New-York tribune., 1902-02-13

thing of the kind as they. and passing
away like them. This is sound and cogent.
Sound and cogent is 1t also to affirm Reason
belonging 10 the timeless world Of eternal
reality. The sole entirely true meaning of the
word Cfern0t Dr.. Howison defines as 'subsistent
self actively. by self-defning conscious
ness" This is what is meant by personality
and one finds reason 20 say with Thomas Hill
Green. Of Oxford, that without Intellectual con-
fusion one cannot think that A universe whose
apparent goal is the evolution Of real persons is
TO have its issue in their extinction. But one
finds it hard to take the jump from this infer
ence Of an existence that may be endless TO
that of an eternal pre-existence of such persons
as distinct individuals; or. as DR.. HOwison ex-
presses IL the co-existenCe of all souls in eter-
nifty with Cod" Such co-existence of some souls
is not so hard 10 affirm. The conception Of a lone
ly God may we'll be discarded for that of social
Deity, never without flial spirits rejecting the
glory Of the Eternal Reason. But TO affirm this
of all souls, of every individual member of the
human race. seems stupendously audacious
The ladder offered for climb TO this
position will not reach it. 1t is DR.. Howison's
doctrine OF causaton. and a sound one, but too
short for the climb. Efficient Causation. which
makes all things begin in time, as the handi-
work Of the great First Cause. does not give
true account of the universe of being For this
We must turn to Final Causation. or Purpose
The universe, both in being and in movement
is constituted by a Purpose. a Purpose that Is
eternal in the design. pursuit. and realization
of its ends The individual minds which,
above stated, discern and recognize this Pur-
pose in the universe. and thereby organize the
countless diverse phenomena Of Nature into the
orderly march of the Cosmos. show thereby, and
also by their sef-aCtive purpOsveneSs in the
pursuit of their own ideals. their essential kim
ship their identity of nature with the Supreme
Intelligence that unfolds its Purpose in the uni
verse their norm and goal. Now this GER
tainIy rises to a reasona bic hope that these self
active minds viii never perish with perishing
nature. But it is short of reaching Dr. How
ison's conclusion, that they never began TO be.
that every individual of them all eternally CO.
existed, as individual, with God.
Nevertheless this doctrine has an historical
interest. 1t has already been referred to as
substantially the Platonism of the fourth CEN
tury B. c.. in which Greek philosophy made
its highest flight Much nearer our time il has
reappeared in the MonGdoogy of that consum-
thinker of the eighteenth century. Leih-
nitz In ehabtating Leibnitz's doctrine OF
eternal and indestructible beings called Mon
ads" Dr. Howison has cleared it Of some
serious objections, especially in discarding the
independency OF each monad or soul. Of every
of 1t each individual realizes his indi-
viduality only in realizing that of his fellows
as his counterparts and COMPLIMENTS But the
essential objection to Leibnitz's scheme is not
cleared, an indemonstrable speculation, mo-
tved. indeed by a noble interest but a cathedral
in the clouds.
In justice to DR.. Howison II should be said |
that he dsclaims any undertaking to present |
his theory OF Pluralism as a systematic whole |
The seven Essays in the volume aim to present |
only its various elements. in such a way that |
the central theme, 'the eternal reality OF the |
is unfoded more and more as the
reader proceeds. Intimations appear that a |
presentation is intended hereafter. 1t
has been our aim. in anticipation OF this. 10 |
point out the main difficulty in the argument so |
far presented.
Before taking leave OF the subject It remains to |
note what seems a confusion OF ideas reappear- |
ing from point to point of the argument, in a |
failure to recognize the distinction between sub
Jective and objective view of the universe
Subjectively viewed, the universe is a nationally
formed construction Of the mind. 1t is human |
thought which organizes the motley phenomena |
presented 10 the senses into the majestic order
called Nature. And this is reasonable ground |
for viewing Nature effectively as the manifesto
ton of a creative divine mind, akin TO the hu-
man mind that recreates 1t in thought. But this
our logical construction Of Nature is trans
formed by DR.. Howison into the real object OF
which it is but the shadow. Souls are affirmed
to be not only coexstent with God. but also CO.
creators with him. One might not be bold TO
deny this Of any spirit, but little can one
boldly affirm it of al, after taking account Of
mankind in history. Dr. HOwison grants in
deed. that the whole of Nature cannot be re-
ferred to men alone; or to other conscious beings
directly on the scene Of Nature; that the exist
ence OF an absolutely universal form OF their
nature is required for her cosmic being" But he
broadly affirms the dependence of Nature upon
us" Man is himself the proximate
source Of evolution, the cooperating Cause and
Lord of that world where evolution has it's
course" Here is one of the impossible jumps in
logic where stepping stones will have 10 be sup
piled.
With note of these exceptions to the argu-
ment SO far made, for the eternal reality Of
the individual" the validity OF DR. Howison's
for the limits Of evolution must he
as complete. Evolution gives us
an account only of processes OF origins it can
give The ultimate reality OF Life, and its
transmission from the aboriginal Source. is a
mystery beyond its scope and ken. The evolu-
ton discovered by the mind cannot account for |
the mind that discovers it. That mind can find
It's ultimate ground only in the Mind that or
ganzed and ordered the evolution In its oh !
jectve reality. If may be permitted 10 de-
fine for himself the terms of DR.. Howison's final /
in this part Of his subject, It is worthy
Of full and fearless acceptation by Christian
men.
Unless there is a real man underived from
Nature, unless there is a spiritual or rational