The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-05-07
likely 10 grow into better man for
his requirements aud experiences.
THE DEEPER vERITIEs.

There is paper from The late Count
IoIstoy in the latest HILBERT Journal,
on Philosophy and Religion. In
this paper tho renowned Russian author
takes the position that science is super
stltion, and that the only reality is the
fundamental principles and foundations
of religion. He says That he holds the
conviction accepted among scientific
men, that their dogmas arc reality, and
that religion is nothing else than faith,
and that consequently faith or religion
can have no significance for philosophy,
10 be gross error and superstition. He
asserts chat the religious pagan, who
acknowledges something undclinable and
believes Tint it exists and is the origin
of things, and on this undefnable some.
thing builds, we'll or i'll, his understand
ing of life, has an understanding OF the
verities incomparahly higher than that
Of philosopher who does not acknow-
edge the indefinabIc basis of all know-
edge. Illustrating the point, Count
ToIstoy says:
A few. days ago a learned professor
OF the soul have now been traced back
TO mechanical causes; "on!y conscious
ness is not yet quite explained" said he
with striking naiycte. I'VE already an
derStand the whole machine, only we
don't quite know by what and how ii
opIy 8 set oonsciaSneas m moIo9 This Is amazing IA
lshtiull is not yet explained by me.
chanieal process! Not yet explained
but the professor is evidently convinced
that any day the news may arrive that
some Professor Schmidt OF Berlin. or
oNenberg OF Frankfort, has discovered
me mechanical cause Of consciousness.
that Is, Of God within the soul OF man.
Is 1t not plain that an old woman be-
lteving i'm the I[azan Queen OF Heaven
In celebrated wonder working iconl is
not only morally hat mentally incom-
parably superior to that learned profess
sor?
The Count s article in this HILBERT
Journal paper, is an effort, not at alb
stract reasoning, but designed to apply
practically to the conduct of life. 'The
learned philosopher, he says, econ
fined within the endless chain Of cause
and effect, who does not acknowledge
seek for an imaginary and impossible
cause of all causes; while the religious
man recognizes this cause Of all causes,
and has faith in it; and cosequently, in
contract to the scineti6c philosopher, |
possesses firm understanding Of life |
and sound guidance for his actions.'
All this is in refreshing contrast to
the claim of advanced knowledge Of |
the day, Count Tolstoy scouts all of
this, says that as practical PROPOSE
lion for the squaring of the conduct of
life it amounts 20 nothing, that even
IN ilhterate pagan, acknowledging an
Indcfned and undefnable power which
controls his life and exacts obedience
rom him according to his best lights,
s on superior plane Of life to the
scientific philosopher who rejects the
and pins his faith TO mater
al things.
1t is the old contest between the
and the spiritual, and Count
rolstoy, as was TO be expected, is
,gainst matcrialism and for spirituality
Is the higher standard in fact, the only
eal standard of life. But in this posi-
ion Count Tolstoy's exaggerations are
Is evident as his deep convictions are
lain. And, since he does not set forth
philosophy or an Interpretation of re-
igion that is practical guide to the
understanding, his efforts
re vain.