New-York tribune., 1901-06-08
PSYCHOLOGY.
THE LIGHT OF SCIENCE ON "oCCULTIsM'
OF MANY KINDS.

FACT AND FABLE IN PSYCHOLOGY. By
Joseph Jastrow. Octave PIP Ky. 80. Houghton'
Mihiin d Co.
Il confess that my admiration of Hamlet is
somewhat dulled by reason of that i'll advised re
mark to Horatio about there being more things
in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our
philosophers" This saying of Professor Jastrow
gives the keynote of his book which is like a
draught of fresh air in the murky atmosphere OF
latter day "occultsm' and all the other confu-
sions Of thought to which even men of some claim
10 scientific standing have contributed. He has
collected in this volume series of essays on dlf-
ferent topics connected with psychology. includ-
ing some of the problems that are now most
vexing the souls of The credulous' and IKE
Christian Science. menacing the welfare of So
cietv. Professor Jastrow's point OF view Is that
of the scientific investigator by whom every
! problen in normal and abnormal psychology is
TO be subjected to examination in accordance
with the laws Of commonplace. constrained
phenomena OF earthbound reality" He is con
stantly opposing The idea that is still prevalent
that
The world which science reveals is but a torso
Of reality: that its very head-that when gives
significance and expression to the whole-HdS % may
be missing. and can only lie restored from $50
lated fragments, themselves 10 he found by rare
good fortune: that the heavens do occa-
scended.
He has taken his stand on the ground that
tbe sound and profitable interest in mental life
is I'm the usual and normal. and that the reso-
lute pursuit Of this interest necessarily results
in bringing the apparently irregular phenomena
of the mental world within the field of illumina-
tion Of the more familiar and the law abiding
His work is admirably done. clear. often pict-
llresquely cogent and remorseless in its dissec-
non Of the tissue Of illogical inference from
false or misunderstood data that so encumhers
the healthful growth of psychological study
There is nothing new about Christian Science,
that one Of many modern manifestations Of oc-
cultism:
The extravasance Of Mrs. Eddy's book, it's su-
perb disdain of vulgar fact its transcendental
self-c0nfdence. its solemn assumption that re-
iteration and variation of assertion somehow
spontaneously generate proof or self-eNldehce'
its shrewd assimilation of a theological favor.
its occasional successes in producing presenta-
hle trayesty cf scientific truth--all these dis
tinctions may be found IN many a dust covered
volume.
OF course the author does not imply that
mental medicine is not without its basis and
its uses: it is the occult" character attributed
10 II that he is discussing The only serious in
terest that such vagaries offer TO the scientific
! student is as 10 their relation to the psychology
Of belief. In the essay The Problems of
! PsYchical Research Professor JaStroW reaches
4 for a somewhat higher type of illusion; yet he
me kes il plain that the attitude Of mind that is
| displayed in the activity of the societies for
/ psychical research fails, the same lines 70
I appreciate the true scientific position. In what
| do problems chosen for ''psychical research diff
| fer from those presented 10 psychology? Their
differentiation 'oa the basis Of unusualness OF
| occurrence. Of mysteriousness Of origin, of
! doubtful authenticity or of apparent paradox
| cal transcendent character is as illogical as
! il is unnecessary" There still crops out here
| the lurking conception of science as inadequate
| 10 grapple with the higher mysteries Of the 'oc-
| cst" Mr.. JasJrow, again, finds the real inter
est i'm problems Of this class 10 centre in the
intrinsic nature and analysis OF the mental proc
esses Of those who have experienced mani
festations" of one scrt another, and regrets
| the influence that "psyehical research" has cast
| in favor of the occult. special fault with
| which il is chargeable is that of unwarrantabI,