New-York tribune., 1878-07-09
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

.uR ETHICS POSlTINISM BY NlACNMu i'N"rN
IOTu. l2mo, PIP 527. Charles L. No"'iOS'
The author of this work, which Is now trans
atcd into English and presented to the American u''
for the first time professor OF philosophy m 'o A'0
Dante in Florence and bears the reputation oi an "
thinker and d sound and judicious writer Hls not nIS
purpose SIS might be inferred from the ttc oi 'hc WI
ume TO discuss the ethical principles of PoslNs' DIS
rerresentcd by Augusc Comte. but TO present ore'
,urvev OF the moral philosophy of the present century
The WORK was originally published during the ears
1870 and 1871, in a series Of contributions To the lh
losoplv Of the Italian School, an able ltdIah pciIo
cal founded 10y Mamiani. II was INTENDED as crtcl
,tudy defending the principles Of morality against the
preensions of ultaiiansm or the theory of aoS"iu'e
moral obligation against the claims Of empirical eApea
.ncy Connected with this purpose was the Wish 10 eN
hbit the results OF modern psychology as presenter III
the latest Investigations Of the facts OF the hora ""
Hence the author led 10 select the English eN!''
mental school a the principal subject OF his critical III
cuircs This school Is the only one in Europe when
las applied the principles Of the scientific method To all
the departments philosophy, and following the lea" Z"
Locke. Hartley and Hume has departed more anu h"''
widely from the positive course of Conir. The rioou"u
difference between the doctrines OF the fIchch p'i"No
phcr and those of John Stuart MIL Alexander BHih'
Herbert Spencer and other lu-sh poi biologists was
for long time hardly rccogm ii among Italian thlhH
,rs aud when those doctrines came to hcnore thorough
" studied they were often coniouuded win the ma'
astic physiological theories maintained hv the follow
ere Of Comc. The purpose VI this volume accordingly Is
70 elucidate tic position Of the English experimental
school III relation TO the two extremes IN EUROPE OIL
,patrriasn ON the one hand and OF metaphysical and
theological dogmatism the other. In pursuing the
subject signOr BaIzcotu evnces rare acquaintance
with the course Of Engnsh philosophy, combined with
tnclary discriminating judgment and ceaIneSS oi per-
cepton in regard TO the mutual relation of different
systems. A. an example OF tins we may reier 10 MS
remarks on the theory OF utility, as represented
by Paley and Bentham. OF Paey ne atfrms in sub
stance that he only the leader Of his school but
its most powerful and comprehensive organizer II lie
accomplished little that was new. he corrected mnch
and reduced the previous inc0hercnt ideas TO hanoh
Gus system A thorough Englishman, be expressed ny
the experimental mcthed the essence of the doctrines
which were most in accordance with the prevailing
sense of countrymen. and adapted to the calculating
md industrial spirit of the age The influence oI beh
than on English ethics the author depends less on
the speculative merits OF his doctrines than on the
absolute tone of his afrmatOns His rapid aud nervous
style has effect the presentation of his thought Ike
few strokes OF the artists brush, which, broadly and
decidedly put on give life whole figure. II is per
haps to his qualities writer that he owes his POSI-
lion in Europe, the most conspicuous advocate OF
utitaran theories sgnOr BaIzeotus estimate OF Johh
Stuart MIL equally free from inflated panegyrlc ana
from captous censure. He ascribes his merit i'll English
psychology 10 the subtle logical sense by which
he seized the point that most essential
10 the scientific yigOr Of a demonstration. He was
more the critic Of method than the expo
nent Of doctrine. For the distinctive traits of his
philosophy he indebted to his father. in whom we
fnd the same aversion ideal Ohjectvity the same
absolute faith in abstraction and induction and the
came mpatence t1uly profound ANALYSIS that charae-
terzed the SON The logical Journalism which narrowed
the mind OF his father is greatly modified III the WRITINGS
Of John stuart Mill. HIS inquiry into the phenone-
ma OF the mind is less constrained than tha OF MS PIE
decessor assumed breadth in him under the in
.,1,, c1 ar,f fb,4r Of
and some Of lis doctrines which were originally uncer
tain and obscure have been eucidated by the later
teachings Of Spencer and Balm The author displays
his characteristic mpartiay in his judgment OF Her
bert Spencer The psychology OF that philosopher is
described as the exposition of a harmony OF
things which extends by degrees from one
form Of life 10 another and eliminates In
mind. Though not strictly an original idea,
in the inte mediate path which he pursues be-
tween popular empriclsm, and PriUi specu-
lation the conception OF evolutionary process as
tumes or cnal character Spencer has been led INTO
this by his inductiye genius. He is opposed to
abstract generalzatons; he demands the evidence OF
observation aud facts their basis; but by bold syn
thesis he has surpassed all that his predecessors have
accomplished by analysis alone. This equilibrium OF
faculties gives great Importance TO the position OF
spencer lie marks the latest stage Of the inducuye
method in England by the work Of powerful mind i'm
bued with the reineuents OF modern science. a GER
tain metaphysical touch in the writings OF this eminent
man reminds OF Schcnc and Iiegel still he repre-
sents the climax Of English thought, a. exhibited In
successive phases by James Null, John stuart MIL ana
Alexander III who find tho basis Of mental science IN
the knowledge OF concrete facts Spencer the one who
has presented the phenomena OF Consciousness III the
broadest and most analy and brought
the reduction Of psychological facts to the finest point
The work of SuOr BGrzeottl must he regarded as an
important well as novel contribution TO the history
Of ofmodern speculative thought and will be welcomed by
ffp trans
however indicates greater degree Of good III than Of
sk or practice English construction. The volume
closes with practical suggestions that are certainly
opportune. "socdl movements are also consequences
Of the universal law which transforms all things, and 1t
Is for science 10 its In order to prevent II
possible most fearful effects allowing Nature 10 take
Is encacous course without dangerous interruptions
from revolutionary movements. The lower classes have
improved, and begin to see that social adYan-
tages should be cquitably enjoyed, and we GER
tany cannot De in m rent TO their claims. Bnt reform
cannot be confined t. the institutions for enough has been
destroy cd the orders Of faith science and art some
Hng must be substituted for all that has been taken
away and this something We shall find through the
proper study Of Nature and consciousness, the most sol
elnn and sacred Of which must absolutely be sat
isded."
REPORT on EUROPEAN SHIPS OF WAR by Che'
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Washin gtOn Government Printing once
In pursuance of orders from the Secretary
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chanca appliances or ships Of with view Of using
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Of the United States. Alter making thorough cXlnina
ton OF the European uayes for the PURPOSES OF hls COM
mission Mr King returned to tins country III the sum
or Of ls76 and The first edition oi his Report was sub
mtted to che Naval Department at the commencement
of the following year. The edition now published con
taus "a revision tie first cdtOn % the work, together
with large OF additional matter including Il
report on the ships dockyards, and other details