The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-27

| sire-the universal soul-force which con-
stitutes the only basis OF the real science
o. mind-that II has nothing to do with
extremely modern-that IL is blind i'm
pulse. the dynamic basis of mind and az
! much older than intellect proper as the
epoch. In Dynamic Sociology" he treats
me Willie as a phantom. cons!gning II to
the limbo of paradoxical myths and sees
no reason for clinging to what Is shown
to be only a '-ths-wisp. And in his
Psychic Factors" he closes a chapter
on Schopenhaeur with an acknowlecg-
ment OF the prs-eminent service rendered
by him in turning the current of thought
ont of the old and hopeless channels of
objective psychology into the new and
promising channels of subjective psy-
chology, where alone Is there hope for
the science of mind.
The author then undertakes to refute
optimism and pessimism. His argument
against the latter Is substantially as fol-
lows:
-, Pessirnism is the negation of pleasure
ne satisfaction of desire terminates
II, rs the painful state called desire
1s,oiitlhuous up to the time when II ceases?
70 say that 1t is not is to deny the exis-
uev OF pressure, relegate happiness to
i ia,s niioo OF decisions. and make pessim-
isLn 'he only true philosophy The an
sWer comes from psychometry All nsy
inc Phenomena consume time II the act
o .. statilyins desire were absolutely in
Simultaneous there would be no arxwsr -
the pessimist- Life would he n str,,gy,o
with no reward but that of putting an
s emo one after another to the intoiera-
pie scourges that beset U.S. No one is
capable of balancing the profits and losses
u me Inc reality of pleasure and han
piness must be proved by the senses
III III simple sensation cannot be relied on
tnere is no certainty anywhere n,,t
a lump OF sugar on my tongue / de-
clare the sensation agreeable Who can
gainsay 1t? II l do not know It myself,
then there Is nothing l can clair, 20
know Now the pleasurable sensation il
not instantaneous nor brief: II lasts as
long as the sugar lasts though diminish
dnt N force from an apparent gradual
exhaustion of the capacity of the nerve
10 respond to the stimulus Now what
Is true of the lower senses is Certainly
true OF the higher. The mental state Is
a continuous one. and in the higher emo
uons the duration of the pleasure is long
er than in the lower ones While in the
primary physical form of satisfying love il
is only momentary, in the secondary, snir
itual form it seems to be indedni.e II,
time, or so long as the object is present
ana what is true of love is true Of ALI
other permanent pleasures and enjoy
simsri. Va pcs
.aecordingly Prof. Ward champions Me
li.orism, and devotes chapter to So
Sioeracy: In which he controverts the
ia1ssez faire doctrine, saws that eytrans
individuality borders on practical an
afchy. and is highly favorable to the
a a'fs OF plutocracy. and expresses SAN
gulne hope of good time coming when
crazy. Wy Soeio
I have but one criticism to make q,
Hrof. Wards refutation of pessirnisn,
ne says: No one is capable of baIanc-
ing the profits and losses of life" Just
So ana Will anyone be better able to bal
ance them when sociocracy s,,ccani,
democracy? VIII the time ever come
wnen the question can be decided wheth
er man Is happier in civilized than in
clam? SrGEW