The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-12-24
DIR. DABNEY'S LECTURE ON
PHILOSOPHY.
A DEMONSTRATION AND DEFENCE
OF THE STUDY OF PHILOSOPHY.

OF THE STUDY OF PHILOSOPHY.
DR.. Dabney's regular lecture, before the
students of the university last evening,
was upon philosophy, and a recon-
mendation and defense of the study of
that science. 1t is to be regretted that
we have not the space for giving more
than brief summary of lecture that
ought to be thrown broadcast before the
thinking men of the country. Philosophy
he defined very simply by saying, in the
language of Goethe
''That it was thinking about thinking
Alright" He said: Its branches are
psychology, logic, ethics, ontology, and
natural theology.
"Some physicists disparage philosophy
as not being a science of observed facts.
AS being, consequently, unstable, exhibit
ing constant changes of theory, and as
yielding mankind no practical fruits"
The lecturer rejoined ''that philosophy
has its facts of observation; the facts
namely, of consciousness; and that since
one must believe in his own existence
and immediate consciousness, in order to
believe in any reality outside himself,
Gl0S0 ldCGS LII CONSCIOUSNESS are HlOI0 ILL
mediately facts of observation than any
external ones. So, man must be con-
vinced of the principles and axioms from
which he reasons, at least as firmly as of
the differences he gets from them" The
audience was then reminded that several
parts of the physical sciences are still I'M
stable, while the fact that philosophy, so
called, has had many vagaries, is offset by
another; that the true philosophy has al
ways been taught by others.
1t was then shown that
every practical man is
virtually a philosopher, possibly with
out realizing it. This was illustrated in
several familiar and amusing instances.
For, fortunately, mental laws are self
executive, the plain man is like the boy
who can use his legs very we'll, without
knowing the anatomy of them. Yet, if
he has to amputate, anatomy is very nee
essary.
The lecturer then rebutted the charge
that philosophy loves no practical fruit. "
The bread and butter sciences enable US
to get money. But money is only a
means to an end-happiness, culture and
knowledge of ones self lead still more di-
rectly to happiness. It is a nearer means
than money.
He then showed that philosophy alone
can draw the line between the mystery
which is compatible with intelligent be-
lief, and the contradiction which forbids it
SO that without this science, no student
rightly knows where the boundaries of his
opinions should be. He also showed that
it was as essential to a safe natural theOl-
ogy.
In conclusion, he said 'Let the dis
paragers of philosophy, say that, while the
| physical sciences give us solid ground to
stand on, philosophy is unstable "cloud
land" From those clouds come the re-
freshing rain, the lightning, and the tor
nado. To drop the metaphor; the most
practical calamities of mankind have log
ically proceeded from dogmas, their adj
vocates protested to derive from abstract
philosophy. It is "opinion" which has
ruled the world. This opinion always
claimed an origin in philosophy. If
then philosophy cannot be made stable
science, man is in an evil state face-to-face
with moral tornadoes and lightning
which he can(never learn to contNal. This
impressive view was illustrated by the
enormities of religious persecution, justi-
fed by an erroneous moral philosophy,
and by the French ''reign of terror" and
the American civil war caused by a So
phistical philosophy of human rights and
equality.
DR.. Dabney's lectures are always edify-
ing and instructive. Perhaps, to-day there
is not more profound thinker and phi
losopher, than the Texas university pro-
fessor of moral and mental philosophy
DR.. Dabney.
AS a theologian and preacher, DR.
Dabney stands in the very
front rank of Presby terian ministers. He
is profound, logical and magnetic
in his command of the intellect and feel
ing of his audiences, and Texas ought tt
be grateful that the university of the
state is adorned and enlightened by hi
splendid gifts as a philosopher or orato
worthy of the best schools in ancient O.
modern learning.
AS preacher he is eminent in tn
church, and as teacher he is model o
excellence in sound principles and logica
conclusions.
, IS THE UNIVERSITY A HIGH SCHOoLg
Some honest souls are in trouble abou
the university. They 81 sage of ad
mission" is too low, ands2 : consequent
!. is that instead of young Zen and youn
women the classes are filed with boys an
girls. They complain that instead of