New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-20
PHILOSOPHY At CONCORD.
PROFESSOR HOwIsoNs PAPER-THE INFLUENCE or
KANT-MR ALCOTr on PERSONALITY HUMAN
AND DIVINE.
LEY TELEGRAPH TO TIE rRIBUNE.l


KANr-MR. ALCoTr on PERSONALITY, HUMAN
AND DIVINE.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUSE.l
BosToN. July 19.-At the Concord School of
Philosophy, on Tuesday evening, Professor g. H. How.
ison began his paper German Philosophy and COM
peted it this evening. He began by saying that the
most striking fact perhaps III Germany to-day tne
manifest reversal OF the historical relation which mas
hitherto existed To understand the present state OF
mind in Germany we must go back and have Gear
idea of Kans position, rs his views have perneated M
German literature and thought for nearly century.
The first instruction against what had been thougu
for q long time came with such men as Descares and
Locke and this may be called the beginning OF modern
philosophy.
They argued on the great questions OF philosophy;
whether there IL a God, and the freedom oi the Will
Professor HowisOn said that philosophy must take is
start not from the theoretical but from the practical
faculty. which furnishes the knowledge that one ousn'
to do q certain thing.
The watchword OF young Germans to-day is Back to
KANT nv which they mean the sceptical side OF ME
theoretical philosophy. Some statistics gwen
bv Professor william Wundt In 1877 are hS
ndcant. Out of 316 courses OF lectures gwen
In the whole country on these branches ioA
were devoted to logic; liz to psychology; 80 10 me$
pbvsics: and 32 ethics The meaning othese ngufs"
that an entire change has taken place. Formerly moS
Dlyslcb
pny is These arc the signs of general breakup ana
period OF transition. .
The classification of the present influences "
work ON German thought may be made under wv
heads First the influences in the universities secoh''
in German society generally. In the universities thee
are two main streams ut work, the neo-kantahs anu
stricter empircists In German society generally 'ne
are two other Of thOught Frsta sort Oh emp
pantheistc ideasm, represented by Won Hartmann
second materialism or which the best e1ponnens.
Duhrng. The most pronounced neo-k asian was Lsas
who died in 1875. He is, perhaps. tine most lnnsSS
tal mind in Germany at present, and has greatly nds,
fed popular philosophy which has lately oesH
an outgrowth OF Arthur schopenhauers. ana Is NJ "a
preferable to his system. IL would be recohct ss
the most advanced ideas Of religious philosophy ,nrs
making of a single change Looking AZ various ;as
phenomena he nds in many cases ond force
centres of the body. Consequently ne decides ,n
everything in the universe is determined py tn an
unconscious God Merely add consciousness 10 .oa s
force and we have very excellent system h h, soE
bunting . system OF materialism He holds ana
all this universe OF physical and psychca and
may be accounted for by different combinations
movements OF the primitive atoms. Strangely e nvhe
he also holds TO OPTIMISM saying that tue atoms oai
Iange ON the other hand. believes in the CONCLUSION ~
Kant supposed 20 mold, namely that sssi mas
consider the subjects with when metaphysics
much as they lie beyond the range OF human Ioajsx
Professor Howison then showed how the
state OF the general public Is reflected Ia '"0 M"
ties. 49,, . Z. perscn
A. Bronson Alcott ectured this morning on aa,ssr
alty Divine and Human" In the course OF ms PaiIW
lac said revelation is the whole OF that when s
the whole Of the possibilities OF grsi
Though Christian revelation yet SATISFIES tHo
mass of people who have thought on the suec WI 70
not say how long it Will be satisfactory Win "a
memory this life did not begin with the
the body; but brings memory OF spirituai eAPo4
before II was in the hcsh. -, -, NJ, Aleod
sad that conscience the Of right Dnt ~ uv amr
tell us what right; for this we must nna ous INV cor
selves. by means OF other faoulties III We oefs an
science II approves II We disobey. II dlsappross.
the day OF Judgment has really begun on tne ia
rs ard Mia Peabody.