New-York tribune., 1883-03-16
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES PHILosoPHIc SERIES.

nf
JAMES McCOsH. d. D.. III. d., ~ - stc Charles
aThe Laws Of Discursive ,Gna TeSush' o'e'
scribner's Sons, PIP 80. 1885, ,,,
Dr McCosh has undertaken series oil pniioSopn',
80, ,r.c,s for the times The topics OF metaphysical
do not awaken so wide an interest as themes
,hch ;mnose less severe task upon the inteIlect OF
Tho roaaer Yet at present, philosophical problems
90 so closely related to the popular studles Oh
natural science and involved in the living ques-
tionsp which pertain to the origin ana emu Vi '0
world ard of man, that series OF papers py 81 on
nent thinker as DIR. McCosh are likely to receive
IA they certainly deserve, large share Oh pup,'o
attention II is said OF DR.. Prestley that WHICH ho
wished to make up his mind on q snolect ho WIZ
a book about it, DR.. McCOsRs opiniohs IN piiiioso-
phy have been too frankly and TOO emphas'c"i'y
announced to render him liable TO the suspicion Oh
writing for the purpose of resolving quesuohs ior s
own nersonal satisfac ion, independently OF other
considerations which will render an imputation OF
this sort i'm his case impossible 1t is n 1alninar
experience however, that there is gain III cieai"ee
and condensation when one writes anew on suoJeo''
which one has previously handled IN more copiouS
trea,ises. In truth, author himsfif oiteh i'o''
when he has finished book, that he isjust prepared
TO write IT, The effect of the discussion IS 10 reuu0o
his own thought to ITS lowest terms, ana 10 oiseh
tangle it from surplus and irrelevant matter. Inc
readers of DIR. McCosh's pamphlets will In TINS way
reap the benefit of the authors Garner anu hioio
elaborate consideration of the same topics. An
aaherept though not q serve adherent, of the Scot
tish school, lie has brought to bis inquiries lor many
vears the hest powers of clear and vigorous lntei
lec+ and of n mind well-nformed in the history OF
specuation. If here was any ground IN respect W
his earlier writings, for regarding him as 10 any
extent under the influence of theological Dias' 'nis
nossible occasion for criticism has more ana more
disappeared Certainly he never fails TO recognize
cordially the merit of the antagonists whom he uas
10 confute and to give them credit for Whatever
contributions science they fairly lay claim TO-
In the ESSAY before us Dr. McCOsh takes up the
doctrine of causation which, as he truly shows Is
;nvolved in most of the processes by which we uls
Germ truth The principle of causalty. he points out
il presupposed in most of our CONVICTIONS as 10 'he
past even in regard to events which rest upon 'est
,no,y The law of rational credence depends on the
law of causation. Our expectations as 10 the lu'
ture are likewise equally dependent on TINS prih-
ciple Ii is involved, moreover, in the common
arguments for the being of GOd Hume was there
fore astute in directing his efforts TO the loosenng
of the bond of causal connection Next TO the Cri-
terra of Truth, the topic Of DR.. McCoshs previous
tract this doctrine of causation must, therefore, be
treated First we have an inquiry into objective
or phvscal causatlon the causal tie In the actual
world. aside from apprehension. DIR. hcCosh
agrees with Mill that there are two or more act
,no hodi.s in all physlcal causes This truth he
noticed. INDEPENDENTLY of Mill, although Mill was
the first TO announce ii, He goes beyond Mill In
affirming that there is duality or plurality IN the
effect as well as in the cause That one among the
Mural antecedents of an event which is held TO be
chiefly important we designate pre-eminently the
"cause" The cooperating agent or agents may then
he called the "occasion.n The correlation OF
forcesp is the subject of an important section.
While the author accepts this principle as expound
Cd nv TAFT Thompson and other scientific author
it,es he denies that physical force is transmutable
into mental or rice rersa and afirns q direct IN
fuence of mind upon matter, as well as OF matter
upon mind The attempt of the Agnostics to con-
fute Theism by unwarranted stretch ana appli-
cation of the doctrine OF Conservation Is eiiectuaiy
e.posed. Under the head of " subjective causa-
tion - the rntuitve theory is maintained; ana
Aristote's classification of causes is reviewed. We
are not sure that the Interpretation given to tho
staeirites notion of form" is precisely that which
th. hest critics of his system adopt The folly OF
snpposiuQ that mechanical causes supersede hnal
causes or that efficient causaion precludes design,
is coqentiy ev1nced The remarks upou the views
Of Professor Newcomb Up. AT sq) are one of the
most interesting portions Of the essay.
While definite and earnest in contending for The
ism Dr. McCosh is cautious in bis declarations
respecting the will and the relation of votiOn TO eau
sal agency There Is causation in acts of wiil he
tells u.s. On tho other hand, he adds, 'the will Is
free" He gives definition of the epithet Tree
IN this proposition He admits the existence of a
seeming conflict autonomy, but does not presume
10 solve IL. OF so much he is that the causes
which act on the will are not mechanical or physi-
calD What the difference between the two classes
Of causes is he does not explain. Two men will act
differently In like circumstances, owing to their
difference of character" "In every particular act
the will IL swayed by motives but the motives are
10 be found not out of the mind but in the mind,
nay, largely In the will ITSELF Up. 30l I'm the
will" must mean habits of will or voluntary prnci-
ples The author proceeds: "The causes which
sway the will are mainly in our nature and charac-
ter in our dispositions and habits. which our own
wills have been forming" These statements corre-
spond pretty nearly to the doctrine of j. s. Mill.
They really evade instead Of meeting the difficulty.
The question at once arises Was the will in forming
thsse dispositions and habits" Jree-that is, ex-
smpt from the sway Of noivesf II not the diff
Guilty Is not In the least removed but only pushed
back DR.. McCosh evidently Is not prepared TO
abandon the Deterninism OF Edwards and Chal-
mers; but he is too candid to conceal from himself
aud from his readers the perpexites induced by It,
lie allows that the notion Of powei springs up in
the mind from the oxerton Of our own voluntary
agency occupied with the Of muscular resist
ancel But the universally Of the causal principle
m the material realm leads him 20 hesitate about
exempting the will. the primal seat OF causal
efficiency. from It's sway.
The titles Of the numbers Of "fhe Phiiosophic
Series" which are yet 10 appear indicate that they
will deal with the most interesting and momentous
questions which agitated among meta
physieians snd speculative naturasts. IL IS grati
fyng TO zoe that the venerable President of Nassau
Hall retains ali the freshness of his youthful IN
terest n these grave problems, and L disposed 70
present in form convenient to readers the fruit
OF his rp,ned powers and of the mature studies of
life which has been largely devoted, and with dis
tingushcd success, TO philosophical reflection.
LIE COSTUME ,HIsToRIQuE Thirteenth number