New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-11

A
HfcKoK LID. Revised with the Cooperation Of JuLIrs
Ii. sEELYE D. D., LID. l2mO' pp. 2s8 Boston CHM
More than twenty-five years have elapsed
since the original publication OF this admirable treatise
which Ia now issued with revision and certain slight
amendments by the eminent philosophical writer whose
name 1t BEARS although with no essential change IN the
ethical principles practical applications OF the work
President HCk0h mas devoted prolonged life to the
illustration OF the supremacy of reason az the founa
ton of morals and the light OF speculative philosophy;
and tn this work he has presented the most compact,
and pcrhaps the luminous exposition OF his pro-
found theories and their influence the development
OF Thought and the institutions OF society The main
idea Of the author Il that morality must ind its central
poant and dominant principle within tue spiritual part
OF mans being II the ultimate rule Of life be taken
from natural consequences and not from spiritual I'M
peratiyes, there DO no morality bat only ex-
eAIepsy Every sound system of ethics the author In
siss, must be preceded by just comprehension OF
mental science It must be clearly understood That
man IA compounded OF the animal and rational being
but 80 tCtnately blended that they form composite
unity The animal part Of human nature finds the end
of it's activity the qualification OF its constitutional
appees. These appettes may be originally OF greater
or less variety they may be more or less refined by
cuityaoR but in every case the end OF amtrat eppe-
tite is the same. Happiness Is the highest law, and
whether the life nortsl Immortal 1t s only the life
OF the brute The rational part OF mans being. DR..
uckok maintains owns different law AMI finds differ
petlte but the urgency of imperative requirement.
The animal is iEpeed By craving the rational is ILL
spired by claim. craving seeks disqualification
claim requires seIf-surrender. perhaps seIrsacfce
The sef which the craving seeks. found but It Is
LIS, IN tina very preeess OF It's seeking while tie self
which the claim surrenders but is found in the
very surrender THIS personal rational self Is under the
perpetual obligation to behave and while the craving Of
the animal 10 intermittent. the rational needs no rest and
sts claim knows no cessation Hence the ground Of
morality must altogether within the sphere OF mans
rational and spiritual being Tue ultimate rule OF right
therefore Dr. Hckok INSISTS abe cardinal principle OF
his ethical theory, be sought in the reason Of man.
The ultimate rule of right ultimate rule OF
and as rule must be = rule Of action, the
ultimate rule OF right therefore, that reasonable being
ought to act reasonably IN Dr.. Hfckoks discussion OF
strength OF the theory. The pivotal principle is de
determination Of duty in personal aud social rea
ton good action 10 thHt b. in accoraancs with
reason The predominance Of reason over the animal
moral character. Although Or HickOk is mainly
,pisnt on The elnedatsen Of tscsy large
volume 70 devoted TO the practical details Of coudnct
this respeet II nps srpassed By any popular manual
ofethies TIM theory Of the work no doubt bears
sasn analogy 20 the eateeoresi Imperative" Of In
manuel Kant. between whom and the suthor there Is
visible resemblHuce IN intellectual character and tenden
etes Of tacuehG But stn the stamp of originality is
Impressed on the leading festurvs Of Dr. aekofs anay-
MS ana the present wesk, with snoss By winch - b
assmHpaeasa. mara snow deosFtMs tn A~sriHan shil'