New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-23

use and meaning Of the word can perhaps be better
Inferred from the form Of the final queries submitted
to each Of the contributors TO the symposium:
go Assuming that the word 'agnostciSm correctly
represents the cvolutioniss negative views 10 the
RELATIVELY Of knowledge and the impossbllty OF
pretending ultimate ontoogca facts, Is not some
other word required 10 express the affirmative attitude
Of the evolution philosophy in regard TO the appre
hcnSion Of the infinite and absolute. and the capacity
Of the human Intellect to deal with the practical
Problems Of religion and lfc1
an Would the word meta gnostcism' and It's dc
| rrativcs satisfactorily supply this defect in
| our language. correctly supplement the thought
implied in .agnostcism. properly interpret the
Affirmative attitude Of the evolution philosophy toward
these great intellectual problems. and thus serve a tc
basis for a complete reconciliation and cooperation OF
religion and sCiencc''
II may also help explain TO Your readers the atti
tudc Of those interested in the fundamental problems
underlying the suggestion Of Mr. Sldon. if they know
that Of the nineteen replies thus far received 10
the proposed questions, all except two nave diSuncty
recognized the fact that the philosophy OF evolution
does recognize and present Affirmative basis for
rational religious faith. and that the word agnosiic'
does not properly describe this aspect Of the evolution
airy doctrine: that majority (tcnl think some WORD
is needed 20 supplement the negative idea expressed
by "acno,iicn: and that Of the six Including Mr.
Silton who approve the Use OF the new word meta
gno,tc" each one believe, also recognizes himself as
an agrostlc~ In the sense in which that word Is used
and approved by Mr.. Herbert Spencer. The Adoption
Of the word by these gentlemen. therefore, ooes
not imply an abandonment OF their previous position
Even II IT did Imply such change Of attitude on the
part 81 these Individuals. 1t would not involve commit
ting the association TO their views.
2 The word "metagnosticr Is defined by Mr.
Skllton-thc definition being. as understand
substantially that which IS accepted Dy '"c
Century Dictionaries beyond know ledge; trans
| Inn within and BEYOND
the suhcrr Of sense. and "McagnO 'ticlSm Is DC
fined a the doctrine IF the Metagno-tcs the doctrine
that our consciousness Of the Absolute i rot mega
tive but positive: that belief in its existence Is
normal dclivcrincc Of consciousness ana ma the hsh
est validity OF any the doctrine OF the 'Hiha's lie
alitv-thc sole existence" This definition l. almost
| wholly made up from the exact ph7tscology OF Mr.
,p,nccr a, used by himself in explanation Of the at
utudc Of his philosophy toward the problems OF re
| ucon / suspect that the true raison d'etre OF Mr.
Wldcr's letter not much the desire u discuss
| the new word q, to hcstow -ly dig at Mr. spencer
and his philosophy under cover of this dlN'u>'oh'
! The assumption on the part Of Mr. Wilder that Mr.
spencer, philosophy Is avowedly matcraN'l' M
been over ana Yer again denied and exposed by Nr
! ,pencer and hi, recognized Interpreters. The as
.umcd difference OF opinion between Mr. spencer ana
Mr. Fi~kc ON thi, point exist, only In the Imagination
4 those who probably understand the true position OF
| neither of these great thinkers. BY Mr. spencer -
I well bF VT. i~h' lHT H"iN'Ii'l H"'N''N' - 800
/ uilcd e, PHENOMENAL and .ymholcal only OF the
! Ultimate Realty II which 1t i, manifestations The
power manifested in nature il affirmed by Mr.
