New-York tribune., 1895-10-31
NEW PUBLICATIONS

Of Lotze and his philosophic method is very at
tractive In the midst OF a thinking world that
abandons itself to a craze for systems here stands
a philosophical critic Of the first order whose one
antipathy is defined by the word system" He
arrays the schemes for the Interpretation OF the
world in terms Of thought over against the Infinite
multiplicity OF facts in the universe. and forces
others to see what he himself was all along con-
vinced of-the utter inadequacy Of these schemes
to embrace the vast whole which they pretend to
set in order He not only shows the inadequacy
OF systems past and present but he also shows,
BY Implication at least. that "the reflection Of the
world OF reality in philosophical theoryis an aim
that transcends the powers Of man." He would
like to deprive men for a time OF the craving they
have for putting all nature Ito rights" and fasten-
ing classification ticket on everything from the
Deity down to sands of the seashore and the ooze
at the bottom Of the ocean.
His aim and his achievement ar, 90 medicinal
for the age that one hates to see them interfered
with But Professor Jones has the systematic
frenzy and nothing will content him but the effort
to show that Lotze really strengthened the
Hegelian idealism which re censured. He does
perhape succeed in showing that Lotze was truly
Hegelian in details. or-to use his own paradox
that "Lotze adopts each OF the main tenets OF
Hegel while rejecting the whole: but this is just
Few men. thinkers as rule least Of ALL need to
be urged on in the path Of generalization. They
are driven TO 1t by an irresistible force Professor
Joness book is more attractive where 1t en-
phasizes Iotzes protest against injustice to the
individuality and uniqueness which he found at
the core of every real fact" than it is where he
falls I'm with the universal systematizing tendency
OF the times.
bov1o Inn ar
sons), by James H. Hyslop Phi. d.. OF Columbia
College is an effort by the historical and analyt-
ical method to establish ethical doctrine on firm
foundation. Its conclusions are not subversive
of earlier tradition A survey Of past ethical
theories is presented and the question Of the
freedom of the will is elaborately discussed The
chapter on this topic is polemic against modern
theories of determnsm. which. in spite OF the
evolutionary factor are not greatly different from
those OF other times. DIR. Hysop has added to the
terms in use one which would have gratifed
Coleridge namely the word 'velleity." from the
scholastic "velleitas' and on this word his argu-
ment chiefly turns. He defines 1t as 1.-The capacity
OF alternative choice" and shows that this ca
pacity is really the only thing in controversy be-
tween those who affirm and those who deny free
dom OF the will. .Iuch Of the chapter on the SUBJ
ject is devoted to matter .ch confessedly has
nothing to do with the point at issue. But II mas
been lugged into the discussion by those who
confused the scope of the words liberty and spon-
tanety with alternative choice. The authors
treatment of this theme and, indeed. of all the
other topics In the book is remarkably plain and
comprehensive. This is in part due, no doubt to
the sin Of repetition. of which he accuses him.
self.
The human powers Of wishing and choosing as
affecting the development Of the race give the
starting point for Edmond Kellys book, "Evolu-
ton and Effort Cd. Appleton & Coz book
which reminds one in places Of Mr.. Kidd's so
cal Evolution" Mr.. Kelly holds that the his
tory of religion. as exemplifed In Christianity
and Mahometanism. illustrates the manner In
which human dulness sezes great Idea to
make II weapon Of prejudice against enlighten-
nent In the same way he thinks that the theory
OF evolution, which rightly understood rescues
the destiny Of man from his environment in order
70 restore II to himself" has been perverted to
mean that man is the victim Of his surroundings.
and the best that he do is 10 let all things take
their course The denial Of the power Of choice
by scientists, well religious people, tends to
paralyze the effort of mankind to resist the forces
Of nature. Without the accuracy Of expression
which marked HuXleys essay on Evolution and
ttnlcs, MT. heIy apparently aims 10 eApIesS
much the same idea: but while Huxley abandoned
evolution in the ethical field. Mr.. Kelly clings to
1t as a sort of gospel which has been misnter-
preted. With nearly all Of what Mr.. Kelly has to
say on the subject Of improving the condition OF
the poor and the helpless. OF doing away with
municipal corruption and the like. most readers
will agree But they will still have occasion to
wonder what these things have TO do with evolu-
tion in any Of the scientific uses of the word.
THE Power Of Silence. an Interpretation Of
Life in Its Relation to Health and Happiness
(Boston. George H. Ellis), by Horatio W. Dresser,
is curious book. Those who find its philosophy
difficult to digest may still be benefited by the
lesson of caimness. of silence and Of trust in a
Higher Power as remedy for human ills and
pain and disease. which il inculcates
In "Comte. Mill and Spencer: an Outline Of
Philosophy" (Macnillan G. Coz Professor John
Watson Of the University Of Queens College
Kingston. Canada. cridcises minutely the teach
ings Of Positiyism Utitarianism and Evolution
from the point Of view of that kind OF idealism
which insists that when reality Is known In its
appearances It is known as II actually is. Those
who have read his Kant and His English Crit
ics" are familiar with this idealism, which is so
widespread among philosophers on this side OF
the Atlantic that IL may well be called the
American philosophy. Its best field Is criticism
for the reason that 1t stands just where the In
telligent man stands In relation to the world
American philosophy will hardly startle the
world with novelty until it develops some ec-
centricites; but meanwhile 1t has a sane method
Of judging the speculatiors that are presented
to 1t. This sanity is exempfed in this book.
Those who desire q brief yet complete expo
sition of the most salient features Of nineteenth
century thought with commentary dictated by
common sense will do well to read this book
carefully
4 very practical volume THE Psychology OF
Number and Its Applications to Methods OF