New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-08
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
ENGLISH PHILOSOPHERS.

ENGLISH PHILOSOPHERS
sHAFrEsBuRY AND HuTcHEsos BY Thongs VA Fey SSo
IER, n A., IL ID. Qsdinb) +. D. A. fp- z4o'
Professor Fowler has given an interesting and
clear account of two English philosophers whose
writings have almost fallen into oblivion OF late
years; yet who. in their time, contributed not q
lttls 70 the evolution OF that form OF philosophy
winch the nineteenth century most affects. Shaftes-
bury was not, indeed very deep logical thinker;
but he was spurred by the falacies of Hobbies into
developing an optimistic line of thought which had
consequences far beyond his conceptions He is en-
titled to the credit of having originated or at least
lrst introduced to English philosophy, that theory
of the greatest happiness Of the greatest number
winch Bsntham subsequently, elaborated. EXTENDED
and so far as the public were concerned. made his
own. He also suggested pew ideas In regard 10 the
Good and Beautiful laying the foundations Tor tnat
assheticism which Hutchinson was to expand, and
which was destined to take fresh start III our
generation.
But neither Shaftesbury nor Hutchinson was
a first-rate thinker; and the former Is not only
amss but often fantastic. though scarcely ever oo-
scure. The ultimate value OF their theories hoie
over nust be determined by the final judgment OF
posterity upon the modern philosophy Tor whcn
they helped to furnish the foundations. Aud 1t is
already ceasng to be questioned whether philoso-
phy which has hitherto taken so little account Oh
psychology and which has approached the latter
in 80 empirical a way can hold its ground IN the
future. George Lewes after writing the lives OF
the philosophers, from Thales down to Conte, was
TO the conclusion that their studies and spec
pla,ions had been mere beating of thin air, and
that in fact there is no such thing as philosophy
Though the nineteenth century has produced
thinkers whose encyclopedia labors aim at the
precise elias cation and definition of all phenomena,
both Of thought aud physics 1t Is by no means GER
tain that in some essential particulars they nave
not retraveled the old ruinous circles IN whicn All
efforts to explain intellection have been smut up
thus far. Study of the mind from without has pro-
luccd no results. and what has been supposed 10
he senuine introspec,ion has been equally
barren of results, perhaps because philosophers
have failed to comprehend the conditions under
which alsne true science of psychology can
be established. The history of the sympathetic
philosophy to which Shaftesbury aud Hutchinson
contributed interesting part of the grand strug-
gle of the European mind to comprehend Itself ana
its surroundings but it is in vain to assert that
there is much of permanent value in these specula-
tons
Those who are interested in microscopical studies
will find the new volume just published by James
T. Osgood & Co.. Boston, "Photo-Mlcrographs and
How to Make Them" by Dr. George NJ Sternberg'
an admirable manual this special field OF ilvesti-
CATION. Every detail in the picture-making pro-
cess is gwen with great care and fullness and the
little points upon which often turns IN deli
cate manipulations are also thoroughly covered.
To the non-pro fessional reader the most attractive
parts of the book will be the plates-the photo
monographs reproduced by the heotype process
for which the Boston publishers have long been
g f1,oco
beautiful and all will delight those who are fond
OF examining into Natures mysteries.
The new aud enlarged edition of Charles Hallock's
"Sportsman's Gazetteer" published by the Orange
Judd Company of this city. will be welcomed by
all lovers of outdoor sports The work details the
habits and various modes of capture of the game
ANIMALS birds and fishes of North America. and
furnishes directory the principal game resorts
of the country. work of this kind covers too
wide field to permit of much mnuteness ofdefail,
but the information packed into its ono thousand
pages seems well condensed and arranged, and is
illustrated with maps and various pictures OF game
animals.
.'Plant Life" by Edward Step, published by Henry
Holt e. Co., is not general work on Botany, but
rather series of short articles of popular charac-
ter on various botanical topics Thus there is one
chapter on Microscopic Plants" another on
Predatory Plants" third on the Folk Lore of
Plants and so on The selection OF topics is good,
and Mr. Step writes about them in such pleasant
way that the book will prove acceptable TO a large
class of readers "Plaut Life" is also well prir ted
and well illustrated. and copy of it in the holiday
seekers carpetbag would be a pleasant companion
during his rambles in the country.
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