Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-20
CAN WE KNOW OURSELVES ?
Thought and Sensation-Bishop Keane's
Review of Herbert Spencer.

Bishop Keane's- Wednesday lectures on the
First Principles of Herbert Spencer" were
continued yesterday by a review of the chap
tiers OF Ultimate scientific ideas and 1.-THE
relatively of all knowledge" The bishop
showed that much confusion arose from the
neglect to distinguish between the different
kinds of concepts in dealing with space and
time. Though real entities they are not sub
stances, but merely relations between material
things-space the relation of coexistence and
time that of succession. Both present insu-
perable difficulty to the imagination. but may
be clearly perceived by the intellect. After
examining the questions of matter, notion
force and consciousness, the speaker said that
in treating of the thinking subject itself, the
ego, Spencer was right in rejecting the skep-
ticism which casts doubt upon our own exist
ence. but was wrong in indorsing Mansells DO
sltion that self cannot know SELF. Our knowl-
edge of our own ego is not direct, but is never
theless real. We are conscious of our interior
impressions and actions, and reason attributes
them to self as the subject. 1t is true how
ever. as Nr. Spencer says, that we can more
look into the intrinsic nature and being OF self
than into that of the objects around us.
Summing up his analysis of Mr.. Spencer's
data he found to be erroneous his conclusion
that sensation Is the material out of which
thought is yoven-that the intellect is power
full within the region of experience and i'm
potent In that which lies beyond. He said:
when one studies the causes leading to the
corruption and fall Of Greek and Roman ciyili-
cation and applies the lesson to the intellectual
and moral tendencies of our time can 1t be said
that this train of thought is woven out of SEN
Stations? And If from the visible universe we
mount to the first cause and contemplate in
finite power and wisdom and love. can these
thoughts be said to be woven from sensations?
Sensations are the occasions of thought and the
ladder which thought uses in its ascent, but
they are not the material out of which it is
woven. Mr.. Spencer has shown in this chapter
that within the region Of experience the intel
lect is constantly baffied; but when from phe-
nOmenal and experimental science the reason
ascends to that which lies in the highest
spheres of thought then 1t Is that it attains to
the highcs. certainty"
Passing to the next chapter Bishop Keane
dwelt upon what he claimed to be the weakness
of the arguments quoted by Mr. Spencer from
Hamilton and Mansell in support OF the thesis
Of the relatively of all knowledge. MIR. Spen-
Ger, he said, has himself rejected their conclu-
sions and has done a real service to philosophy
by proving that without the absolute the rela-
tive could not be known and that without the
| infinite the finite could not even be conceived,
but has vitiated his whole system by merging
/ the infinite and the absolute into the reality
| lying back of visible phenomena. The next
| lecture will be devoted to an analysis of Mr..
Spencers chapter on the reconciliation of re-
hgion and science.
At the Salvation Army Meeting Again.
Geo. Roberts, who created a sensation ut the
| Salvation army barracks three years ago,
| went again last night, after taking several
drinks, TO meeting Of the army. Policeman
Jordan told Judge Miller this morning that
three years ago Roberts went to hold an open
| air meeting with one Of the sisters and ran off
with her. Roberts admitted that he WAS under