New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-02-10
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

~ur EMOTIONS. BY JAMES McCosH. D. d.. LID
~ l5mo pp. 255. Charles scribneTs sons
Tn treating this branch of the philosophy OF
mind while resardingihe emotions as essen'ay
ac,s mr. sotes the author does not overlook tue
physiological relations which have been placed ID SUCH
q powerful light by modern researches INTO 'he ha'0
and functions Of the nervous system. Inc menlai "a
o,emrnt which Il the conscious element OF emouoh Is
1esc,ibe ae in connection with organic stae the
seat of which brain. whence 1t extends TO the
nervous centres and produces soothing or exciting re-
suits But the organic affection, DIT McCosh malnlns'
IA not the primary the main element 10 emouoh
properly called such hope and Tear, JOY anu soI
row. reproach and despair few words, Tor example
announce TO a the death of near frend Inc iacV
IS impressed upon his mind through the sense OF he"
ing he feels the OF at the event. ana
this Is followed by the nervous agitauoh' hiuo
ton "a not mere nervous reacnOh rom
bodily stimulus, like the kick OF Hos
upon being pricked; but throughout Its "ho'e
course is essentially operation OF the hihu ino
different aspects Of the phenomenon nave uSua"S
been considered their separate acton by wrl'ors OH
the subject but IL is Of the merits OF the present
volume that they exhibited in their muiua relao
md practical unity. In regard 10 inc primary "
secondary origin OF he emotions IN the human constu-
ton the author engages IN an elaborate ciscusSio"'
which TO many readers will prove of the most IN
structve well the most interesting portions Vi
the volume DR.. McCosh does not agree WIN lne
theorists who make the Of pleasure ana OF pain
the only motives OF human conduct. lie mus variety
of attractions appetenoes, such as Kindness sym
pahy love of society, tue desire Tor power WHICH
cannot be explained by love OF pleasure or the aver
sion 10 pain Man. he contends, has natural inclna-
ton TO promote the happiness OF his fe1oW-hen ms
may indeed be restrained 10y an oveTnastcrlnS sesh-
ness But In spite OF all attempts to repess H. IL VIII
at times come forth i'll some kind word or deed.
Besides the instincts which lead us to seek our
own good there are others which incline us 10
find for ,ur fellow-men tue things which we regard
as good for ourselves The native tastes and talents
prompt 10 action and excite emotion, independent OF
pleasure or pam, other end THIS seems true oi
our organic activy the animal frisks ana gamools as
impeled by life within his iramc the child Is neVerat
rest: and all our lives long we impeed TO change
NJ movement by the organic demand for action. But
from The time OF Thomas Hobbies who referred all the
actions Of men TO motives drawn from pleasure ana
PAIN there been tendency 10 diminish the original
motive principles OF the mind. But the author lnslsts
that the secondary appetences imply primary, ana
grow upon them as the mistetoe grows upon the 0ak
They are fashioned by mental rather than by material
laws and cannot he explained by cerebral condi'
tions The gap the animate aud the nanimate
has not vet been filed up. No bridge has yet been
found to connect extension with Intelligence, matter III
space mind in activity The whole subject OF the
yolumc is treated by DIR. McCOsh In q con- mon sense
way with large reference to its practical Applications
aiming at clearness expression and aptness OF iustra
tOn rather than with show Ci metaphy acute
ness or technical nicely. and often with uncommon
beauty and force OF dction. In numerous descriptive
passages which relate 10 the influence OF natural seen
ery or the finer Workings OF human character the writer
takes example from the elder Alison. who was the nrst
among Scottish philosophers 10 explain mental PIE
nomena IN eeg OF style and with the graces OF the
Imagination. Occasional literary criticisms and oppor-
tune references 10 poets and nCveliss beSuie the
pclusal Of the work, aud give 1t popular as well as
scientific character.