words which l have
quoted Prof. Tyndall says: " The 'Materalism here
enuncated may different from what you suppose. and
therefore crave your patience to the end Then the
Professor adopts the theory OF Mr. Spencer, and
In fact whole process Of evolution Is the mani
estaton Of Power absolutely inscruabe to the intel
lect of man. As little in day as IN the days Of Job
can man by searching find this Power out" In other
parts OF the address have continual illusions to the
Power" which is manifest in nature, the Mystery"
which Is behind phenomena and other tact references
to a " First Cause" or - God"
The fact is that the adverse critics OF Prof Tynda
have as rule, msnerpreted him and the whole doc
trne Of evolution. They do not comprehend what is
meant by philosophy, and for want Of better
term they denominate 1t q" Materialism" which they
think includes also atheism. But II we consult the chief
apostle mot excepting Mr. DARWIN OF the evolution
theory in ITS philosophical aspectMr Herbert Spencer
we shall ind that tho theory neither materalistc
nor atheistc in the strict of the words In his
Principles of Psychology, Vol Sec S. he refers to two
classes OF pers0ns
Those ma,ene explanations Of mental phsnOm.n, and
S sg their fear almost a. much as prove BY hope
they believe Mind may pos IDLY De IN ,rs %, @
tina. there not the emotest possibility Of so Interpreting them
He then asserts that the terms Matter and " Mind j"
are but symbols of some form of Power" Again, Mr.
Spencer says:
Nevertheless may well all that
compelled choose between tue alternatives Of nnsag mental ph
phenomena transang physical phenonens
PeaOmen. the latter sterpvs would seem the moe
&C. Matter into soee Spirit h.u translate So
called Spirit into sOe,ed Matter (which latter indeed wholly p0
In section 272 OF the same volume. Mr. Spencer says
only of Matter The anhihess of subject and object
knowledge Of Ultimate Reality which subject aud object
united. -,
evolution theory is not essentially materialisc. We
have positive denial OF Mr. Spencer in his reply TO
and Intuition in Man. Mr.. spencer says:
Mr. Marue,u ,sey represents them lth hvoauonis . beev
Motion nothing remains be explained This however BY
form does not involve Mssm though its opponents persnty
represent doing Indeed among ,heren OF Who friends
school contempt certainly not less than that felt by MI Mar
To show that the evolution theory which Prof Tyn.
dali aud Mr. Spencer advocate Is not atheistical,
Il thus think manifest that difference Mr.
the view which he BY wide
and further seem, :" me that snch difference as
@ ia; the that I "hefe he think.
be so% a w %{' nor Ga
maersste Interpretation as utterly futile differ from him simply in
that while he hold; tina! b. under
st hs %
hs s5' D,ss sts ss ' ssDs Mr. h9s'q
think quite deensbe proposition that humility better shown by
the religion, sentiment may ind is highest sphere II the belief
that Ultimate Powers representative terms OF human
consciousness representable in
In his Reasons for Dissenting from Comte," Mr..
I object religious sentiment viii
b. which ha. beeuthe unknown Of things
Having OF evolution have for its object Of
mpaon Infinite Unknowab the sentiment
again eeon) take Finite movable, like Humanity
70 contemplation
alities and impersODAties. Many OF the eminent Op
pOnents Of the Doctrine OF Evolution admit that it il
athestic. The Duke OF Argyle in his "Prmeyal Man."
%. A. saws:
IL is not in itself inconsistent With Thec argument or With
belief the ultimate and directing power OF Creative Mnd
And again, D. A. he says:
therefore belief in Personal Creator concerned the DIFF
feui png this hypothesis theological
The truth IL, that the view Of Prof Tyndal and Mr.
Spencer not rhodox In the established meaning Of
that term. But the evolution theory, rs system OF
philosophy Is not Matealsm, and far il is sys
TEN OF theology, II Is not Atheism, although those who
understand the theory persist IN calling 10 such.
of philosophy, the doctrine OF evolution is
allied the absolute Identity" theory Of Schellng
Matter inhere in underlying substance But the
scope of tho theory is enormous ln respects IL Is
as transcen dental as the theories OF Plato, Kant
Hamilton in other respects IL Ia as substantiastic"
aud realistic the theories of Aristotle Epicurus
Reid, Of Newton Descartes. The fundamental
count for all phenomena both physical and psych!cal.
The essential inricacy and c0mprehensiveness OF the
theory render IL only difficult 70 understand but also
difficult demonstrate. Fetered the new theory
by an old phosOphc nomenclature, II Is likely TO be mis-
understood and misnterpreted for long time But the
world be assured that "Maeralism Is no suitable
name for doctrine ana Atheism no fair desgna
tiOn of its theological differences. A.. p 5.
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