New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-23
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY.

OUTLINES OF PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION.
Hy Herman Lo;1s Edited MiuSi, by p C. conybeae'
THE PHILOSOPHY OF SPINOZA as Contained In the
First. second and Fifth Parts Of the Ethics" and in
Extracts from the Third and Fourth. Translated
Stuart Fullerton. PIP. 2O4. Henry Holt Co.
Because the people OF the present day have the
benefit of widespread investigation and important dis
coveries In science, they sometimes TO have
jumped to the conclusion that they ndescr6sbly
better than their nearest ancestors. The
specous misinterprctaOn Of the theory Of evolution
which has been stretched with teeth and nails. like
the pergamenum diaboi. to contain things never
thought of In the first place is largely responsible FOR
feeling which cherished in the past has always
been the fOrerunner OF calamity TO ciVihzatoh'
Even TO those who do not sympalze with the purpose
of Loze his little book should be welcome because
IL holds the middle way between the coniesseniy
destructive Of pcssmism and that rank optimism
which brings to all the misery peeslmism coulu
WISH If suffered to go its gait 10 the cnd sen
appointed apostles Of the perfcctby OF human nature
should consider these sentences "Ihe Only soi' Vi
(human) progress which ncontestably taxes pace u
in our knowledge Of nature and orr eomnlaha over IL
as a means 10 the realization OF our desires our
increasing control nature and the greater sec"
II provides against natural evils leads to no end
which we can discern" While the general con-
sciousness OF the difference between right and wrong
T. recognized moralty") may be more perfect now
than it has been in the past, the moral character
OF the living has not made any demonstrate
progress" II is on mans inherent knowledge OF his
defects that the conviction Of the necessity and truth
OF religious faith rests There neither is nor can be
a theoretc demonstration of this faith and the as
surance of its truth can only be furnished by
appeal 10 inner experience the process being as
direct that Of the perception OF external OBJECTS
by The author condemns idle from
the religious point Of view all discussion OF questions
C,tiA ha
solved they would religious purpose. In this
view OF the matter there can be no conflict between
science and religion but there may be one between
Two forms of science, having so to speak, the
patronage Of religion which the other lacks Thus
religion may to be involved when merely the
prcjudices Of its adherents have been aroused on
non. rel gious theme The effort to account for evil
by assuming the existence Of devil, Lotze declares
to be every natural but theoretically very barren"
since it really leaves the question where 1t was
before. He is equally sententious and interesting
In his definition of universal dOgmas. "They EN-.
body" says he solutions OF doubts In the course
Of the past; clear outlines OF belief outside OF which
the fancy Of the individual may not wander without
falling into error There is in tho last clause Of
this definition tinge Of the reaction that leads the
author regret the modern preference for separa-
ton between Church and State. Yet he puts this
point very cautiously 1t is the positive feeling on
the part of the state that 1t does not wan: any
religious foundation which he deems unfortunate.
The volume has melancholy interest as the work |
left unfinished her death by Mrs. Conybeare, who
was daughter OF Professor Max Muller, Of oxford.
She began the translation of Lotze's lectures but
other literary abors interviewed and the book in hand
was completed by her husband
Professor Fullcrton's abstract OF the Ethics" Of
Spinoza will be found useful study by all who |
like to refresh the memory of phlosophic studies.
The brcvty and compactness of the book render il the
more convenient for this purpose. sIinoza'S
method by of definitions, axioms. propositions
and proofs makes him unconsciously the best Of all
commentators the philosophic errors OF his age.
He was 10 Descartes much what Hume TO Locke
Each made Of revision necessary by carrying to
logical conclusions arguments which partially worked
out seemed plausible but completely elaborated were
found TO be faacOus.