New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-03
THE PRINCETON REVIEW. Nav.

Among the contents of this teeming argosy
of literary and theological discussion papers by Dr.
f. de Pressense, OF Paris Principal Dawson OF Mon
treal the Rev. DIR. L. A. Washburn, DIR. Joseph r.
Thompson in Berlin, Professor Andrew p Peabody, OF
Harvard College. Professor Weir of Yale College Pro-
lessor Philip sehaf and other distinguished writers.
Dr. Washburn treats of the doctrine Personal Resu
rection and Physical Science with special ref
erence to the latest teachings Of John Stuart MIL main
tanning that the school Of socaed positive reasoners
can never shake belief which is rooted in the most sa
cred convictions men, but that there sente harmony
between the Christian faith and the most exact Undue
ton and that, indeed, our latest science has opened
at this hour the path OF nObest evidence lie adj
its the twDod fact OF conscious organic existence
We have on the hand certain phenomena OF thought
feeling and voltion, which manifested to us in the
sphere mental observation. Werecognise thought
in the act Of thinking, and perception in the act OF see
ing and memory in the act OF recollection. But we can.
not separate knowledge Of these inward facts from
the organic conditions of our life. The light which mod
ern science has thrown on tins connection OF the mhu
with the physical organism has enlarged our method OF
INQUIRY. We have found a key to many maryels OF
thought memory and will in tie structure OF the ner-
yous system with its central gaDgiOns leading TO the
cerebral mass, and the responsive movements OF
reflex action. We find a rhythmcal law by
which each sensation is passed onward through
q series OF complex changes. so that each act OF
perception Of reasoning has its counterpart In
the functions of activity. The conclusion
we draw from these discoveries, says Dr. WashbuTn,
lie the law Of unity between the mental and physical
powers in its operations, that science has
the right claim. to this extent an understanding OF
the relation Of Inind to body We have phenomena and
force; force manifested thOughL feeling, and vol
untary action under these organic conditions. Bnt at
this pOnt science stops. OF the nature OF this con-
necton II knows nothing 1t canuot explain the transit
ton from the activity of the nervecentre 10 the fact Of
intellectual consciousness The conclusion well stated
by Mr. Mi himself: "scence gives no proof that organ
izatIon can produce thought feeling The utmost
It knows is that all thought is connected with
bodily organs" In the view of DR.. Washburn
the inductve logic dsposes of the rival theories OF dual
ISM ideasm, ana materialisn, with the same Impair
tiay grants that the notion Of two separate sub
stances-splitua and materials no longer tenable
Science dsmsses this theory simply because II does not
explain tho twofold phenomena Of life, but only sub
sntutes an abstraction for the fact But the
sonug holds good against all other purely metaphysical
assumptions. Tic idealiSm, whether OF Berkeley or
Flchte adds nothing to real knowledge. But the
theory OF materiasm is only the opposite pole OF the
same faacy. II the mental phenomena cannot be re-
solved the last analysis by any study Of cell or FIBRE
then the notion of physical basis by whatever name
we reclohe the old fgmcnt of material substance s
csely the metaphysical assumption which science
rejects. Tho law OF personal identity of which we are
conscious, and which, in fact, is the ground OF
all our knowledge DIR. Washburn contends, opens the
sopal continuous life which abides amidst all natural
changes whether of outward inward existence If IL
be said that this mental identity is fact than
physical identity. and is subject to the conditions
OF organic structure decay, Dr. Washburn replies,
that he is not assuming abstract separate spirit.
but simply tracing an unquestonable organic law In
the assurance OF this mental fact have knowl
edge Of the outer world the capacity of moral growth
and the attainment Of that fixed state OF thought feel
ing and Will. which call character. such the writer
maintains is the true result Of the inquiry, and in this
light he cheeruy accepts the method OF modern science
In giving up the abstraction Of two-fold substance OF
separate immaterial entity, which explain the
organic facts have risen by the nductons Of science
10 more spiritual well real truth II the phenom-
ena OF sensation be traceabe to the subtle nerve
centres IT, in short hndin the structure itself this
aidng unity OF thought feeling, and WILL then our IN
ductiye scence Isl with the knowledge OF personal
intelligent and moral being The transition to prob
lem Of future life perfectly simple. The fact such
Law Of continuous personal being gives the most
enable ground Of belief in its continuance hereafter
But Dr. wasbun attaches force TO the theory OF the
inherent immortality OF the soul "a pure immateral
Science, he admits, cannot recognize
this separate, dsemboded entity, which 1t truly calls
an abstraction. Nor does he find greater de-
gree Of validity in Bishop Buffers famous argument,
drawn from the indiysbe character OF ultimate atoms
The true basis for the belief in future he derives