New-York tribune., 1879-09-09
THE PRINCETON REVIEW. September.


Concurrent with the Pcpe's encyclical letter
upon philosophy have the history OF ltann phoso-
ply OF the nineteenth century IN this number Of The
Princeton Rerec by Professor Luigi Fcrh PHI d., OF the
University of Rome. Why the Pope should consider II
important to bansh from the Catholic colleges not only
positive but even all modern philosophy. and substl-
utc that Of the schoomen particularly that Of Thomas
AQunas may inferred from the remarks OF Professor
Ferri regard to the influence OF philosophy IN italy,
italian philosophy thus started (by Rosmni) upon
in which and religion were allied la one
cause, and aimed at the same prac teal end, could not
pause half way. It's union with theology about TO
become the most intimate possible and both were des-
be employed for some time to come as direct III
strumonts of political revolution" And yet, from
further remarks Professor Ferr II would appear that
no other than tho philosophy Of Thomas Aquinas really
prevailed Catholic institutions. Thomisn. as II Il
generally understood by the Jesuits resrains to the fur
thcst extent the power of human reason while Patonism
raises above the limited horizon OF ;he real INTO the
sphere the divine ideal and its nrche pes. One Is far
more favorable obedience and is consequently appro
prated 10 that mmoblty or the church 10 which the
ThOnist school TO consecrate all its endoavOr :
and up this time IL has been crowned by success for
not only do its doctruos generally prevail all the
Catholic clergy OF Italy, but. aided by powerful nhu-
enee they have cOntrived every other doc
trne the teachings OF the ecclesiastical establish
mens" Professor Ferri represents the school Of ra-
tonal spirualism idealism. and is coeditor Of the
Fosoda deHc Scoie Ialiane The article ne contributes
70 The Princeton exceedingly well prepared and is
interesting as is exhaustive. Italy directed the phO-
sophie movement Europe during the fourteenth
tury with her schools OF Padua, Bologna, and Florence
But this career was siied by subsequent revolutions
and not until 1919 did IT break forth again work bv
PasQuan Galunpi. lie defended the distinction be-
tween mind and matter but he cOnfouuced the offices OF
sensihllity intelligence Feeling sentiment he
considered into every phenomena of pon.
and he held that the reality of divine existence
Is not given In an priori Intuition, nor a
matter OF uncertainty. held by Kant The absolute,
he maintained, was to be known by the relative. the
idea OF the infinite by the finite, eEc. But ls chief
element of his system was the distinction Id held
between external phenomena and the energy OF the
soul He believed himself have foundcd expert
mental school. lie was followed by ROsmin, who
granted to the experience that reality based
OIL feeling but on the other hand admitted that knowl-
edge without an priOri element is impossible lie also
elaine that a the basis OF every idea intu Of
Being and that this intuition OF Being IL the sole and
cessry pri0-a view that is subjective In character
opnosed 10 the sublcctivy OF kants nearly correspond
ing doctrfne. Rosmmi man of science and tLeo-
logian and he proposed 10 himself the reconciliation
science and revelation. Succeeding Rosmn was " uni
ami While Ros!uin considered ideas the decrmina
lions OF universal form, Mamiani regarded them as
objective forms by which the absolute reveals itself 10
our intelligence His philosophy is Platonsm modified
Inv the experimental method. The Jesuit Rgnan con
sders that the true atom not chemical but physical
ueceanis Is also established Naples and struggles
along with ontologism for liberty and development.
But Italian philosophy is deficient in the department o.
psychology