New-York tribune., 1876-12-22
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

afeeted by Modern Materialsm" lssneu ia 1910 i o'
supplemented by two articles from Inc Noh'0upO'
~ "Tbe Attitude of Materialism towards Theology
~ csneoay devoted to an examination OF the position
ON the subject assumed by Professor Tynda MI Mar
tneau commences his discussion with the acknowiedg
ent that the two forms of naturalisu-namey the MD
teral theory which works out the conception Oh a1oS
and the dynamic theory which relies ON the consefVa
ton of energy-possess a distinct value as the
means of intellectually organizing asceFtained iaets'
and are Indispensable TO reaching still higher generaza-
tions Ia the one the multiple proportions oil chem
stry and the laws OF elastic diffusion ind an adequate
vehicle OF expression and computation In the other
common measure Is obtained for variations 0i neat ana
mechanical work. Of chemical decomposition and eiec-
trca intensity reducing several special provinces 10
scientific unity II is only when these conceptions trans
ress eir legitimate bounds and invade the domain OF
philosophy that they to be remanded back 10 ther
true functions They valuable as connecting INKS
between diverse phenomena, bat are inadequate 10
the construction of rational cosmOgOny. The ma
teraI hypothesis to begin with, maintains that with
the postulae Of ultimate Inorganic atoms, the present
universe can be accounted for But, argues Mr..
Maisineau the conception Of inorganic atoms is ZOO
vague and indefinite 10 be OF practical service WITH
out more exact analysis IL may be assumed tDat the
primitive al alike, or that there may De diei
ences among Of various degrees and before we can
make any headway must know on which OF these TWO
admissible one so long as you credit the maeraist with
logical exactness He can demand nothing more than
the essential characters Of matter He Is not permted
20 expand the definition Of atoms at his convenience
ascrblng 70 them fresh attributes which make them df
ferent kinds Of matter at different times This Mr.
Martneau airms, is the position OF Professor Tynda
He defines matter as the mysterious tang from which
have proceeded the whole series o. the phenomena OF the
Universe from the evaporation of water TO the con-
seriousness of But such proposition is no dehn
tion and dispenses with all proof. 1t Is merely an
oracuar utterance announcing the very point IN dispute
that matter carries in it the promise and potency Of all
terrestrial life" This is not process OF reasoning but
an act of WILL simply repeating the assertion that the
force mmanent in matter is matter TRere no use Ia
saving that the forces Of heat OF attraction OF e OF
consciousness are attached TO material cODdtons THIS
no one calls in questions but remains to be proved that
they arc material forces in the Of being deyabe
from tho essential properties of matter-Wth regard TO
the DYNAMIC conception founded the conservation
of energy, Mr.. Martineaq remarks that IL we could
follow the transformations Of force through all
the changes of external bodies, we should ma
nothing but the sequences Of phenomena ana the ss
pensions OF phenomena II could discover ON the
subsistence each group what would emerge to replace
H. VIC should be masters Of the law Of conservation
But though the whole external world shOud he thus laid
bare before us, should not yet have aignted on
single dynamic idea. Still the new school OF SCIENCE
claims the knowledge Of more than phenomena, more
carried them behind these to the "hding-place OF
PowERD Now Mr.. Martineau contends, that we know
nothing of power but from our consciousness OF u
IN ourselves. There is no way Of determining It's
nature but by resOrting to selfEnowledge Hence
the problem passes from the jurisdiction OF nat
ural science TO that OF intellectual philosophy
Passing then into that sphere, find that we were
massive spectators Of the world around us we should
witness phenomena without asking for power; the
pripcple of cansaty would remain latent in the intel
Iect but the occasion would be wanting which permits
II TO awake This occasion Is afforded by the active SIDE
of our nature Conscious Of the exercise Of power as
oriaators We admit its exercise upon rs as recipients
Causalty rs nconeevabe excerpt upon these two aes OF
action and reaction. The moment we disenGage our
selves from nature until which time do not begin to
think we become selfeonscOus subjects and OBJECTS
OF causal operation. The idea Of power coming
to us in this dual form, from without and from
within its two sides reciprOcay related The same
which the inner side is TO the object, Is the
outer side to the subject But It is the inner side with
which we are the most familiar it is the one thing which
we Immediately know; have TO mark it by name as
the inmos nucleus Of dynamic thought; and we call 1t
living VIII This is eausaity. And this is what we
mean by causaity itself In the absence OF this, no
other source for the idea be found in Its presence
no other meaning Our whole idea Of power is Identical
with that of Will Whatever, in virtue Of the pr neiple
of eansalty we recognize immanent In Nature. Is
similar to the agency of which We are conscious III our
selves. Dynamic conceptions have either this meaning
or no meaning Whatever authority attaches 20 the law OF
eausality belongs TO Il In its intuitiye FORM Phe-
pomepa are the expression Of living energy. The One
Power stands as the Universal WIN. the collective
eneries Of the universe are thus identified with Divine
Will the conception frame Of it's history viii be con
formed to our experience OF intellectual v0itlon Inc
conclusion accordingly. at which Mr. MArtineau arrives,
Is that the dispute between acting Force and intending
Mind is unnecessary Tie two expressions are In fact
Ot
quantity nay absolutely beyond the sphere OF thought
Hence Theology and causay are incorporated into one
Mechanical necessity instead Of beng the nogaton OF
purpose Is It's perssteneeIn treating the subject Mr.
MaFtineau, as writing for popular Journal, Is
often more diiFGse in Illustration than rigorous IN
argumen The exuberanee Of his dctiOn is apt TO con-
eeal the connecting links Of his logic His ample scholar
shin has TEMPTED him TO wide excursions III the field OF
erudtion aud while he fingers on his RETURN the reader
may sometimes lose sight Of the promises which were
announced his departure. style Of Mr. Martineau
e. in many respects mastery It Is never efemBate, nor
pdecisiye; it flows, with a not ungraeeful vgor, in
swift and afIuent stream betpkening mind OF rare full
ness and comprehensive resource but its ucdity is not
always in proportion to its amplitude and It's beautiful
but complicated wndngs often conceal the drift OF bis
Yeasonngs the exact form Of his conceptions They
usually gain In clearness however careful study
shOyng that there is Obscurfty IN the mind OF the
autbor although their significance may be partially hid
nv the slyery tissues with which they vailedThe
az gument Of the essays presents little novelty Hls inc
old familiar reasoning from will in the consciousness to
VIII in the Universe its potency evnced by the per-
sisteney With which it is repeated What efeett may
have on Professor Tynda and his disciples 1t is mpossi
e TO conjecture every evidence OF their assent to
its conclusions wiz doubtless be seasonaby announced
NUE. STONES IN OUR LIFEJoURNEYM a. by SAMUEL l5uIa
OsgOOD d. d.. LII D. New anG Enlarged Edition. l2mo'
pp 36S. Il. p. Dutton d Co.
The naive frankness with which the author
OF this volume combines the personal recolccons OF a
na ana frrfn career with the discussion of signih-