Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-02-14
REVIEW OF BOOKS.

The talented President of Yale Noah
Porter, d. D., LID, has just given to the
thoughtful world work that should COM
mand place in every library, public or
! private, and be read by all men Its title
reads The Elements of Moral Science,
| Theoretical and Practical 1t was written
! formerly for the use of college and uniyer-
sity students, and this very preparation
gives ii "a cast that makes it all the more
valuable to the wel-informed reader 1t
presupposes some familiarity with psyche
| logical and philosophical studies and a will
ingness to think closely and earnestly. Yet
| our conviction is positive that the book
| would be clearly comprehensive by the
| general reader, and even by those who
make this their first effort in the study Of
moral science or of psychologist and philoso-
| phical topics. The pages OF the volume
! are as clear as crystal there is no confusion
| of thought; no doubt or timidity in eX
| preston, and not line that is not
| direct and imprinted with the earnest
of conviction. Whoever, for instance,
Duties 10 Our Fellowmen cannot fail to
| comprehend the teachings OF its pages he
will find nothing involved and no PROPOSE
| ton stated that does not address itself di-
rectly to the reason by logical courses.
Compared with Hicock, Porter is clearer in
his perceptions and more forcible in ex-
preston, while his style is characterized by
greater finish and the evidences of more
cultured scholarship. Such work as that
before us, embracing nearly 600 pages, is
not to be analysed within the limits per-
| Missile in these columns at this time. 1t
must suffice to say that it is one of the
most forcible, clear and rational exposi-
tons Of the day that it is not a scholastic
treatise merely: it is as broad as the realm
of thought, and its conservatism is that of
conviction. The venerable author himself
says, in referring to the opinions expressed,
that these, and the grounds for them, are
,, the fruits of more or less reading and refec-
ton, and that none of them have been in
considerably adopted. Suggesting that
some may think he has treated the theory
of morals with too great fullness and mi
nuteness, he says: In the view of the
writer, the most if not all, of these theo-
retical questions have a more or less di-
rectly practical bearing, and are sure to be
important in the crises of actual life" He
adds, for the completeness of this part of
the work, somewhat full and critical ex-
hibition of the progress of ethical specula-
ton is also required. Such an historical
sketch the author had intended to furnish.
but was deferred by the fear of max
ing his treatise inconveniently large
Further on in his modest intro
duction this eminent logician says
THE practical discussions and enforce
mentS may seem to some to be too long;
to others, too brief The author has aimed
to treat all questions of this kind in the
light of principles which underlie them
and to leave to his readers to supply many
of the special applications which would
naturally suggest themselves. He earnestly
hopes that the discussion of many of these
practical questions may be a healthful log
zeal and moral discipline to many persons
of both sexes, and lead them to invest a.
life of duty with the dignity and respect
which properly belong to it. Especially
does he desire that the enforcement of
social obligations may awaken in the
minds of young persons more enlight-
ened Judgment, a more fervid faith, and
more ardent zeal with respect to those in
situations which give to ChriStendom its or
ganic life" Some idea of the comprehen-
sivenessand scope ofthework may be gained
bya recapitulation of the topics treated
Moral Science Defined; The Theory of
Duty; Man a Moral Person Physiologically
Considered; The Sensibilities Classified and
as Modified by the Will; The Will De
fined Effect of Folition; Choice, DISPOSE
ton and Character; The Character as Nat
ural and Voluntary; The Intellect-Its
Il uilCllOIiS III iHc biOidi 1hSIANiiiSo anu
periences Origin and Nature of Moral Re-
lations The Moral Feelings; The Exter-
nal Actions-Their Moral Quality and Re
lations; Diversity of Ethical Definitions
and Theories; The Education and Devel-
opment of the Moral Judgment and Feel
ings Social Influences as Helps or Hinder
anees; The Law of Honor; the Conscience;
Cases of Conscience, Causistry, Conflict of
Duties, and federation The Christian The
orv of Morals Ethics or the Practice of
Duty. Classification of Duties, General
Principle of Duties to Ourselves, Duties
which Respect the Bodily Appetite, and the
Bodily Life; Duties to Ourselves which Re-
spect the Intellect, which relate to the
Feelings and the Habits; Duties of Man to
Himself which Respect his Wants, his
Rights and his Moral Claims The Compre-
hensive and Fundamental Principle of Du-
ties to our Fellows; Doctrine of Rights,
Glasses of Rights and Duties which Re
spect Them; Duties of Truth and General
Beuefcence: Duties to Benetactors, Friends,
Enemies, Family and Kindred Nature,
Functions and Authority of the State; Law
and its Enforcement; Civil and Political
Duties Duties to Animals; Duties which
Respect the Physical World Duties to God
Special Religious Duties. The work is is,
sued by Charles Scribner's Sons, New York,
and is for sale by c. S. Houghton, Sacra-
mento, at So.