,pcucer to Zee with that which arises IN
our own con-ciou,ne,,. In recent letter 70
/ Nh. writer, approving OF -ucn an amt ma"ru-
! Etc interpretation OF bus philosophy, Mr. rpcn-
Ger SAY, l.uG ,I-'''''"' yo lnyc .,,td onl,c
, clearly the a-uo,tic view ~ DISTINGUISHING from the
macria,tlc view. and truly insisted upoh the ft' mat
b e. -plritua!-uc Interpretation might Just - rdSou
aalI II. gwen the -yIioi, in which "" interpret
/ phenomena mat"rai'iic one, VIZ Ll,he /, an
rrm j, applicable 10 Ir spencer, but in neither case
/ tnt the apprehension Of the absolute l' fundamental
/ To- All our hno~I'dsr. 49,, .
| a.u0-tici-u- understand II. j, simply that ~
vowed iu the recognition Of th" AMT" udtur' "i the
human intellect and 1t, eon,rGnr inability 10 'I ,bo
/ pf.h"nd and ka"" the lnnnite - "c Know tic
ohlcci- Of perception. To ON" %ho Vn,c clt.iiF
,. a,,on, hat On" whole greater than any Of rs
pari- and i- al aunlogUu, character. II depends
irtf moon a scientific knowledge 81 the simple principles
involved 100 the p-ychooe' OF sense perception Fan
ihc cNt "a conscious universe !, limited m The Held and
cope Of 10, activity. The number 81 the's .en~c, is
ais. arbitrarily limited. cur know ledge Of In" non
go" in the whole or iu any Of IL pirt> i necessarily
conditioned by thee miat'on, In every perception.
| which !, =, once imminent and trau~ceudclt which
! l- Immediately manifested to ~ ~ phch"n', a., ~,
mind to comprehend and FULLY interpret IT, What II
g. boo Itself boz it, e@~ci>tl nature We '"ih"' "hV"
| a.
! In h, mrie. II activity. can have such hno~l'dgc
What 10 j, 20. related 70 rs forms the substance Of all
oul know ledge.
! Philosophical aguo,uc-m a. thus described Is an
r..rufiillN religions Stem. Win III" Hebrew scr u
| ak. 90 Who Us searching Ind ont tod Who
... know tic Almighty perfection P" Recognizing
c limitation, 81 the human mind % stand, IN r. weren't
before the Fable fk -i'r"- OF the universe
! Nppfrheudlu- the power manifested ~ all phenomena
Ing the hcrcGcc.t tendency 81 al evolutionary
u,oc...c. A. Judged hy their fnal c-ul-it adoc"-
! and t,u-i- where n cannot lpilf comprehend II II
he. i'ae- o a.crhc personality a. e." Infinite. u l.
E l-c human per ~,ualitS the highest tha' We know
.r..i- 20 imp, limitations luron-i-i"ut Win the con
! anruacc ~ Nj. spencer tiai tho choice !, not le
tween personality and -pmcfhIng lower Int personality
and something higher. and taf the ultina'" reality j.
no more representative ln terms Of human conscious
] nee, than human Consciousness Is representative III
/ terms 81 a plant functions.
II il this r.ycfcl.i aud Affirmative aspect of the
evolution philosophy related "a religions Thought
Infinitely more r,li.10u- thau the reverse aiuiui" 81
| cnd,h 10 recognize and interpret. Whether II will
serve thi, purpose not. viii depend in part on y
correct understanding ~ IT. intended meaning, ana
pD general cor-cfl~li~ ~ agreement Z" accept IN"
meaning thu, explained and defined. The question
si ,upcruafu1lI in" amt suI'lUatIrfl~u' raised
ly Mr. Wilde foreign To this discussion. and l. not
necessarily raised by the proposed Ecw word. The
know lol.r apprehension of the Infinite involved ~
the philosophy ~ Mr. spencer. Interpreted by him.
| +. mol assumed TO be given los supernatural lrNcA
| and involved natural mental act. Whether
the n"Hcup.tc" shall prove acceptable or not.
II ie Important that this Affirmative attitude Of the
doctrine of evolution shall be- recognized and en-
| 81 VII. Wilder. concerning the philosophy Of Mt
spencer shall Doe nmthoritatively corrected
LEWIS -. JAMES.
President Of the Brooklyn Ethical Association.