The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-16

Ut. y. MACbRlDE STERREIl, professor OF
philosophy in the George Washington
University, has written and the Macmilians
have published number OF essays In apollo
getics, by which, Of course is meant the
philosophical justifcat ton Of religion. under
the collective title Of The Freedom OF Au-
hority. The aim Of this book Is to vindicate
the concrete nationality Of the religious
view Of mankind's life. The author attempts
a critical refutation of all antagonistio con-
ceptions He undertakes to discuss on purely
intellectual grounds the question. which is
the more reasonable Interpretation OF phe-
nomena-one. namely, that excludes and
invalidates religion, or one that includes
and valdates it. Through the series of
studies of which this volume constitutes a
link runs persistent polemic against the
mechanical conception of the universe
DR.. Sterrett essays to demonstrate that
merely mechanical Interpretation Of Nature
and man and his institutions is meta physi-
cal perversion OF the mechanical theory
as properly used in science. Such an inter-
probation is described as not science, but
the bad metaphysics OF some men Of science.
1t is Dr. Sterrett's purpose to show that in
the meta physics of Haeckel's "Naturalism. !"
can be no worthy place for the humanities
Indeed, he does not hesitate to assert that
.the merely scientific man. the man whose
world view Is merely that of mechanical
soience-the undevout astronomer or geolo-
gist-is mad. Only the devout man Is
fully sane
At the first glance such a phrase as the
freedom Of authority" will seem to many
persons contradiction in terms. They
will say that DR.. Sterrett might as we'll
discourse to them on the wilderness Of black
ness. This our author comedies In his
first chapter. He recalls how Napoleon
remarked to Laplace that he could not
find any mention Of the Creator in the
4Mtcanioue Celeste" Sire replied La
place, Il had no need of any such hypothe-
sis" Nor is it denied that Auguste Sabatier
has allow ed the claim OF Vinet. who said
THAT which l absolutely repudiate is
authority" ard who added, "the time has
come for those who have broken with
authority in their inner life to break def
nitely with it in their theology"
There is undoubtedly some confusion
in the minds Of many Of those who use the
term "authority.' We should mark DR..
Sterrett's definition Of tho term before
we consider his thesis that man not only
may be free under authority but prac-
tically cannot exercise any other kind Of
freedom. We find authority here defined
az -the power or influence through which
one does or believes what he would not of
his own unaided power" Again, authority
is the power or influence conferred by
wisdom, character, office and station. Its
Is q rule OF conduct to an end. That end
is always the well being Of those upon whom
1t is imposed, Primarily objective. its aim
is to make Itself subjective in its subjects,
80 that it may be seen to be their own law
the law of their own nature. 1t becomes
to an Individual law of his own nature
through custom and conformity-the law
of his educated nature-that is to say. of his
nature converted into substantial manhood
through conformity to the authority which
surrounds him from cradle to grave"
Obviously, this Is point of view from
which a mans relation to his fellows de-
serves to be considered. 1t is so considered
at SONS length by DR.. Sterrett In his intro
ductory chapter. We are reminded that
authority has its root in the organic condi-
tions of all forms of life and of good living
1T is the pedagogue to whom all must al
ways 90 to school. 1t is a necessary func-
ton Of the species for its own preservation. t"
As tradition, it is the bond by which one
generation transmits to its successor the
accumulated heritage Of the ages. Every
form of society naturally and necessarily
begets generic traditions, customs. beliefs.
constitutions and bylaws, which are au-
thoritative for all its members. The society
which Is without them cannot remain a
society. That which has no such organic
past can have no continuing present
Our author regards as too feeble a simile
the assertion that institutions are the
lengthening shadow Of man." He would
say rather, that institutions are the length
ening and strengthening of the stature Of
man." Civilized men are civilized men only
through institutions. Man is by nature
that is, by his educated nature-an instit,i-
tional being, or, as Aristotle said, a political
animal Generic constitutions always i'm
ply authority, conformity and, through
and under these, real concrete freedom or
Generalization. Law. authority, Is funda.
mental and ANAL, and freedom u In and BY